At 27-6 and unbeaten in 15-5A, #12 Cedar Park is beginning to look ahead to the playoffs. They can't look too far ahead, however, with district foe Round Rock on the schedule this week.

The Texas Top 20

By Scott White
Editor

October 12 — Talk about a dominating week. Over the last seven days, the Top 10 teams won 54 games and lost only 5. And that includes three losses by #5 Lubbock Coronado to #4 Amarillo. Take away those three losses (after all, someone had to lose) and the Top 10 went 54-1 in games.

Not that it was a completely boring week. Other than the Amarillo-Coronado affair, there were a few important matches. And, of course, most were in Houston where #16 Deer Park knocked off #12 Dobie. And then there was the FB Austin vs. Elkins showdown, where you can always count on a full house of screaming fans. Elkins won this one to knock Austin out of the rankings.

In Central Texas there was the ongoing drama of District 27-4A. This week it was New Braunfels, which took down Dripping Springs a week ago, knocking off Lake Travis in a brutal five-game affair that included a 27-25 game, a 26-24 game and a 16-14 game five.

But the real drama was saved for Buda Hays. The match with Akins may not have featured two state powers, but there were two huge questions that had to be answered: #1 – could they finish the match in time for Hays MB Ashley Rogge to make it to the football field where she was a member of the Homecoming Court, and #2 – would she be voted Homecoming Queen? The answer to both answers was “Yes!”

In North Texas, meanwhile, Allen continued its downward slide by losing to Plano West for the second time this year. Then Plano West, which had a chance to prove it deserved consideration as a state power despite a soft non-district schedule, promptly fell to Flower Mound Marcus. As a result, both teams drop from the Teams to Watch list.

Which brings us to this week’s ranking of the 20 best teams in Texas.

1. Churchill (1)
Yawn. (Outscored opponents 150-84.)

2. Austin Westlake (2)
OK guys, quit yawning. (Outscored opponents 150-77.)

3. SA Clark (3)
We really mean it now. Quit yawning! (Outscored opponents 150-88.)

4. Amarillo (4)
The Sandies, who have more state titles than any other 5A school in the state, made it clear that the West Texas route to San Marcos once again runs through Amarillo after a sweep of Coronado for the second time this season.

5. Arlington Martin (6)
Outscored opponents 150-89. Hold that yawn!

6. Arlington Lamar (7)
Let Sam Houston come within 25-23 in one game. Have they no pride?!?

7. Dulles (8)
Beat a solid Clements team last week. Hosting FB Austin tonight. If the Vikings can get past this one, it sets up a showdown with Elkins on Thursday night (a schedule change moved this one from the last match of the season to this Thursday).

8. Lubbock Coronado (5)
They have proven they are one of the best in the state. Unfortunately, their district includes Amarillo - one of the best in the nation.

9. Katy (9)
One match last week. One sweep.

10. Houston Stratford (10)
Only a MAJOR upset/collapse will keep Stratford from winning out and heading into the playoffs on a roll.

11. Cy Falls (11)
Looked to be in trouble after losing game one to Cy-Fair last Tuesday. They weren’t, rolling through the next three games in convincing fashion. Then took Friday off to celebrate.

12. Cedar Park (13)
At 27-6 and undefeated in district play, this is a team waiting for the playoffs and an opportunity to prove it belongs among the state elite. Has Round Rock on the schedule this week for one final pre-playoff challenge.

13. Cy Creek (14)
Rebounded from a disappointing week by beating two quality teams in Tomball and Magnolia. Did we mention that this is one tough district.

14. Deer Park (16)
Rankings really mean nothing in Houston, as the Deer proved by cruising past previous #12 Dobie in four.

15. Lake Highlands (15)
Swept Richardson Pearce and RL Turner. Does this means they’ve put things back on course? Only time will tell.

16. Dobie (12)
As we’ve said all year, this is a team with the talent to beat almost anyone but consistency is a problem. When they aren’t on top of their game, however, they are vulnerable. Loss to Deer Park keeps things interesting in 23-5A where Dobie and Deer Park are now both 8-1.

17. Kingwood (18)
Passed time waiting for rematch with Humble by beating West Brook and Westfield.

18. San Antonio Reagan (19)
Needed five to beat MacArthur, a quality foe, then blasted Madison.

19. Waxahachie (20)
Needed five to beat Midlothian, but close ones are to be expected at this time of the year.

20. Round Rock (NR)
Looks to be back on track. Swept Westwood and McNeil last week. Cedar Park is on this schedule this week.

Teams to Watch

Boerne - Uneventful week, going 6-1 with wins over Alamo Heights and Kerrville Tivy.

Cy Fair – Won't be punished for losing to Cy Falls in four, but with Tomball, Magnolia, Langham Creek and Cy Creek still on the schedule, we'll find out if the Bobcats belong here over the next couple of weeks.

Dripping Springs – Beat NB Canyon and Marble Falls. Not as easy as it sounds.

Dumas – Had the brooms out for Randall and Palo Duro.

Elkins - May be the team with the most potential to cause turmoil during the playoffs. Wins over Kempner and FB Austin were impressive and could be a sign of things to come. Or not. (This is Houston, after all.)

FB Austin – Loss to Elkins cost a spot in the rankings.

Floresville – First time the Jaguars have appeared on the rankings, but at 24-3 this has become a team to watch in South Central Texas so they should be a team to watch statewide.

Hebron – Currently sleep-walking through district while waiting for the playoffs.

Lake Travis – Was a team on a roll until falling in five (16-14) to New Braunfels in just another brutal district match.

New Braunfels – Won its way back into consideration with a win over district rival Lake Travis.

San Antonio O’Connor – Sitting at 21-9 and picking up steam. Clark could cause a derail late this week.