Lehnhoff Stadium in Schertz will be the epicenter of San Antonio-area high school football on Friday when undefeated Judson and Clemens square off in a highly-anticipated District 27-6A game.
“It’s going to be a playoff atmosphere,” Clemens coach Jared Johnston said Tuesday. “It’s going to be electric. It’s going to be a great Friday night.”
Judson coach Sean McAuliffe concurred with his counterpart.
“I think it will be great for a bunch of 16-, 17-, 18-year-old kids. Maybe for an aging football coach, not so much,” the 42-year-old McAuliffe said chuckling. “Nah, I’m kidding. It’s going to be an electric deal. They’ve got a great fan base, a lot of tradition. It’ll be a cool atmosphere. It’s going to be a fun night. Our kids are excited.”
Judson, 7-0 overall and 4-0 in district, is No 1 in the KENS 5 area Class 6A rankings and Clemens (7-0, 4-0) is No. 3.
Clemens is coming off a 16-10 victory against previously unbeaten Smithson Valley (6-1, 3-1), which also competes in 27-6A. The Rangers slipped from No. 3 to No. 4 in the KENS 5 rankings, trading places with Clemens.
Unbeaten O’Connor (7-0) remained No. 2 and four-time defending 26-5A champion Reagan (6-1) stayed at No. 5. The Rattlers, who had a bye last week, play No. 6 Johnson (6-2) on Friday night in a showdown of teams unbeaten in 26-5A play.
Steele (3-4), Brennan (4-3), Brandeis (6-2) and Southwest (6-1), in that order, round out the KENS 5 Class 6A rankings.
Navarro (7-0), which had a bye last week, remains No. 1 in the Sub-6A rankings. Kerrville Tivy (5-2) climbed from No. 4 to No. 2 after previously second-ranked Boerne fell to Canyon Lake. Boerne slipped to No. 4. No. 3 Pleasanton (7-0) and No. 5 Alamo Heights (4-3) round out the top five.
Somerset (5-2), Medina Valley (5-2), Canyon Lake (6-2), Fredericksburg (5-2) and Holy Cross (6-2) are ranked No. 6 through 10, respectively.
Judson remained unbeaten with a 49-14 victory over district rival Wagner in the annual Hammer Bowl.
Dynamic Judson quarterback Julon Williams had a pedestrian game – by his standards – against Wagner, completing 9 of 22 passes with two interceptions for 158 yards and one touchdown. Williams rushed only two times for 10 yards.
Williams has been slowed by an unspecified leg injury since the Rockets’ win over Steele on Sept. 29. He sat out the 69-0 rout of East Central the following week, giving way to junior Sincere McCormick. McCormick, who usually starts at running back, completed 7 of 11 passes for 166 yards and three TDs.
“[Williams] was capable of playing,” Coach McAuliffe said. “He’s not on any type of restrictions. It was one of those things that we evaluated as a staff and thought it would probably better for him to sit, buy him a little bit more time. That’s how that came about.
“There’s really no hidden agenda to it. We feel pretty confident with Sincere. He’s a jack-of-all-trades type kid. Last week, he had a good rushing night, then he turns around and plays safety for two series for us. He’s willing to do just anything we want to do with him.”
McCormick is the Rockets’ leading rusher with 644 yards and nine TDs on 62 carries (a 10.4 average).
Coach McAuliffe was coy when he was asked if Williams will be good to go against Clemens.
“We’re going to say he’s OK,” he said. “People will find out soon enough. I can tell you this: He is on the mend.”
Asked if there’s a chance Judson could start McCormick at quarterback Friday night, McAuliffe said: “There’s a possibility.” Then he chuckled.
Williams, who has committed to the University of Houston, has averaged 327.7 yards of total offense in six games. He has completed 58 of 97 passes, with three interceptions, for 1,333 yards and 14 TDs, and rushed for 633 yards and 11 TDs on only 59 carries (10.7 average).
“I can tell you what,” Johnston said, “everything I’ve seen, even vs. Wagner, he didn’t look like he was hurt to me. I know what this game means and we’re expecting Julon to play and Julon to be at full speed.
“I can tell you right now that Julon is going to be at 100 percent when he plays us. I guarantee you that. He’s dynamic. I’m glad he’s a senior.”
Williams has been Judson’s starting quarterback since the eighth game of his freshman year in 2014 and helped lead the Rockets to the state semifinals in his first two seasons.
KENS 5 Area High School Football Rankings
Class 6A
1. Judson (7-0)
District: 27-6A
Ranking last week: No. 1
Last week: Defeated Wagner 49-14
The skinny: Junior running back Sincere McCormick, who has taken on a heavier load of the offense with quarterback Julon Williams hobbled by an ankle injury, scored three touchdowns on runs of 32, 45 and 81 yards. This week: at No. 3 Clemens, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Lehnhoff Stadium
2. O’Connor (7-0)
District: 28-6A
Ranking last week: No. 2
Last week: Beat Stevens 42-7
The skinny: The Panthers’ defense held Stevens to less than 200 yards.
This week: vs. Jay, Friday, 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium
3. Clemens (7-0)
District: 27-6A
Ranking last week: No. 4
Last week: Defeated Smithson Valley 16-10
The skinny: Clemens’ last four regular-season games are against Smithson Valley, Judson, New Braunfels and rival Steele.
This week: vs. No. 1 Judson, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Lehnhoff Stadium
4. Smithson Valley (6-1)
District: 27-6A
Ranking last week: No. 3
Last week: Lost to Clemens 16-10
The skinny: The Rangers rushed for only 44 yards on 26 carries, a 1.69 average, against the Buffaloes’ tenacious defense.
This week: at New Braunfels Canyon, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
5. Reagan (6-1)
District: 26-6A
Ranking last week: No. 5
Last week: Bye
The skinny: The Rattlers are drawing closer to a fifth consecutive district title.
This week: vs. No. 6 Johnson, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Heroes Stadium
6. Johnson (6-2)
District: 26-6A
Ranking last week: No. 6
Last week: Defeated Lee 52-0
The skinny: Johnson outgained Lee 437-44 in total offensive yardage, holding the Volunteers to 24 yards rushing in 21 carries.
This week: vs. No. 5 Reagan, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Heroes Stadium
7. Steele (3-4)
District: 27-6A
Ranking last week: No. 8
Last week: Defeated New Braunfels Canyon 42-17
The skinny: Brenden Brady rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on only 12 carries for the Knights, who won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
This week: at East Central, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
8. Brennan (4-3)
District:28-6A Zone A
Ranking last week: No. 9
Last week: Defeated Brandeis 39-9
The skinny: Jahmyl Jeter rushed 24 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns for the Bears, who have won four in a row and are 2-0 in Zone A of 28-6A.
This week: vs. Taft, Saturday, 7 p.m., Gustafson Stadium
9. Brandeis (6-2)
District: 28-6A
Ranking last week: No. 7
Last week: Lost to Brennan 39-9
The skinny: The Broncos had won six in a row since losing their season opener to Johnson. .
This week: vs. Holmes, Saturday, 7 p.m., Farris Stadium
10. Southwest (6-1)
District: 29-6A
Ranking last week: No. 10
Last week: Defeated Laredo United 33-29
The skinny: Southwest is 4-0 in District 28-6A.
This week: vs. Laredo Johnson, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Southwest Stadium
Entering the rankings: None
Dropping out of the rankings: None
Sub-6A
1. Navarro (7-0)
District: 13-4A Division II
Ranking last week: No. 1
Last week: Bye
The skinny: Navarro has won 30 consecutive regular-season games and 20 in a row at home.
This week: at Wimberley, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
2. Kerrville Tivy (5-2)
District: 26-5A
Ranking last week: No. 4
Last week: Defeated Marble Falls 38-7
The skinny: The Antlers have won three consecutive games since losing to Dripping Springs in their 26-5A opener.
This week: at Boerne Champion, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Boerne ISD Stadium
3. Pleasanton (7-0)
District: District 15-4A Division I
Ranking last week: No. 3
Last week: Defeated Robstown 50-0
The skinny: Quarterback Johnny Zamora scored on a 2-yard run with 1:45 left to lift the Eagles to victory in their district opener.
This week: vs. La Vernia, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Eagle Stadium, Pleasanton
4. Boerne (7-1)
District: 14-4A Division I
Ranking last week: No. 2
Last week: Lost to Canyon Lake 31-21
The skinny: Canyon Lake led the Greyhounds 21-7 at halftime and 28-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
This week: at Taylor, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
5. Alamo Heights (4-3)
District: 26-5A
Ranking last week: No. 5
Last week: Defeated Lockhart 28-21
The skinny: The Mules are in a three-way tie with Kerrville Tivy and Medina Valley for second in 26-5A.
This week: vs. Dripping Springs, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Orem Stadium, Alamo Heights High School
6. Somerset (5-2)
District: 15-4A/Division I
Ranking this week: No. 6
Last week: Defeated Rockport-Fulton 51-45
The skinny: BYU-bound Zadock Dinkelmann completed 21 of 31 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns for Somerset. Isaiah Rivera finished with 13 receptions for 135 yards and two TDs.
This week: vs. Robstown, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Somerset
7. Medina Valley (5-2)
District: 26-5A
Ranking last week: No. 7
Last week: Defeated Seguin 31-30
The skinny: The Panthers remained in the 26-5A playoff hunt with the narrow victory against the Matadors.
This week: vs. Lockhart, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Panther Stadium
8. Canyon Lake (6-2)
District: 14-4A Division I
Ranking last week: Not ranked
Last week: Defeated Boerne 31-21
The skinny: Boerne was unbeaten before crossing paths with the Hawks.
This week: vs. Fredericksburg, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Hawk Stadium, Fischer
9. Fredericksburg (5-2)
District: 14-4A Division I
Ranking last week: Not ranked
Last week: Bye
The skinny: Jose Palafos completed 25 of 34 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns, three to Dre’Chan Moody, in the win over Jefferson. Moody had 10 receptions for 133 yards.
This week: at Canyon Lake, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
10. Holy Cross (6-2)
District: TAPPS Division II-District 3
Ranking last week: No. 10
Last week: Lost to Austin Regents 21-0
The skinny: The Knights were outgained by Regents 326-146 326-146 in total offensive yardage.
This week: at Austin Hyde Park, Friday, 7 p.m.
Entering the rankings: Canyon Lake (6-2), Fredericksburg (5-2)
Dropping out of the rankings: Boerne Champion (3-4), Highlands (5-2),
