The Hutto Hippos varsity football team (4-1, 3-0 district) will host the Round Rock Dragons (3-3, 3-1 district) on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
The Hippos are coming off a 34-18 win over Round Rock Westwood, while the Dragons defeated Manor 63-0.
Hutto enters this matchup with one of the hottest offenses in the district, averaging over 50 points per game in its three district contests.
Senior quarterback Kaden Stefek has been at the center of that success, throwing for 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
Stefek is coming off a three-touchdown performance against Westwood. His top targets, juniors Jaiden Fields and Dylan Owens, accounted for two of those scores.
While Hutto’s passing game has been explosive, senior running back Keilan Chavies has been the difference-maker over the past two weeks, totaling more than 350 yards and six touchdowns.
Chavies will again be key on Friday, as the Hippos’ air attack thrives when the ground game is clicking.
Round Rock’s defense will look to slow that momentum. The Dragons have allowed just 14.6 points per game in district play and are led by senior linebacker Jack Wensing, who has 33 total tackles, and senior defensive tackle Max Williams, who leads the team with four sacks.
Overall, the Dragons’ defense has been disruptive, recording 12 total sacks and 47.5 tackles for loss.
That could present a challenge for Hutto’s veteran offensive line, which will need to protect Stefek and establish the run early. The Dragons also bring a balanced offensive attack, led by senior quarterback Jack Appl, who has thrown for 806 yards and five touchdowns.
Appl’s top targets, senior wide receivers Daniel Barry and Dylan Jaeger, have combined for nearly 900 yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, senior running back Brady Cochran leads the way with 504 yards and six scores.
Stopping the run will be crucial for Hutto, as Round Rock will try to control time of possession and keep the Hippos’ high-powered offense off the field. That was an issue for Hutto last week when Westwood limited the Hippos to just three first-half possessions and took a 10-7 lead into halftime.
Hutto’s defense is anchored by senior linebacker Brayden Daniels, junior defensive back Hunter Frenette and senior safety Carlos Sorto. The Hippos’ defensive front will also need to step up to limit the Dragons’ ground game.
This matchup could be decided in the trenches, as Hutto looks to establish its running game to open up the pass while keeping Round Rock’s rushing attack in check. Winning the battle up front will be key if the Hippos want to stay perfect in district play and earn head coach Eli Reinhart his first signature win.
