MAY – In a clash of Class A Division I Top 10 squads, the #7 May Tigers come up short in their home opener against the #4 Sterling City Eagles Friday night, falling by a 44-40 count.
The score was knotted at 8 after one quarter and May (1-1) owned a 22-16 halftime edge, but Sterling City (2-0) rallied to grab a 38-28 advantage through three periods.
The Tigers finished with 425 yards of total offense – 269 passing and 156 rushing.
Through the air, Rory Bustamante completed 7 of 13 passes for 144 yards with a touchdown, while Blake Harrell connected on 3 of 5 attempts for 125 yards with a scoring toss.
Kaden Halk led the Tigers with three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, Chris Flenniken grabbed four passes for 89 yards and scored once, Hayden King netted two receptions for 66 yards and Isidro Salinas added a 20-yard catch.
On the ground, Bustamante rushed for 61 yards and scored once, Halk compiled 40 yards with two touchdowns, Isidro Salinas tallied 33 yards and Damian Salinas logged 22 yards.
Defensively for May, King led the way with 13 tackles while other standouts included Brian Kunkel (8 tackles and a fumble caused), Bustamante (8 tackles and an interception), Halk (7 tackles and an interception), Damian Salinas (7 tackles), Flenniken (5 tackles), Isidro Salinas (5 tackles), Harrell (4 tackles), Aaron McGinn (3 tackles), and Korbin Bass (1 tackle).
Next week, May will attempt to bounce back at Knox City (1-1), which was nipped by Motley County, 68-67, Friday night, after starting its season with a 54-6 triumph over Morton.
#14 Blanket 53, Gustine 8
BLANKET – The Class A Division II No. 14 Blanket Tigers landed in the win column for the first time Friday night, notching a 53-8 victory over the Gustine Tigers in their home opener.
Blanket (1-1) led 14-0 after one quarter and opened a 45-8 lead at halftime before ending the contest early in the third period.
The Tigers racked up 275 yards of total offense, with 249 coming on the ground, while allowing Gustine (1-1) just 99 yards – 84 passing and 15 rushing. Both teams turned the ball over once.
Brayden Day led Blanket with 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Hector Castaneda added 83 yards with two trips to the end zone, Dakota Pogue rushed for 60 yards and scored once and Damon Carrillo tacked on 9 yards and a touchdown.
Through the air, Castaneda threw for 14 yards and Carlos Morales added 12. Tyler Simpson caught two passes for 26 yards to lead the Blanket receivers.
On the defensive end, Simpson notched 10 tackles – including one for a safety – followed by five each from Carrillo, Castaneda and Hayden Rogers, four from Day, and three apiece from Brady Furry and Mark Yeats.
Next week, the Tigers eye a second straight win as they travel to Lingleville (0-2), which has started its season with losses to Three Way, 57-32, and Lometa, 56-6.
#5 Strawn 64, #16 Brookesmith 37
BROOKESMITH – The Class A Division II No. 16 Brookesmith Mustangs finally got their season started Friday night, but came out on the short end of a 64-37 decision against the No. 5 Strawn Greyhounds.
Brookesmith (0-1), whose season opener at Veribest was canceled last week because of COVID issues, finished with 343 yards of total offense, including 310 rushing, but committed three turnovers.
Avery Williford led the Mustangs with 266 yards on the ground and three touchdowns while Johnathan Willoughby chipped in 79 yards and a score. Through the air, Clayton Adame hurled a 38-yard scoring strike to Randall Williams. Adame also scored on a 78-yard kick return.
Strawn (1-1) overcame three turnovers of its own and gashed the Mustangs defense for 677 yards with 579 coming on the ground.
The Mustangs trailed 22-6 after one quarter, 44-19 at halftime and 52-25 through three periods.
Next week, Brookesmith will face Rochelle (2-0) next week as the Mustangs’ original game with Evant was canceled due to COVID. Rochelle has defeated the Westbrook JV, 62-15, and Abilene Texas Leadership Charter, 67-0, thus far.
Veribest 42, Zephyr 32
VERIBEST – The Zephyr Bulldogs slipped to 0-2 on the season with a 42-32 road loss at Veribest, which kicked off its regular season Friday night.
Zephyr was coming off a 48-0 home loss to Sidney, while Veribest (1-0) had its original season opener against Brookesmith canceled due to COVID issues.
Additional information from the game was not available.
Next week, Zephyr will continue its pursuit of its first win as Stephenville Faith (1-1) comes calling. Faith defeated Mineral Wells Community Christian, 58-6, Friday night after opening the year with a 57-12 loss to Union Hill.
#3 Richland Springs 55, Austin Royals 8
RICHLAND SPRINGS – The reigning Class A Division II state champion Richland Springs Coyotes, ranked third in the state, opened their season Friday night with a 55-8 victory over Austin Royals.
The Coyotes (1-0) jumped out to a 29-0 lead over Austin Royals (1-1) after one quarter, carried a 41-8 advantage into the locker room at halftime and ended the game with 4:01 left in the third period.
Richland Springs amassed 316 yards of total offense – 197 rushing and 119 passing – with no turnovers while giving up just 59 yards – 30 on the ground and 29 through the air – with one takeaway.
Landon Burkhart rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 108 yards with three more scores. Jadeyn Bryant chipped in 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while also completing an 11-yard pass. Zane Capps finished with six receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns, along with 24 yards rushing. Chase Gossett added three catches for 63 yards with a trip to the end zone.
Defensively, Bryant led the way with 9 tackles followed by T.J Grant with 5 tackles and an interception and Jeremiah Usery with 3.5 takedowns.
Next week, the Coyotes venture to Throckmorton on Thursday night to tangle with Crowell in a neutral site, non-district battle. Crowell (1-0) was off this week after starting the season with a 58-12 triumph over Baird.
#19 Cross Plains 28, Goldthwaite 14
CROSS PLAINS – The Class 2A Division II No. 19 Cross Plains Buffaloes moved to 2-0 on the season Friday night, handing the Goldthwaite Eagles a second straight defeat, 28-14.
Cross Plains (2-0) jumped out to a 21-0 lead at halftime and fought off a Goldthwaite (0-2) attempted rally over the final two quarters.
The Buffaloes finished with 315 yards of total offense – 236 rushing and 79 passing – with a pair of turnovers. The Eagles ended the night with 253 yards, including 223 on the ground, and one turnover.
Cody McWilliams picked up 125 yards on the ground and reached the end zone on three occasions, Cason Allen rushed for 101 yards and also completed 2 of 5 passes for 44 yards with a touchdown and two picks, and Justin Gresham connected on 2 of 3 passes covering 35 yards. Ryan Reed hauled in a 35-yard scoring reception while Spade Koenig caught a team-high two passes for 33 yards.
Goldthwaite’s points came on a 37-yard scamper by Dusty Partin – who rushed for 59 yards – in the third period, and a 56-yard sprint by Jackson Patrick – who picked up 104 yards on the ground – in the fourth quarter.
Seth Gardner added 43 yards rushing for the Eagles and Cason Guthrie caught two passes covering 20 yards, as Goldthwaite generated 258 total yards, with 250 coming on the ground.
Next week, Cross Plains will take to the road for the first time in 2020 visiting Haskell (0-2), which has started its campaign with losses to Archer City, 60-7, and Quanah, 35-13. Meanwhile, Goldthwaite welcomes Olney (1-1), which has defeated Chico, 48-0, and fallen to Petrolia, 33-14.
#6 San Saba 24, Rogers 21
SAN SABA – San Saba’s Justin Yarbrough booted a 25-yard field goal with less than a minute left to propel the Class 2A Division I No. 6 San Saba Armadillos to a 24-21 home victory over the Class 3A Division II Rogers Eagles Friday night.
San Saba (2-0) led 14-7 at halftime, but Rogers (0-2) scored the first two touchdowns of the second half, grabbing a 21-14 edge with seven minutes left.
Armadillo quarterback Risien Shahan found the end zone on a 3-yard carry with three minutes remaining, and Yarbrough’s PAT knotted the score at 21.
Rogers scored first on a punt return to take a 7-0 lead, but San Saba answered with the next two touchdowns on carries of 70 and 20 yards by Stone Sears to open a 14-7 advantage.
The Armadillos finished with 341 yards of total offense – 262 rushing and 79 passing – and committed one turnover while holding Rogers to 113 yards – 83 rushing and 30 passing – with two takeaways.
Sears finished with 227 yards on the ground while Shahan added 35 and passed for 79 yards. Logan Glover caught two passes for 30 yards and Reagan Mejia pulled down a 45-yard reception.
Landon Yarbrough led the San Saba defense with 15 tackles followed by Bladen Calley with 13 and Glover with 10. Sears recovered a fumble and Justin Yarbrough intercepted a pass to account for Rogers’ two turnovers.
Next week, the Armadillos will attempt to move to 3-0 as they travel to Mason (0-2), which has opened its season with losses to Comanche, 14-0, and Comfort, 30-6.
#18 Comanche 28, Brady 7
COMANCHE – The Class 3A Division II No. 18 Comanche Indians remained unbeaten on the season and handed the Brady Bulldogs their first defeat in the process, 28-7, Friday night.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Indians (2-0) opened a 10-0 halftime advantage. Brady (1-1) closed the gap to 13-7 in the third period, but Comanche tacked on two insurance touchdowns in the fourth.
Eight different Indians carried the football, led by Logan Wilkerson with 92 yards. Luke Wilson chipped in 35 yards and Bryce Hermesmeyer added 31.
Through the air, Hudson Welch connected on 5 of 14 passes for 37 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Hermesmeyer led the way with two grabs for 15 yards while Jonathan Collins (14 yards), Wilson (5 yards) and Taelon Sorrells (3 yards) also caught passes.
Defensively for Comanche, Jaton Pate and Brandon Kennedy recorded six tackles each trailed by Cash Cook with five and four each from Wilkerson, Collins, Hermesmeyer and Jorge Rios. Hermesmeyer and Collins each intercepted a pass, Kennedy recorded two sacks, Matthew Gonzales chipped in one and Cook blocked a punt.
Next week, Comanche targets a third straight victory as it hosts Early (1-1), which knocked off Tolar, 41-25, after suffering a 28-0 loss to Bangs to start the season.
Anson 38, Coleman 14
COLEMAN – The Coleman Bluecats slipped to 1-1 on the season Friday night, falling to the Anson Tigers, 38-14, in their home opener.
The Bluecats (1-1) finished with 155 yards of total offense – 98 rushing and 57 passing – and turned the ball over once.
Anson (2-0) generated 349 yards – 183 on the ground and 166 through the air – with one turnover.
Dylan Mickler opened the scoring with a 46-yard interception return for a Coleman touchdown. Anson answered with two straight touchdowns, but a 5-yard touchdown trot by Ryland Gentry gave a 14-12 lead back to the Bluecats. The Tigers then followed with 26 consecutive points.
Gentry led the Bluecats with 68 yards rushing while Devinar Roberson chipped in 26 yards and Corbin Rosales rushed for 14. Rosales also completed 4 of 9 passes for 57 yards as Braxton Smith led the way with three grabs for 41 yards. Gentry and Denver Hunter each caught an 8-yard pass.
Gentry also led the Coleman defense with 12 tackles included two for loss, Robert Wright added eight tackles and Hunter tallied six tackles.
Next week, the Bluecats look to rebound as the Brady Bulldogs (1-1) come calling. Brady opened the season with an 81-8 win over San Angelo TLCA, but suffered a 28-7 loss at Comanche Friday night.