Bears to prep for playoffs with Liberty Hill test

A one-day delay didn’t slow down Bastrop’s hunt for consecutive district titles.

What was supposed to be a Friday night contest was moved to Saturday afternoon at Bastrop Memorial Stadium because of poor stadium lighting. The Bears (9-0, 6-0 in district) continued their perfect season with a 70-6 win over the Pflugerville Panthers (6-3, 4-2) in a powerful Senior Day showing Nov. 1.

Junior quarterback Weston Nielsen turned in another impressive performance, throwing for 252 yards and six touchdowns as the Bears rolled to their ninth straight win.

Bastrop wasted no time setting the tone, scoring on its first three possessions to build a comfortable lead. Senior running back Gary Jefferson powered the ground game with 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He found the end zone on a 25-yard run to make it 14-0 and later broke free for a 70-yard score.

Jefferson also contributed through the air, pulling in another to cap off a strong outing. The senior has accounted for nearly 1,500 total yards and 26 touchdowns this season, cementing himself as one of the district’s most dynamic offensive weapons.

Nielsen showcased his accuracy and vision, spreading the ball around to four options. Junior wideout Diego Rangel was his top target, finishing with 80 yards and two touchdowns, while senior tight end Brent Carter added two scores of his own and junior Zac Wilkinson also found the end zone.

Defensively, the Bears were just as dominant.

Bastrop’s defense forced three interceptions and held Pflugerville to only 198 passing yards and minus-12 rushing yards — one of its best efforts of the season.

The Bears have allowed just eight points per game in district play. Bastrop’s offense continues to operate at a record pace, averaging 66.5.

The Bears will face one final test in the regular season when they travel to Liberty Hill Friday, Nov. 7. Both teams enter the matchup undefeated in district play.

Bastrop will look to repeat as district champions, while Liberty Hill aims for redemption after falling to the Bears 35-31 last season.