Chargers get tough test to open postseason

KERRY BARBOZA Sports Editor

The Boerne Champion football team will get a tough test right out of the gate as they begin first-round playoff action Friday.

By virtue of finishing fourth in District 12-5A DI, the Chargers draw 11-5A district champs College Station.

Kickoff is Friday in College Station, 7 p.m.

The top two schools in each 5A district host, while the bottom two playoff qualifiers – third and fourth place – are on the road.

Champion draws a Cougars team that went 9-1 this year and was 7-0 in district.

College Station is currently ranked No. 9 in the Texas Football magazine 5A DI rankings and has played for the state title the last two seasons.

The Cougars lost both those title games but won it all in 2017.

Champion isn’t exactly chopped liver and went 8-2 this year and 5-2 in district. NB Canyon beating Wagner on the final day of the regular season dropped the Chargers to fourth in district and gave them a clash with the Cougars.

Champion coach Blane Ellis said his team is looking forward to the challenge.

“We embrace these high-profiled games,” he said. “Our kids travel well, that’s why we picked up Laredo teams on our schedule. We’ve had nice long road trips before.”

College Station lost to Lovejoy in the season opener and then won nine straight, while the Chargers started the year at 6-0, before losing two straight, and then winning its final two.

Last week’s game against MacArthur turned into a blowout in favor of the Chargers quickly. Champion won 47-20 and Ellis said he was able to rest some starters with such a big lead.

“It was an advantage for us, we got to get some guys quality experience and rest some of our guys but the starters got what they needed to stay sharp,” he said.

All things considered, Ellis said they head into Friday’s game pretty healthy.

“We’re doing really well there considering our district schedule,” he said. “We lost one player for the year but everyone is pretty much healthy, minus dings and bruises and things like that, but nothing major.”

Ellis said they need to be aggressive in Friday’s game. College Station can score but they also give up points. They surrendered 50 to Lovejoy and 42 against their rival, College Station A&M consolidated.

When the Chargers have the ball, Ellis said they have to come out strong.

“We have to be extremely focused and play extremely physical because I don’t think teams do that to them,” he said. “We have to manufacture explosive plays and execute on third downs. We need to establish the run first; they have some schemes similar to Seguin defensively.”

The Cougars have scored at 60 at least four times and hit 70 against Leander.

“We’ve got to get them into third downs because they have an explosive offense,” Ellis said. “We need to get their guys in space and make them uncomfortable.”

The Charger coach said the Cougars kind of remind him of the Thunderbirds.

“They’re kind of a mix of teams we’ve played but athletically they’re closest to Wagner,” he said. “They’re a different style of team.”