The Bastrop Bears are looking to do something no team from Bastrop has done in 66 years.
If Bastrop (7-2, 4-1 District 16-4A) defeats Hutto on Friday, the Bears will win Bastrop’s first back-to-back district championship since 1943-44.
“It would be a great thing to say that we were the first team in like 60 years to (win back-to-back district titles),” running back Marcus Reed said. “It’s something we would tell our grandkids in 60 years from now.”
The Bears could have had the district title already in hand, had it not be for a slight hiccup against Rudder in their district opener.
Since that loss, Bastrop’s offense has produced, averaging 45 points per game and 466 yards of total offense.
The defense,which got its first shutout last week against Elgin in head coach Gerald Perry’s tenure, is only giving up 36 points per game since Bastrop’s loss to Rudder.
However, that number is a bit more impressive when you take into account that the Bears are giving up 16 points per game in their last three.
“Our defense is stepping up to the plate,” Perry said. “They have played well and I look for them to continue to play well this week in another big game.”
And another big game is exactly what Bastrop has been preparing for all week.
Hutto (8-1, 4-1) has already clinched its first playoff appearance since the Hippos moved up to Class 4A in 2008.
Hutto’s offense is just as big as Bastrop’s, averaging 451 yards and 41 points per game.
Quarterback Ryan Higgins is the heart of the Hippos offense just like Josiah Monroe is the heart of Bastrop’s.
Higgins has thrown for 1,914 yards and completed 57 percent of his passing  attempts. He has 18 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions.
“They have a lot of weapons, but are very similar to us, so we practice that matchup every day in practice,” Perry said. “They are a good balanced team and will mix up the run and pass.”
Hutto also will have the services of running back Xavier Wynn back, who has been out for the last three weeks with an injury.
Wynn has 970 yards rushing and averages 6.4 yards per carry.
Bastrop running back Trae Bunton gave the Hippos a lot of respect and said the Bears are going to have to play “Bastrop football,” which he said is playing with “high intensity.”
“I think Hutto is a better team than Connally,” Bunton said. “We made a lot of mistakes against Connally and we can’t do that against Hutto. We have to play better all around.”

TALE OF THE TAPE
BASTROP        HUTTO
376    TOTAL POINTS FOR    373
41.7    POINTS PER GAME    41.4
3,703 YDS    TOTAL OFFENSE     4,058 YDS
1,639 YDS    RUSHING OFFENSE    2,144 YDS
2,064 YDS    PASSING OFFENSE    1,914 YDS
22.5    POINTS AGAINST PER GAME    20.2
203    TOTAL POINTS AGAINST    182
Bryan-Rudder    KEY DISTRICT LOSS    Connally
Connally    KEY DISTRICT WIN    Hendrickson

MONROE VS. HIGGINS
Bastrop quarterback Josiah Monroe and Hutto quarterback Ryan Higgins are very similar and are the heart of both team’s offenses. Here’s how they match up
Monroe    Higgins
Passing yards    1,932    1,910
Yards per game    214.7    212.2
Completion %    57.2    56.7
Passing TDs    26    18
Interceptions    5    10