They run similar offensive styles that feature strong rushing attacks, own stout defenses and haven’t lost in more than two months.
Granger’s sixth-ranked Lions (11-1) won their only state championship in 1997 but have reached the playoffs only three times since.
On the contrary, Shiner’s Comanches (9-3) have qualified for the playoffs 10 straight seasons. They won state titles in 1986 and 2004 and were runners-up in 2003 but have lost region finals the past two seasons.
Both teams look to move closer to a state championship when Granger faces red-hot Shiner at 7:30 tonight in the Class A Division I Region IV final at Hays High School’s Bob Shelton Stadium.
The winner will advance to the state semifinals against either top-ranked Alto or Joaquin next week.
Granger and Shiner showcase power running out of the veer formation.
“It’s really similar,” sixth-year Shiner coach Steven Cerny said about the offensive attacks. “We have a few things we do differently as far as blocking. You have to make adjustments each game, but overall it’s basically the same scheme.”
Quarterback Kyle Condel has thrown for 633 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 891 yards and 15 scores while directing the Comanches’ offense to an average of 38.8 points per game.
“He has size and speed and has been throwing the ball real well,” Cerny said about Condel, who threw for 140 yards and ran for 116 in last week’s victory. “Anytime you run the veer and you can add the pass, it makes it difficult to stop.”
Added sixth-year Granger coach Stacey Hunt: “They’re disciplined and they execute. Their quarterback is a standout athlete and the rest of them are really solid.”
Condel is also an outstanding baseball player and was named the 2007 Class A Player of the Year on the Texas Sports Writer Association all-state team.
Running back D.J. Pustka has rushed for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Cody Franke has 634 yards and 15 scores. According to Hunt, Granger players must understand their option responsibilities to contain the Comanches.
Granger has averaged nearly 432 yards and 48.6 points per game.
Senior running backs Bradley Sims and Clay Mazoch have rushed for a combined 2,898 yards and 46 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Kenny Sifuentes has made good decisions orchestrating the offense, but Cerny says it’s the Lions’ offensive line that really stands out.
“You have to look at the size on them,” Cerny said. “Not only are they big but they can move and they’re great athletes.”
The Lions’ power up front helped Granger overcome a 35-18 halftime deficit last week against state-ranked Normangee. Shiner has more depth on the offensive and defensive lines than Granger is accustomed to facing, an element that concerns Hunt.
“We’ve had a lot of success in the fourth quarter of wearing people down,” Hunt said. “If they are only going one way, it’s going to be hard for us to do that.”
The Comanches lost their first three games of the season to 2A teams Schulenburg, Wallis Brazos and East Bernard. On Sept. 21, Shiner won its first game by beating Thrall 13-3, and the Comanches have outscored opponents 421-36 since that victory, including 48-0 and 41-7 playoff wins against Ben Bolt and Brackettville Brackett, respectively.
Granger stormed out of the gates this season with three straight blowout victories, but on the same day Shiner won its first game, the Lions suffered their lone loss of the season, to 2A Blanco. Since then, Granger has outscored its last eight opponents 383-88, including a 27-10 win against Thrall.
“A lot of our problems early were personnel,” Cerny said. “We were making a lot of mistakes and weren’t tackling very well. We feel we are playing as well as we have all season, but we will have to play a perfect game tonight.”
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
