Week 3 of the high school football season features eight games among the 13 teams covered by BrownwoodNews.com.
The following are glimpses at the this week’s local matchups:
#7 May (1-1) at Knox City (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Class A Division I No. 7 May Tigers will attempt to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 44-40 setback against No. 4 Sterling City, as head coach Craig Steele’s squad ventures to Knox City to battle the Greyhounds.
Knox City (1-1) was was nipped by Motley County, 68-67, last week after starting its season with a 54-6 triumph over Morton.
The Greyhounds average 299.5 yards per game – 191.5 rushing and 108 passing. Tres Frausto has rushed for 145 yards and four scores, Tyler Rios has added 108 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and Jonathan Martinez has chipped in 100 yards.
Through the air, Anthony Hernandez has thrown for 211 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Receiving threats include Frausto with five grabs for 106 yards and a touchdown and Rios with four catches for 65 yards and three scores.
May (1-1) finished with 425 yards of total offense – 269 passing and 156 rushing – last week against Sterling City.
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).The Tigers finished with 425 yards of total offense – 269 passing and 156 rushing.
According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 45-point favorite.
#14 Brookesmith (0-1) at #19 Rochelle (2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Class A Division II No. 14 Brookesmith Mustangs played the full game against No. 5 Strawn last week but were unable to pull off the upset. A late scheduling change caused by COVID-19 will now send Brookesmith to face the undefeated and 19th-ranked Rochelle Hornets, who have toppled the Westbrook JV, 62-15, and Abilene Texas Leadership Charter, 67-0, thus far.
Brookesmith (0-1), whose Week 1 game at Veribest was also canceled because of COVID issues, finished with 343 yards of total offense, including 310 rushing, but committed three turnovers last week against Strawn.
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.
Defensively, the Mustangs created three turnovers but were gashed by Strawn to the tune of 677 total yards with 579 coming on the ground.
Rochelle returns four starters on both sides of the ball from an 8-3 squad last year, including all-state center Dakota Tinney. Jason Cox, Rance Siler, and Dylan Mendez are other players to watch.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Brookesmith is a 30-point favorite.
#16 Blanket (1-1) at Lingleville (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Class A Division II No. 16 Blanket Tigers collected their first victory last week against Gustine, and now eye their first win streak of the season with Friday’s trip to visit the Lingleville Cardinals.
Lingleville (0-2) has started its season with losses to Three Way, 57-32, and Lometa, 56-6.
In Blanket’s 53-8 win over Gustine last week, the Tigers racked up 275 yards of total offense, with 249 coming on the ground, while allowing 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.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 45-point favorite.
Stephenville Life (1-1) at Zephyr (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Zephyr Bulldogs continue to search for their elusive first victory of the season as they return home to host Stephenville Faith Friday night.
Zephyr (0-2) has started its season with losses to Sidney, 48-0, and Veribest, 42-32.
Stephenville Faith (1-1) defeated Mineral Wells Community Christian, 58-6, last week after opening the year with a 57-12 loss to Union Hill.
Players to watch for Zephyr include Kannon Eoff, Jayden Millican and Bryson Gibbs.
Faith averages 236 yards per game – 154.5 passing and 81.5 rushing. Kyle Corb has thrown for 199 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 98 yards and two more scores. Leading receivers include Dylan Aradal with six grabs for 103 yards and Tristian Saxon with three for 96 yards.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Zephyr is a 45-point underdog.
#18 Cross Plains (2-0) at Haskell (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Cross Plains Buffaloes, ranked No. 18 by Harris Ratings Weekly in Class 2A Division II, vaulted to No. 9 in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football rankings this week following their 2-0 start. Having defeated Menard, 54-6, and Goldthwaite, 28-14, the Bulldogs will attempt to keep their perfect record intact as they take to the road for the first time to challenge the Haskell Indians.
Haskell (0-2) has started its campaign with losses to Archer City, 60-7, and Quanah, 35-13.
The Indians are generating 202 yards per game – 106.5 passing and 95.5 rushing. Anthony Martinez has thrown for 217 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions, while leading receivers are Marc Williams with five for 63 yards and a touchdown and Landry Olson with four for 58 yards and a score. Williams also leads the rushing attack with 119 yards.
In the Buffaloes win over Goldthwaite last week, Cross Plains finished with 315 yards of total offense – 236 rushing and 79 passing – with a pair of turnovers. Defensively, the Buffaloes surrendered 253 yards, including 223 on the ground, and forced 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.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 24-point favorite.
Brady (1-1) at Coleman (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Coleman Bluecats and Brady Bulldogs are both looking to regroup following their first losses of the season this past Friday. Coleman dropped a 38-14 decision to Anson while Brady was handed a 28-7 defeat by Comanche.
In Coleman’s loss last week, the Bluecats (1-1) finished with 155 yards of total offense – 98 rushing and 57 passing – and turned the ball over once.
Defensively, Coleman yielded 349 yards – 183 on the ground and 166 through the air – with one takeaway. Dylan Mickler opened the scoring with a 46-yard interception return for a Coleman touchdown.
Ryland Gentry led the Bluecats with 68 yards rushing and a 5-yard touchdown 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.
Brady opened the season with an 81-8 win over San Angelo TLCA.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 20-point underdog.
Olney (1-1) at Goldthwaite (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Goldthwaite Eagles look to land in the win column for the first time in 2020 as they welcome the Olney Cubs.
Goldthwaite has started the season with losses to Crawford, 14-0, and Cross Plains, 28-14, while Olney has defeated Chico, 48-0, and fallen to Petrolia, 33-14.
In Goldthwaite’s loss to Cross Plains last weeks, the Eagles ended the night with 253 yards, including 223 on the ground, and one turnover.
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.
Olney averages 367.5 yards per game, with 356.5 yards coming on the ground. Guy leads the way with 216 yards and three touchdowns, Coleman has amassed 167 yards and three scores and Hernandez has chipped in 118 yards and a touchdown.
Luis Marquez leads the Olney defense with 16 tackles followed by Ab Marquez and Luis Castillo with 14 tackles each.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is a 24-point favorite.
#6 San Saba (2-0) at #17 Mason (0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Class 2A Division I No. 6 San Saba Armadillos venture to No. 17 Mason, where the Punchers are looking to nab their first victory of the season.
After cruising past Eldorado, 56-14, in the season opener, San Saba needed Justin Yarbrough’s 25-yard field goal with less than a minute left to defeat the Rogers Eagles last week.
The Armadillos (2-0) finished with 341 yards of total offense – 262 rushing and 79 passing – and committed one turnover while allowing 113 yards – 83 rushing and 30 passing – with one takeaway.
Stone Sears finished with 227 yards on the ground while Risien Shahan added 30 and passed for 79 yards. Logan Glover caught two passes for 30 yards and Reagan Mejia pulled down a 45-yard reception.
Mason (0-2) has opened its season with losses to Comanche, 14-0, and Comfort, 30-6.
In last week’s loss to Comfort, Mason scored first but allowed the final 30 points of the game. The Punchers were limited to 158 total yards – 144 rushing and 14 passing.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, San Saba is a 13-point favorite.
#2 Richland Springs (1-0) vs. Crowell (1-0) – canceled
The Richland Springs-Crowell game, slated for 7 p.m. Thursday in Throckmorton, was canceled due to heavy rain in Throckmorton that left the field unplayable.
Richland Springs’ next game is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 in Guthrie against first-year program Darrouzett (0-2).
* All 11-man rankings courtesy of Harris Ratings Weekly, all 6-man ranking via sixmanfootball.com unless otherwise stated.
