Junction and Granger Meet in Battle of Unbeaten Teams in Regional Semifinals

JUNCTION, TX — The undefeated and No. 4-ranked Junction Eagles are facing off against another undefeated team, the No. 6-ranked Granger Lions, in the Class 2A Division II regional semifinals this Friday in Johnson City.

The Junction Eagles have been preparing for a game like this all season. They played a difficult nondistrict schedule, starting off against the Goldthwaite Eagles, who were ranked No. 17 in the preseason. Junction took care of business and won, 40-16. The Eagles continued winning against San Saba (20-6) and Early (34-14), which were both playoff teams this year.

Then, they beat the Mason Punchers in the Puncherdome, 27-16, which is something the Junction Eagles had not done in 19 years. Mason is still in the playoffs this week with a game against Kenedy.

The Eagles followed up the win over Mason with a 2024 playoff rematch against Falls City and shut the Beavers out, 48-0, before starting district play.

Junction head coach Scott Freeman said the nondistrict schedule was by design to help prepare the team for the playoffs.

In district, the Eagles only allowed 20 points and have only allowed 91 points overall.

Hitting the playoffs, they played Somerville and won big, 70-6, then faced off against Falls City for the third time in two years and won, 42-13.

Now, they face off against Granger, which looks like it can run the ball.

“The quarterback (Wyatt Rochner) is the real deal,” Freeman said.

Rochner and running back Caleb Hobratsch form a potent 1-2 punch. The Lions dealt with some offensive linemen graduating but haven’t slowed down all season long. They’ve averaged 53.5 points a game and have only given up 17.7 points.

In Granger's most recent game against Yorktown, Rochner rushed nine times for 135 yards and a touchdown, while Hobratsch ran the ball 10 times for 171 yards, scoring three times.

Rochner was also extremely efficient through the air, going 7-of-9 passing for 75 yards and four TDs. Dayton Knippa was a threat receiving and rushing, combining for eight touches for 101 and a score. Caleb Tucker caught three passes for 42 yards and three TDs.

For Junction, all the weapons on offense have really complemented quarterback Chasen Doyal. Running back Aydin O’Brien, who was on JV last season, is one player that has stood out to Freeman. After losing parts of the offensive line, both Doyal and O’Brien give the Eagles a dangerous duo in the backfield. Casen Roberts, Hunter Dale, and the Bierschwale brothers out wide give Doyal plenty of options.

Outside of O’Brien, Freeman had a difficult time highlighting another player as they all contribute. They play as a team, and he has not had a single player come to him and complain about not getting touches.

For the Granger game, Freeman refused to give a score prediction but did say, “What kind of coach would I be if I didn’t have faith in my team?”

Junction plays Granger this Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. in Johnson City.