Comanches to play Mason for 5th time
Friday, November 21, 2014
by Mike Forman, Advocate Sports Reporter
Victoria Advocate Sports Article | Shiner Comanche Football
Coaches say every team is different, but Shiner's Steven Cerny has found something about Mason that stays the same.
"It seems like every year they average around 240 pounds on the line," Cerny said. "They're always very big and very athletic."
No. 8 Shiner (10-1) and No. 5 Mason (10-0) will meet for the fifth-straight season when they face off in a Class 2A, Division I area playoff game Friday at Round Rock's Dragon Stadium.
The teams have split their previous four games.
Mason won 28-21 in the 2010 regionals, and 55-7 in the 2011 quarterfinals before going on to win the Class 1A, Division I state championship.
The Comanches won 21-3 in the 2012 quarterfinals, and 14-13 in the area round last season before advancing to the Class 1A, Division I state final.
"They haven't changed a whole lot, and we haven't changed a whole lot," Cerny said. "We're both successful with what we do so it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to change now."
Shiner opened the playoffs with a Thursday bi-district game against Corpus Christi London. The Comanches breezed to a 63-0 win.
The Punchers had a first-round bye and were also off the proceeding week so they haven't played since Oct. 31.
"It's hard to tell how that will work out," Cerny said. "They could have had some guys injured who got well, but you never really know."
Cerny is certain Shiner will have to deal with Mason's size to be successful.
"This will be the biggest defensive line we've faced all year," he said. "We've got a little size and quickness and we have to use both to our advantage."
Cerny isn't thrilled about playing Mason in the area round for the second-straight season, but knows it's out of his control.
"That's the way the bracket worked out," he said. "A very good football team is not going to be playing the following week."
Mike Forman is a sports writer for The Victoria Advocate.
Contact him at 361-580-6588, or by e-mail at mforman@vicad.com.
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