With most 11-man football teams enjoying their bye week, only six games are on the local docket for Friday night. Among them, No. 2 Richland Springs looks to remain undefeated for homecoming, No. 6 May targets a four-game win streak, Blanket looks to collect a fifth straight victory, Zephyr shoots for two wins in a row, Brookesmith attempts to bounce back from its second loss on homecoming night, and Cross Plains kicks off district action.

The following is a glimpse at the six games taking place this week among of the 13 teams covered by BrownwoodNews.com:

#6 May (4-1) at Newcastle (2-3)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Class A Division I No. 6 May Tigers, fresh off a 74-28 triumph over reigning state champion Blum, look to extend their win streak to four games as they visit the Newcastle Bobcats Friday night.

May opened the season with a 70-14 win at Bryson, followed with a 44-40 loss to No. 2 Sterling City, and has since defeated No. 10 Knox City (60-56), Nueces Canyon (48-0) and Blum.

Newcastle’s season features a win over Meadow (66-38), loss to Gordon (64-28), shutout victory over Woodson (46-0), and back-to-back losses to Throckmorton (56-16) and the Lubbock Titans (34-30).

The Tigers are averaging 58 points and 385 yards per game – 238 rushing and 147 passing.

The ground game is led by Kaden Halk (286 rushing yards, 8 TDs), Rory Bustamante (274 rushing yards, 4 TDs), Isidro Salinas (265 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Damian Salinas (163 rushing yards, 4 TDs).

Through the air, Bustamante has thrown for 431 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception while Blake Harrell has added 281 yards with two scoring tosses and one pick.

Leading receivers include Halk (8-213, 3 TDs), Chris Flenniken (8-173, 3 TDs), and Hayden King (6-190, 2 TDs).

Defensively, May is surrendering 28 points per game.

Standouts include King (54 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 1 FR), Isidro Salinas (38 tackles, 5 for loss), Flenniken (37 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 2 FR, 1 INT), Halk (29 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs), Brian Kunkel (24 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 1 FR), Bustamante (22 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 FR), Damian Salinas 21 tackles (2 for loss, 1 FR), Harrell (18 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 FR), and Aaron McGinn (14 tackles, 1 FR).

According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 45-point favorite.

Blanket (4-1) at Evant (2-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Blanket Tigers seek a fifth consecutive win Friday night as they visit an Evant squad coming off just its second game of the season – both wins.

Since a 30-22 loss to Gorman in Week 1, Blanket has rebounded with wins over Gustine (53-8), Lingleville (51-6), Zephyr (59-14), and Gholson (45-0).

Evant defeated Cranfills Gap (62-14) in Week 1, but due to COVID-19 the Elks did not take the field again until this past Friday when they collected another win over Penelope (88-66).

Blanket enters the contest averaging 46 points and 248 yards – 180 rushing and 68 passing – per game.

Leading rushers include Hector Castaneda (323 yards, 10 TDs), Brayden Day (263 yards, 9 TDs) and Damon Carrillo (183 yards, 6 TDs), while Carlos Morales has thrown for a team-high 165 yards with a touchdown. Top receivers include Tyler Simpson (10-210, 2 TDs) and Brady Furry (3-88, TD).

The Tigers give up just 12 points and 114 yards – 67 passing and 47 rushing – per outing.

Standouts include Simpson (39 tackles, 4 for loss, safety), Castaneda (37 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 INTs), Hayden Rodgers (28 tackles, 2 for loss), Day (28 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack), Carrillo (24 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 INTs) and Furry (15 tackles).

According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 45-point underdog.

Bluff Dale (1-4) at Brookesmith (2-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Brookesmith Mustangs look to climb back over the .500 mark on homecoming night as they welcome the Bluff Dale Bobcats.

Brookesmith’s season has featured an opening loss to Strawn (64-37), back-to-back wins over Rochelle (70-68) and Santa Anna (54-8), and last week’s home loss to Blackwell (56-8).

Bluff Dale thus far has lost to Throckmorton (66-14) and Azle Christian (50-0), defeated Fruitvale (28-16), and dropped games to Johnson County Sports Association (63-0), and Fort Worth THESA (77-32)

The Mustangs are producing 42 points and 258 yards – 195 rushing and 63 passing – per game.

Leading rushers include Avery Williford (530 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and Johnathan Willoughby (221 rushing yards, 5 TDs) – who will be back this week after missing the Blackwell game – while Clayton Adame has thrown for 183 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Leading receivers include Randall Williams (6-169, 3 TDs) and Williford (4-92, 3 TDs).

On the defensive end, Brookesmith is giving up 49 points and 372 yards – 253 on the ground and 119 through the air – per contest.

Defensive leaders include Willford (47 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR), Tristan Slayton (45 tackles, 2 FR), Willoughby (25 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 FR), Williams (19 tackles, 7 for loss), and Adame (15 tackles).

According to sixmanfootball.com, Brookesmith is a 41-point favorite.

Cherokee (3-2) at Zephyr (1-4)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Coming off their first victory of the season, the Zephyr Bulldogs target a win streak as the Cherokee Indians come to town.

Following losses to Sidney (48-0), Veribest (42-32), Stephenville FAITH (72-66), and Blanket (59-14), Zephyr defeated Paint Rock (51-6) this past Friday.

Thus far this season, Cherokee has beaten Buckholts (57-12), lost to Lometa (45-12), knocked off Sidney (48-28), topped Gustine (77-30), and fell to Irion County (73-28) last week.

According to sixmanfootball.com, Zephyr is a 45-point underdog.

San Antonio FEAST (1-2) at #2 Richland Springs (3-0)

7 p.m. Friday

The Class A Division II reigning state champion and second-ranked Richland Springs Coyotes host San Antonio FEAST for homecoming Friday.

The Coyotes thus far have knocked off Austin Royals (55-8), Darrouzett (56-7) and Fort Worth Covenant Classical (61-16).

Meanwhile, FEAST has lost to Leakey (57-8) and Nueces Canyon (30-25), and defeated Austin NYOS Charter (68-0).

Richland Springs is averaging 57 points and 313 yards – 233 rushing and 80 passing – per game, with three turnovers.

The Coyotes’ ground game is led by Landon Burkhart (376 yards, 7 TDs), Jadeyn Bryant (175 yards, 5 TDs), Zane Capps (97 yards, 1 TD), Brandon Stewart (22 yards, TD), Jeremiah Usery (17 yards), and Kenny Triplett (13 yards, TD).

Through the air, Burkhart has passed for 173 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, Bryant has thrown for 55 yards with a scoring toss and Triplett has tossed a 13-yard touchdown.

Leading receivers include Capps (8-79, 2 TDs), Chase Gossett (3-63, TD), Bryant (2-42, TD), T.J. Grant (1-44, TD), and Kelton Lusty (1-13, TD).

Defensively, the Coyotes yield 10 points and 65 yards – 55 passing and 10 rushing – per outing, with nine takeaways.

Standouts include Bryant (16 tackles, 6 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries), Burkhart (10 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries), Grant(10 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 interception), Lusty (7 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 interception), Usery (6.5 tackles, 1.5 for loss), Cohen Tharp (5.5 tackles, 1 for loss), Stewart (5 tackles, 1 interception) and Nick Nilson (5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery).

According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 45-point favorite.

Cross Plains (4-1, 0-0) at Hico (1-4, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

District 8-2A Division II has moved its entire league slate up a week, so instead of a bye the Cross Plains Buffaloes will venture to face the Hico Tigers Friday night.

Thus far this season, Cross Plains has defeated Menard (54-6) and Goldthwaite (28-14), lost to Haskell (20-16), and followed with victories over De Leon (14-7), and Miles (41-12).

Meanwhile, Hico opened with a 33-6 win over Texas Wind out of Waco and has since lost to Moody (7-6), Hamilton (66-0), Junction (39-10), and Winters (41-0).

In last week’s win over Miles, the Buffaloes finished with 499 yards of total offense including 403 rushing on 51 carries.

Cason Allen led the charge with 173 yards and a touchdown while Cody McWilliams contributed 163 yards and four scores. Justin Gresham connected on 5 of 7 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, as Ryan Hopkins pulled down a team-high two receptions for 61 yards and scored once.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 48-point favorite.