At 7 p.m. Friday, the Dragons (6-0, 2-0) visit the Sonora Broncos (3-4, 2-0) in a battle between two of the three district tri-leaders. Bangs travels to Ballinger – the other district tri-leader – next week as the toughest portion of the schedule has arrived.
“Last week was the first time we’ve experienced being behind on the scoreboard, we had our hands full and really had to fight,” said Bangs third-year head coach Kyle Maxfield. “I’m proud of way we answered the bell. The Ingram Moore game was a good prelude to this game because we’re going to see that same kind of stuff.”
Since beginning the season with four straight losses to Ozona (15-8), Llano (41-8), Christoval (22-14), and Alpine (7-0), Sonora has rebounded with three consecutive wins over Eldorado (44-42 in OT), Ingram Moore (28-13), and Brady (44-13). After tallying 45 points combined in the first four games, the Broncos have scored at least 44 points in two of their last three outings.
“They had the injury bug early in the year and struggled, but they’re better than their record shows,” Maxfield said. “They’ve really been improving the last few weeks and are undefeated in district.”
Sonora is averaging 21 points and 238 yards – 207 rushing and 21 passing – per outing.
Freshman quarterback Kale Sherill has completed 18 of 40 passes for 220 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception, while rushing for 289 yards and three scores. Preston Gonzalez is the leading rusher with 459 yards and seven touchdowns followed by Hunter O’Banon with 399 yards and six scores. Leading receivers include Gonzalez (7-131, TD) and Nathaniel Gensler Jr. (6-43).
“Offensively they run some straight T, a lot of three-back sets,” Maxfield said. “It’s one of those deals where Coach (Kevin) Sherill is a true to heart offensive line coach, so they really come off the ball well. They don’t have just one guy on offense that takes over a game, they all play well together.”
Bangs counters with a defense that gives up 8 points and 215 yards – 125 rushing and 90 passing – per game. Last week against Ingram Moore, the Dragons created four turnovers, all of which began touchdown drives.
Standouts include Ethan Sanchez (62.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 2 FRs), Damian Santillanes (50.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR), Charlie Smith (36 tackles, 3 for loss), Wyatt Lykins (26.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 FRs, 1 INT), Logan Bishop (24 tackles, 1 for loss), Trey Ivey (20 tackles), Evan Belez (18 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs), and Trevor Bowers (15.5 tackles, 2 for loss).
The Sonora defense is surrendering 22 points per game with 13 sacks and six takeaways – all fumble recoveries.
Leading tacklers include Gensler Jr. (74 tackles), Reese Baird (47 tackles, 3 for loss), Seth Edwards (47 tackles, 1 for loss), Edgar Deluna (44 tackles, 11 for loss), and Aidan Villanueva (41 tackles, 1 for loss). Marko Vasquez has tallied a team-high five sacks.
“They base out of a 50 front and they’ll be very sound,” Maxfield said. “We’ll have to maintain our blocks better than we have all year. The biggest thing when you watch their defense is they really swarm to the ball, so that’s going to be a big challenge for us.”
The Dragons offense generates 46 points and 450 yards – 291 rushing and 159 passing – per contest.
Quarterback Ethan Cortez has completed 43 of 62 passes for 956 yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 478 yards and seven scores – second-most on the team. Sanchez leads the ground game with 1,055 yards and 18 touchdowns, while top receiving targets include Brayton Wedeman (19-389, 5 TDs), Bowers (7-221, 3 TDs), Santillanes (6-41, TD), Logan Massey (4-60), Sanchez (3-134, 2 TDs) and Guy Powell (3-111, TD).
Regarding keys to a Bangs victory, Maxfield said, “Pad level is going to be big. We got kind of high a few times against Ingram Moore and they made us pay for it. We have to play with a lower pad level, and executing in all phases of the game is going to be big. Offensively we just have to stick to the plan. It’s going to be big for us to move the chains. The big play potential is always there for us, but we have to make sure we don’t get frustrated. They really run to the ball and tackle well, so some of our 20-yard plays may be 5 and 10 yard plays. We just have to grind it out and take what they’re giving us.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 17-point favorite.
Bangs Dragons 2020 Football Stats
Through 6 Games (6-0, 2-0)
TEAM OFFENSE
45.5 points per game (273)
450.1 yards per game (2,701)
290.8 rushing yards per game (1,745)
159.3 passing yards per game (956)
PASSING
‒ Ethan Cortez
43 of 62 for 956 yards, 11 TDs. 1 INT
RUSHING
‒ Ethan Sanchez
1,055 yards on 89 carries, 18 TDs
‒ Ethan Cortez
478 yards on 54 carries, 7 TDs
‒ Damien Santillanes
180 yards on 17 carries, 1 TD
‒ Guy Powell
106 yards on 20 carries
‒ Harley Keely
31 yards on 7 carries
‒ Jesse Sterling
10 yards on 3 carries
‒ Trevor Bowers
5 yards on 1 carry
‒ Tait Bowers
5 yards on 1 carry
‒ Trevor Lorah
1 yard on 1 carry
‒ Brayton Wedeman
–8 yards on 4 carries
‒ Team
–28 yards on 3 carries
RECEIVING
‒ Brayton Wedeman
19 catches for 389 yards, 5 TDs
‒ Trevor Bowers
7 catches for 221 yards, 3 TDs
‒ Damien Santillanes
6 catches for 41 yards, TD
‒ Logan Massey
4 catches for 60 yard
‒ Ethan Sanchez
3 catches for 134 yards, 2 TDs
‒ Guy Powell
3 catches for 111 yards, TD
TEAM DEFENSE
8.2 points per game (49)
215.5 yards per game (1,293)
125.0 rushing yards per game (750)
90.5 passing yards per game (543)
TACKLES
‒ Ethan Sanchez
62.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 2 FRs
‒ Damian Santillanes
50.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR
‒ Charlie Smith
36 tackles, 3 for loss
‒ Wyatt Lykins
26.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 FRs, 1 INT
‒ Logan Bishop
24 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Trey Ivey
20 tackles
‒ Evan Belez
18 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs
‒ Trevor Bowers
15.5 tackles, 2 for loss
‒ Ethan Cortez
11.5 tackles
‒ Donovan Ruiz
11 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Jesse Sterling
10 tackles
‒ Logan Massey
9.5 tackles, 1 FR
‒ Guy Powell
9 tackles, 1 INT
‒ Braden Montgomery
9 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Trevor Lorah
6.5 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Hunter Bernal
4.5 tackles
‒ Harley Keely
4 tackles
‒ Tait Bowers
3.5 tackles
‒ Austin Tilley
3 tackles
‒ Jackson Light
3 tackles
‒ Harley Keely
2 tackles
‒ Jackson Light
2 tackles
‒ Jesse Sterling
2 tackles
‒ Luke Duncan
2 tackles
‒ Dakota Baker
1.5 tackles
‒ Braxton Melling
.5 tackle, 1 FR