Gonzales Apaches take on last year's area round opponent for rematch

GONZALES — This time last year the Apaches were headed to the area round against a stacked Liberty Hill team that was a favorite to win the region. Fast-forward a year later and Gonzales head football coach Kodi Crane is yet again facing the same team, with all of that history and state aspirations.

Only this year, Crane hopes to pull off the upset.

The Liberty Hill Panthers come into this game with a 9-2 record, with losses to La Grange and Brownwood. Crane believes that the Apaches’ non-district portion of district has prepared his team to take on this challenge. Especially a type of challenge that’ll have Gonzales taking on a Liberty Hill squad who runs a nasty-slot offense.

The game plan for  Crane will be to limit the Panthers and force them to long fourth down situations. If Liberty Hill can get to fourth down with just three or four yards to go, they are willing to go for it thinking they can get those yards on the ground.

Speaking of the offense, Liberty Hill have not completed a pass since October 9 and, according to Crane, have attempted little over 20 passes all season.

The underdog Apaches will need to limit star running back John Shannon as well as other running weapons the Panthers have on offense.

Meanwhile, quarterback Tyler Hendershot will need to be accurate in his short and intermediate passing game against the Panthers' four-man front with a soft-quarters secondary.

They play tonight at Canyon Lake, with kickoff set at 7:30 p.m.

For more, see the printed Friday Nov. 20 edition of the Inquirer or become an e-edition subscriber.