The Lumberton Raiders and Needville Bluejays will square off in the second round of the 2023 UIL 4A D1 Texas State Football Championships on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 7pm ET at Legacy Field in Katy, TX.
What it is: Texas High School Football
Matchup: Lumberton Raiders vs. Needville Bluejays
Time: Thursday Nov 16, 2023, 7pm ET
Game Type: Playoffs
Bracket: 2023 UIL 4A D1 Texas State Football Championships
Round: Second Round
Locations: Legacy Field Katy Texas, TX
Live Stream: Watch here
The Raiders enter the game with an 8-3 record, while the Bluejays have a 9-2 record. The Bluejays have the better offense, averaging 44.5 points per game, while the Raiders have the better defense, allowing just 38.9 points per game.
The Raiders are led by senior quarterback Jack Miller, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. Miller also has a strong running game, with over 500 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
The Bluejays are led by senior running back Ben Peterson, who has rushed for over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Peterson is also a threat in the passing game, with over 300 yards receiving and five touchdowns.
This game is expected to be a close game, with both teams having evenly matched offenses and defenses. The outcome of the game will likely come down to which team can make the most stops on defense and which team can avoid costly turnovers.
The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network. You can watch the game on your smartphone, tablet, computer, or connected device. To watch the game, you will need to sign in and subscribe to the NFHS Network.
I predict that the Needville Bluejays will win this game, 35-28.
The Needville Bluejays are the better team overall. They have the better offense, the better quarterback, and the better passing game. The Lumberton Raiders have a good defense, but they will need to play a perfect game in order to stop the Bluejays’ offense.
The key to the game will be the Raiders’ ability to slow down the Bluejays’ passing game. The Bluejays have a strong passing game that is averaging over 300 yards per game. The Raiders will need to get their pass rush involved in order to stop the Bluejays’ passing game.
The Raiders also need to avoid costly turnovers. The Bluejays have forced 20 turnovers this season. If the Raiders can avoid turnovers, they will have a chance to win this game.
The Bluejays are the favorites to win this game, but the Raiders are a dangerous opponent. If the Raiders can slow down the Bluejays’ passing game and force them into turnovers, they have a chance to win this game.
