HUTTO – It’s going to take a special effort to slow down the Hutto offense in the playoffs.
Fresh coming off their bye week, the Hippos threw some wrinkles into their usual offense Friday.
Hutton running back Brayden Childs (11) runs the ball during the game against Vandegrift at Hutto Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026 in Hutto, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Instead of being their normal pass-happy selves, with Micah Antoun throwing to the wildly talented trio of Jaiden Fields, Dylan Owens and Carson Fields on the way to averaging 55 ppg, the Hippos ran at varying times the option, the Wildcat and plays without anyone in the backfield when they lined up.
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The result was the same, though, with Hutto exploding for 431 yards of offense during a 49-10 rout of Vandegrift at Hutto Memorial Stadium to claim the top seed in the Division I playoffs out of District 24-6A.
“We had a little time to reset with our open week,” Hutto coach Casey Walraven said. “Once we got started, it was just one after another … and we dialed it up pretty good tonight. But it’s all up to the kids executing it, and they did a fantastic job all the way around.”
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‘They’re always open’
Hutto didn’t waste time showing its new plays. Facing a fourth-and-2 at its own 45 on the game’s opening possession, the Hippos had Jaiden Fields – an Oklahoma commit and the team’s star wideout and defensive back – line up at quarterback. With his brother Carson next to him, he ran the option, pitching to Carson, who sprinted down the home sideline for a touchdown.
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Jaiden Fields would later throw a TD on a double pass. Owens got in on the action by scoring two rushing touchdowns on direct snaps, with one of those coming on a 31-yard jaunt that included multiple broken tackles.
“During the week, coach was like, ‘You want the ball, too?'” said Owens, who is committed to Western Kentucky. “I was like, ‘Yes, sir.’ … I loved running it. When the ball is in my hands, I know I have to do something with it.”
Antoun, who finished 17 of 20 for 238 yards and two touchdowns, may have been less involved with the new schemes, but he had arguably the game’s most impressive play when he threw a 33-yard scoring pass to Jaiden Fields while being tackled. The sophomore passer said he just enjoys having talented options to throw to.
“They make it so easy for me,” Antoun said. “Any one-on-one matchup, they’re always open, and even if they’re double-teamed, I know I can trust them and get the ball to them no matter what.”
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Hutto (8-2, 5-1) will start its postseason Friday against Cypress Ranch (9-1) at A&M Consolidated. It’s a difficult matchup against a Houston-area team currently ranked No. 22 by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, but the Hippos think their offense gives them a shot in any game.
“It’s powerful,” Owens said. “We’ve got some players over here that can’t be stopped.”
Hutto’s defense doesn’t want to be overshadowed
Walraven called Friday the first time his team has put together four quarters this season, and part of that was a defense that had its best performance.
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The Hippos made six fourth-down stops and kept Vandegrift to less than 250 yards.
“They’ve been right there on the edge all year of making some great plays,” Walraven said. “They’ve continued to get better through the whole year, and now they’re starting to understand the significance of Hutto not just being offense. The gauntlet is our defense, and we want to have the most dominant defense along with our offense. And we put that together.”
Linebacker Hunter Frenette, who is a three-year starter and second on the team in tackles with 78, noted the defense has made great strides since giving up 53 points to Harker Heights in Week 1.
“I’m really proud of how we’ve fought through the hard times,” Frenette said. “We’ve done some great things and set a couple of records that will go down in the history books.”
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A special win
After losing to Vandegrift four times in the previous six years, the victory is especially meaningful for Hutto.
The Vipers are also two years removed from a state title, entered this season having won eight straight district titles and are perennially one of the top programs in Central Texas, something that isn’t lost on Walraven.
“They’ve got a legacy going over at Vandegrift, and for the right reasons,” he said. “Coach (Drew) Sanders has built a great program, and they’ve kind of had the best of Hutto. It was great to come out and not only win it, but win it in dominant fashion.”
This article originally published at ‘Can’t be stopped’: Hutto football claims top seed, offense continues roll vs Vandegrift.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
