The El Campo Ricebirds (6-3, 2-2) will look to end their two-game losing skid this Friday night as they visit the La Vernia Bears (8-1, 4-0), who have already locked up the District 15-4A, Division 2 championship.
Regardless of the outcome, the ‘Birds will take the fourth place seed into the playoffs and face Calallen (8-2) in bi-district next week. The Wildcats, who are on a bye this week, went a perfect 4-0 to win District 16-4A, Division 2.
The Bay City (7-2) at Calhoun (5-4) game this week will determine the second and third place seeds as both teams sit at 3-1 in district. Beeville Jones (1-8, 0-4) will host Floresville (3-6, 0-4) in a battle between winless district squads.
“La Vernia plays a smash mouth brand of football on the offensive side using multiple formations. We are going to have to stop the run and eliminate big plays on defense,” said El Campo head coach Travis Reeve. “Defensively, they have the ability to align in multiple fronts and they are long and athletic.”
The Bears have won seven games in a row since losing to Cuero, 49-41, in the second week of the season. They opened the year with a 71-6 win over San Antonio Burbank and also beat San Antonio Highlands (73-9), Navarro (23-7) and Marble Falls (63-21) in non-district. In the league, La Vernia defeated Calhoun (38-3), Bay City (25-22), Beeville Jones (55-14) and Floresville (49-7).
Junior Cooper Null heads up the Bear offense, having completed 48-of-80 passes for 803 yards and nine touchdowns with seven interceptions. On the ground, he has totaled 833 yards on 100 carries with 19 touchdowns.
Junior tailback Ty Carter leads La Vernia with 133 carries for 1,124 yards with 17 touchdowns.
If and when the Bears throw the ball, Null’s top receivers have been junior Wyatt Frank and senior Beckett Richardson. Frank has 22 receptions for 499 yards and five touchdowns while Richardson has 16 catches for 204 yards and one score.
Linebackers Remmington Rohde (89 tackles) and Bryar Crane (64 tackles) head up the La Vernia defense along with strong safety Sean Garza (77 tackles) and defensive end Kole Farmer (63 tackles).
As a team, the Bears have picked off 12 interceptions, led by Matthew Lindsey’s three picks.
Kickoff in La Vernia is 7 p.m.
NOTE: Mason Cortez led the Ricebirds defensively against Calhoun last week with 14 tackles, including one for a loss. Will Rod chalked up 13 tackles with Andy Russell posting nine tackles, one tackle for a loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one pass break up.