A nine-game schedule is on tap in Week 9 involving teams covered by BrownwoodNews.com as Blanket, Brookesmith, May, Richland Springs, Cross Plains, Coleman, and San Saba will attempt to remain in no worse than a share of first place in their respective districts.
The following are glimpses at this week’s contests:
Sidney (5-2, 2-0) at Blanket (5-2, 1-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Blanket Tigers’ bid for a third straight district championship will come down to the next two games as they host the Sidney Eagles Friday night before traveling to Brookesmith next week.
Blanket opened District 15-A Division II action with a 60-14 victory over Rising Star on Oct. 9 and had its league bye last week, giving the Tigers two weeks to prepare for the Eagles.
Sidney owns district wins over Panther Creek (69-0) and Rising Star (37-30). The Eagles also collected victories against Zephyr (48-0), Gorman (30-28), and Three Way (46-0). The losses for Sidney came against Gordon (64-40) and Cherokee (48-28).
Blanket enters the contest averaging 45 points and 258 yards – 186 rushing and 72 passing – per game.
Leading rushers include Hector Castaneda (455 yards, 12 TDs), Brayden Day (329 yards, 10 TDs) and Damon Carrillo (186 yards, 6 TDs), while Carlos Morales has thrown for a team-high 372 yards with two touchdowns. Top receivers include Tyler Simpson (13-261, 2 TDs), Brady Furry (3-88, TD), Hayden Rodgers (3-43) and Day (3-19).
The Tigers give up 18 points per outing. Standouts include Simpson (47 tackles, 6 for loss, safety), Castaneda (44 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 INTs), Rodgers (41 tackles, 3 for loss), Day (36 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 sack), Carrillo (28 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 INTs) and Furry (19 tackles, 1 INT).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 1-point favorite.
#5 May (7-1, 2-0) at Baird (3-4, 1-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
In a battle that will likely determine the District 13-A Division I champion and No. 1 playoff seed, the May Tigers will shoot for a seventh win in a row as they visit the Baird Bears Friday night.
Baird opened district play with a 66-16 victory over Santa Anna, but fell in non-district action to Fort Worth Covenant Classical, 68-65, last week. The Bears lost their first three games of the season to Crowell (58-12), Hermleigh (58-20) and Gordon (56-47), then followed with wins over Odessa Permian Basin (62-13), Lueders-Avoca (64-18), and Santa Anna.
May has started district action with victories over Gorman (49-0) and Santa Anna (51-0).
The Tigers are averaging 56 points and 333 yards per game – 226 rushing and 107 passing.
The ground game is led by Rory Bustamante (419 rushing yards, 7 TDs), Kaden Halk (369 rushing yards, 9 TDs), Isidro Salinas (362 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and Damian Salinas (213 rushing yards, 5 TDs).
Through the air, Bustamante has thrown for 498 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception while Blake Harrell has added 356 yards with six scoring tosses and one pick.
Leading receivers include Chris Flenniken (11-240, 5 TDs), Halk (8-213, 3 TDs), and Hayden King (7-218, 4 TDs).
Defensively, May is surrendering 18 points per game with 13 takeaways – seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries – with two returned for touchdowns.
Standouts include King (75 tackles, 23.5 for loss, 1 FR), Isidro Salinas (56 tackles, 9 for loss), Flenniken (49 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 2 FR, 1 INT), Halk (37 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs), Bustamante (29 tackles, 1for loss, 2 INTs, 1 FR), Brian Kunkel (29 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 1 FR), Damian Salinas (26 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 FR), Harrell (21 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 FR), and Aaron McGinn (20 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR).
According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 45-point favorite.
Brookesmith (4-2, 1-0) at Rising Star (3-5, 0-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Brookesmith Mustangs return to the field for the first time since Oct. 2 as they visit the Rising Star Wildcats in District 15-A Division II action Friday night.
Brookesmith’s last game was a 55-0 triumph over Bluff Dale for homecoming. The district bye week then followed for the Mustangs while Panther Creek forfeited last week’s league contest.
Rising Star’s first two district games have been losses at the hands of Blanket (60-14) and Sidney (37-30). The Wildcats have also fallen to Gustine (64-42), Santa Anna (68-22) and Mullin (62-24). Rising Star has knocked off Forestburg (58-31), Three Way (55-46) and Waco Eagle Christian Academy (110-62).
The Mustangs are producing 45 points and 232 yards – 178 rushing and 54 passing – per game.
Leading rushers include Avery Williford (559 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and Johnathan Willoughby (297 rushing yards, 7 TDs) while Clayton Adame has thrown for 200 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. Leading receivers include Randall Williams (7-186, 4 TDs) and Williford (4-92, 3 TDs).
On the defensive end, Brookesmith is giving up 39 points and 283 yards – 192 on the ground and 91 through the air – per contest.
Defensive leaders include Williford (52 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR), Tristan Slayton (51 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 FR), Willoughby (31 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 FR), Williams (24 tackles, 10 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FRs), and Adame (15 tackles).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Brookesmith is a 45-point favorite.
Jonesboro (7-1, 1-0) at Zephyr (1-6, 0-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Zephyr Bulldogs will attempt to rebound from last week’s loss to Lometa in the District 15-A Division I opener as they host the preseason favorite Jonesboro Eagles.
Along with last week’s 53-7 setback against Lometa, Zephyr has also fallen to Sidney (48-0), Veribest (42-32), Stephenville Faith (72-66), Blanket (59-14), and Cherokee (65-8). The lone win for the Bulldogs came against Paint Rock (51-6).
Jonesboro’s only loss this season came at the hands of Borden County (77-31). The Eagles opened district last week with a victory over Evant (78-31) and also own triumphs over Coolidge (48-0), Perrin-Whitt (64-20), Johnson County Sports Association (76-44), Blum (53-18), Milford (59-14), and Bryson (60-14).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Zephyr is a 45-point underdog.
No. 2 Richland Springs (6-0, 2-0) at Mullin (6-1, 0-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Class A Division II No. 2 Richland Springs Coyotes secured a 19th straight district championship with their 75th consecutive league win last week, slipping past Cherokee in an 84-81 shootout. Friday night, the Coyotes venture to Mullin to battle the Bulldogs.
Richland Springs is averaging 62 points and 319 yards – 209 rushing and 110 passing – per game, with five turnovers.
The Coyotes’ ground game is led by Landon Burkhart (694 yards, 14 TDs), Jadeyn Bryant (399 yards, 15 TDs), Zane Capps (115 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 574 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions, Bryant has thrown for 73 yards with a scoring toss and Triplett has tossed a 13-yard touchdown.
Leading receivers include Capps (11-112, 3 TDs), Bryant (6-124, 4 TDs), Chase Gossett (8-154, 2 TDs), T.J. Grant (5-209, 3 TDs), Kelton Lusty (2-31, TD), and Lane Garcia (1-30).
Defensively, the Coyotes yield 21 points and 149 yards – 116 passing and 33 rushing – per outing, with 12 takeaways.
Standouts include Bryant (30.5 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 7 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries), Burkhart (23 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Grant (21.5 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 interception), Capps (16 tackles, 4 for loss), Lusty (15.5 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 interception), Stewart (11.5 tackles, 2 interceptions), Usery (9 tackles, 2 for loss), Chase Gossett (8.5 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Nick Nilson (6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), and Cohen Tharp (5.5 tackles, 1 for loss).
Mullin dropped its district opener to Cherokee (47-0) after running the table in pre-district action with victories over Olfen (64-0), Trent (46-0), Three Way (42-36), Panther Creek (62-6), Rising Star (62-24) and Veribest (60-40).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is 45-point favorite.
Coleman (6-1, 2-0) at Cisco (4-3, 2-0)
7 p.m. Friday
Two of the three undefeated teams in District 4-2A Division I square off Friday night as the Coleman Bluecats visit the Cisco Loboes.
Coleman has defeated Goldthwaite (28-7) and De Leon (35-0) in league play, while Cisco’s district wins have come against Winters (28-14) and De Leon (48-6).
In the Bluecats’ triumph over Goldthwaite last week, Coleman generated 331 total yards – 211 rushing and 120 passing. Corbin Rosales passed for 120 yards and three scores and led the ground attack with 109 yards rushing. Braxton Smith caught a team-high four passes for 96 yards, while R.J. Wright added 46 yards on the ground and Denver Hunter rushed for 28.
Coleman’s defense gave up just 141 yards with 130 coming on the ground.
Cisco enters the contest averaging 24 points and 313 yards – 231 rushing and 82 passing – per game, while yielding 17 points.
Quarterback Hunter Long leads the Loboes in both rushing (797 yards, 6 TDs) and passing (571 yards, 7 TDs, 5 INTs) yards. Jerrod Fisher (318 yards, 2 TDs) is also a weapon out of the backfield while receiving threats include Dawson Hearne (7-151, 4 TD) and Stephen Bird (7-130, TD).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 13-point underdog.
De Leon (1-6, 0-2) at San Saba (5-1, 2-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Class 2A Division I No. 3 San Saba Armadillos look to keep a share of the District 4 lead as they welcome the De Leon Bearcats Friday night.
San Saba has been dominant in its two district outings thus far, blasting Goldthwaite (64-6) and Winters (49-0).
For the season, San Saba averages 43 points and 456 yards – 299 rushing and 157 passing – per game, while giving up 13 points.
Risien Shahan has thrown for 836 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Leading rushers include Stone Sears (880 yards, 15 TDs), Weston Lackey (397 yards, 4 TDs), Shahan (226 yards, 4 TDs), and Justin Yarbrough (216 yards, 3 TDs). Primary receiving threats include Logan Glover (13-312, 3 TDs), Sears (8-214, 2 TDs), Yarbrough (8-110), and Reagan Mejia (7-172, 2 TDs).
Leading the way for the San Saba defense – which has tallied 20 sacks and 18 takeaways — are Landon Yarbrough (53 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 FR), Bladen Cally (37 tackles, 8 for loss, 2 FRs), Justin Yarbrough (36 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 FRs), Sears (35 tackles, 11 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 FR), Shahan (35 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 FR), Bryan Reza (32 tackles, 5 for loss), Dylan Ware (40 tackles, 4 for loss), and Glover (30 tackles, 1 FR).
De Leon dropped its first two district games to Coleman (35-0) and Cisco (48-6), and has also suffered losses to Dublin (33-7), Windthorst (55-7), Millsap (27-20), and Cross Plains (14-7). The lone win for the Bearcats this season has come against Seymour (20-19).
The Bearcats average 9 points and 282 yards – 247 rushing yards and 35 passing per game.
Quarterback Lane Powledge has thrown for 246 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions while leading rushers include Trey Lopez (751 yards, 4 TDs) and Emery Amick (379 yards, 3 TDs). Dawson Mathews (5-202, 1 TD) is the top receiving threat.
De Leon’s defense gives up 33 points per game with 10 takeaways and seven sacks for the season.
Standouts include Ethan Salinas (48 tackles, 10 for loss) and Kallen McIlvain (42 tackles, 5 for loss).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, there is no line for this game.
Comanche (6-1, 1-1) at Millsap (5-2, 1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Comanche Indians will attempt to rebound from their first loss of the season as they visit the upstart Millsap Bulldogs in a District 5-3A Division II tilt.
Comanche had surrendered just 33 points all season prior to last week’s 31-17 loss to Eastland.
Millsap has also fallen to Eastland, 50-23, with its district win coming over Merkel, 45-27, last week. Comanche owns a 38-6 district win over Dublin.
The Indians generate 26 points and 305 yards – 228 rushing and 77 passing – per game, while allowing 9 points on average
Quarterback Hudson Welch has thrown for 603 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions, while top rushers include Luke Wilson (515 yards, 45 TDs), Logan Wilkerson (467 yards, 8 TDs), Oscar Rios (275 yards, 2 TDs), Bryce Hermesmeyer (112 yards, 2 TDs) and Jorge Rios (106 yards, 1 TD). Top receiving threats include Hermesmeyer (12-217, 2 TDs) and Taelon Sorrells (10-124, TD).
Comanche’s defense is spearheaded by Cash Cook (82 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Harrison Kolb (50 tackles, 1 for loss), Christian Holmes (48 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks), Wilkerson (39 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack), Jorge Rios (38 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks), Wilson (37 tackles, 1 for loss), Matthew Gonzales (33 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), and Hermesmeyer (33 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 INTs). The Indians have also recorded 13 takeaways – including 11 interceptions – and 17 sacks.
The Bulldogs are producing 37 points and 482 yards – 285 rushing and 197 passing – per contest.
Quarterback Lawson Nairn has thrown for 1,367 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. Top rushers are Basey Mitchell (733 yards, 5 TDs) and Waylan Dunn (424 yards, 3 TDs) while primary receiving threats include Nathan Sykes (36-582, 6 TDs) and Auston McBroom (23-408, 4 TDs).
Millsap’s defense gives up 19 points per game with 15 takeaways and eight sacks on the season.
Standouts include Parker McEndree (49 tackles, 5 for loss), Dane Noble (45 tackles), J.W. Holcomb (33 tackles, 4 for loss), Garyn Roe (33 tackles, 3 for loss), and Aldo Callvillo (31 tackles, 4 for loss).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 14-point favorite.
Winters (1-6, 0-2) at Goldthwaite (2-5, 0-2)
7 p.m. Friday
The Goldthwaite Eagles and Winters Blizzards will vie for their first District 4-2A Division I victory as they look to remain in the postseason hunt when the two teams square off Friday night.
Goldthwaite has started district with losses to San Saba (64-6) and Coleman (28-7), while Winters has been defeated by league foes Cisco (28-14) and San Saba (49-0).
In Goldthwaite’s loss to Coleman, the Eagles finished with 141 yards as team, including 130 on the ground. Quarterback Jackson Patrick rushed for 64 yards, Seth Gardner added 35 and Anzua chipped in 26. Patrick completed 1 of 8 passes for 11 yards to Bryson Owen, and two passes were intercepted.
The Eagle defense allowed 331 total yards – 211 rushing and 120 passing.
Winters’ lone win this season was against Hico (41-0) while the Blizzards have also lost to Anson (34-22), Eldorado (51-19), Bangs (42-19), and Hawley (36-13).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is a 10-point underdog.
Ranger (0-8, 0-4) at Cross Plains (8-1, 4-0)
CANCELED
For the second week in a row, the Cross Plains Buffaloes will pick up a District 8-2A Division II victory due to a COVID-related forfeit. After last week’s game with Meridian was canceled, a positive case in Ranger Thursday morning led to the cancellation of this week’s game.
Cross Plains is slated to face Albany next week in a game that will determine the District 8-2A Division II champion.