Physicality is the key, according to Brownwood third-year head coach Sammy Burnett, as the Lions attempt to bounce back from their second loss in three outings this season when they venture to challenge the Burnet Bulldogs. Kickoff between the Lions (1-2) and Burnet (2-1) is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Burnet.

“The focus this week is on becoming a more physical football team,” said Burnett, who officially rejoined the program Tuesday following a two-week quarantine due to coming in close contact with individuals who had contracted COVID-19. “I thought we were out-physicaled by China Spring last Friday and talking to the coaches they felt the same way. There’s no excuse, we don’t blame it on anything, we just have to mature as a football team and become more physical. As a coaching staff we’ve implemented some drills and some segments in this week that will hopefully help us in that area to become physical at every position we play.”

The Lions are coming off a 35-14 home loss to China Spring in which Brownwood finished with just 183 yards of total offense, with 123 coming on the ground, while surrendering 414 yards, including 332 rushing on 52 carries.

“If we can run the football against Burnet and keep them from running it, I think we’ll be successful,” Burnett said. “Let’s get physical, let’s become the team we want to become, become the team we expect to be. Let’s control the ball, run it down their throat, and on the other side of the ball let’s stop the run like we did against Greenwood. If we can accomplish those two goals and continue to grow and develop in the special teams department, I think we’ll have a great opportunity to be successful Friday.”

The Lions should receive a boost with the arrival of Logan Gillem on the offensive line, who was cleared by the UIL to join the team earlier this week.

“With the addition of Logan Gillem, who got his waiver approved Tuesday, I think that we’re going to be a little bit better up front,” Burnett said. “They worked really hard this week and gelled together and I’m really excited to see what we can do. It would be a great night to get Royshad (Henderson) over 200 yards, that’s my goal for him. He’s run extremely hard the last three weeks, we just haven’t created the holes he needs to get through. I’m excited about the potential he has and the offensive line. Hopefully by now we’re going to get to where we’re maturing together and getting where we can run the ball on the ground, which will always set up our passing game.”

The Lions enter the contest averaging 24 points and 239 yards – 125 passing and 114 rushing – per game, with five turnovers. Henderson has rushed for 319 yards and six touchdowns while quarterback Chance Jones has connected on 21 of 38 passes for 190 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Leading receivers include Dane Johnson (10-94), Jason Jackson (7-115, 2 TDs), Elias Huerta (6-48), Henderson (4-66, 1 TD) and Khyren Deal (2-48).

“Chance is doing a lot better in his progression of being the quarterback we want him to become,” Burnett said. “The biggest concern right now is the deep ball. We had a couple of opportunities last week to complete some big passes and didn’t. We’ve been diligently working with him on his mechanics to remedy that. He’s worked extremely hard this week in practice and has looked really good.”

Burnet – which is coming off its first loss, 30-7 to Boerne—counters with a defense that is allowing just 19 points per contest.

“Two of their best guys are Devonte Miller at one defensive end and Braeden Howell at the other,” Burnett said. “Greshim Punmager is a fire plug and those three go well together up front. They’re a 3-3 stack team on defense and will bring five from somewhere on every play. They’re going to stunt, loop, spin and try and get you confused. On the back end they want to be a cover 3 team. They show a Tampa 2 look then roll to a cover 3. And when you get in the red zone they’ll play a little man to man.”

The Bulldog offense is producing 26 points per outing.

In a 46-6 opening win over Jarrell, Marcus Escamilla rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns, Jaxson Denton threw for 102 yards and three touchdowns, and Mason Thornley tacked on 100 yards on the ground. Howell returned a fumble for a touchdown.

In a 29-21 triumph over Gonzales in Week 2, Escamilla had two touchdowns and 117 rushing yards, Denton completed 12 of 24 passes for 166 yards and the Bulldog defense shut out Gonzales in the first and third quarters.

“Jaxson Denton does a good job of going out there and getting after it,” Burnett said. “Miller also plays wide receiver and is a pretty gifted athlete. Howell also plays running back for them and can really go.”

The Lions defense is giving up 35 points and 379 yards – 297 rushing and 82 passing – per game with five takeaways. Early season standouts have included Deal (42 tackles, 1 for loss), Malachi Revada (25 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT), Reece Bolton (21 tackles, 3 for loss), Kris Hobbs (17 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR), Blaize Espinoza (15 tackles, 1 for loss, .5 sack), Dryden Anderson (13 tackles, 2 for loss), Jordan Leach (12 tackles), Hunter Day (11 tackles, 1 INT), Zach Bond (10 tackles), Christian Chambers (9 tackles, 1 FR) and Konlyn Anderson (9 tackles).

Brownwood will likely be missing at least three members from the roster Friday.

“We lost Baylor Tidwell to a broken thumb, so he’ll be limited to the defensive side,” Burnett said. “Our goal was to have Blaize as the bell cow at linebacker and help stop the run and not have him on offense as much so we can be fresh. But Blaize is in the back up quarterback role and we might have to use him.

“Tyler Tiner is out with the complications from his broken ankle in the summer, and Jordan Leach is out going through concussion protocol. We’re not going to rush him back, his health is of the utmost importance, so we’re going to hold those three out for sure.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Brownwood is a 13-point favorite.

Brownwood Lions Football 2020 Season Stats
Through 3 Games (1-2)

TEAM OFFENSE
24.0 points per game (72)
238.7 yards per game (716)
114.0 rushing yards per game (342)
124.7 passing yards per game (374)

PASSING
‒ Chance Jones
21 of 38 for 190 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

‒ Blaize Espinoza
9 of 20 for 184 yards, 2 TDs

RUSHING
‒ Royshad Henderson
319 yards on 68 carries, 6 TDs
‒ Chance Jones
24 yards on 23 carries, 1 TD

‒ Konlyn Anderson
1 yard on 1 carry

‒ Blaize Espinoza
–2 yards on 4 carries

RECEIVING
‒ Dane Johnson
10 catches for 94 yards
‒ Jason Jackson
7 catches for 115 yards, 2 TDs

‒ Elias Huerta
6 catches for 48 yards

‒ Royshad Henderson
4 catches for 66 yards, 1 TD
‒ Khyren Deal
2 catches for 48 yards

TEAM DEFENSE
35.0 points per game (105)
379.0 yards per game (1,137)
297.3 rushing yards per game (892)
81.7 passing yards per game (245)

TACKLES
‒ Khyren Deal
42 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Malachi Revada
25 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT

‒ Reece Bolton
21 tackles, 3 for loss

‒ Kris Hobbs
17 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR

‒ Blaize Espinoza
15 tackles, 1 for loss, .5 sacks

‒ Dryden Anderson
13 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Jordan Leach
12 tackles

‒ Hunter Day
11 tackles, 1 INT

‒ Zach Bond
10 tackles

‒ Christian Chambers
9 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Konlyn Anderson
9 tackles
‒ Chance Jones
7 tackles
‒ Tyler Tiner
7 tackles

‒ Royshad Henderson
6 tackles

‒ Elias Huerta
6 tackles
‒ Cade Jetton
5 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Taylor Bessent
5 tackles

‒ Zaiden Lopez
4 tackles, 1.5 sacks

‒ Spencer Scull
4 tackles

‒ Baylor Tidwell
4 tackles

‒ Dane Johnson
3 tackles

‒ Roman McKibbon
2 tackles
‒ Ethan Pesina
2 tackles
‒ Trevor Evans
1 tackle

‒ Jimi Brown
1 tackle

TURNOVER MARGIN: (0)
Brownwood 5 — 4 fumbles, 1 INT
Opponents 5 — 3 fumbles, 2 INTs