11-15-24 Leander Rouse
As you know, the UIL football playoffs begin with a number one seed from one district facing a number four seed from the next district. It’s called the bi-district playoff but it is better known as a massacre. The following rounds are more competitive and it gets to the point where whichever team gets a break or two will advance.
Those first round analytics won’t apply this Friday when the Scots host the Rouse Raiders from Leander, Texas. Yes, the Raiders are the fourth seed from district 8-5A but let’s look at it under the microscope. The undisputed leader of this central Texas district is Georgetown, which is 9-1 and state-ranked. They are the district champions with a 6-1 record. A step behind in the district race are Cedar Park at 5-2 ... and Lake Belton at 5-2 ... and Leander Rouse at 5-2.
Not only did Rouse tie for second place, it would have won the district title and earned the number one seed had it won its game against Georgetown. That’s a far cry from barely making the playoffs.
The Raiders average 432 yards per game, 160 on the ground and 272 in the air. The high-scoring offense is led by junior quarterback London Morgan (who has a great name for a British rum) who has passed for 5,312 yards over the past two seasons.
And make a note: He’ll be back next year as a senior.
Morgan’s favorite receiver is Leland Smit, who has 927 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Noah Fabila has 601 receiving yards and three scores and 6’3”, 240 lb. tight end Mason Rieger has 374 yards and with trio of TDs.
Junior running back Anthony Reyes is averaging 75 yards per game and has scored five touchdowns.
The Raiders defense is stout also. Inside linebacker Reed Henson leads the team in tackles as well as tackles for loss. Defensive end Braden Eberwine has seven sacks. Other key defenders are safety Jacob Dotson, outside linebacker Adrian Agbasoga (6-1, 201 lbs.) who runs a 4.6, and inside LB Neil Barton, who has 83 tackles.
While the Scots are squaring off against Rouse, there are three other first-round games involving districts 7-5A and 8-5A. Cedar Park is hosting Red Oak, Midlothian is hosting Lake Belton and Georgetown is hosting Burleson Centennial.
The winner of the Highland Park–Leander Rouse game will face the winner of Carrollton Newman Smith–Frisco Wakeland next week. If the Scots win this Friday there is a mathematical chance they could face three Frisco teams in a row – Wakeland, Reedy and Lone Star – if they continue to advance.
Going into the playoffs after playing their best game of the season is a confidence builder for the Scots. They know that rankings and standings mean nothing in the playoffs. When the Scots are hitting on all cylinders, they are a very good team. But now that they are in the playoffs that could be said about just about every team.
The one wild card that will keep opposing offensive coordinators up all night during the playoffs is the fact that Highland Park has it’s own version of Micah Parsons. HP linebacker Jack Morse is a game changer whose high-energy style of play inspires his teammates. So far that has been a luxury. In the playoffs it will be a necessity.