SIDNEY – The Brookesmith Mustangs put the finishing touches on their first district championship since 1985, claiming the 15-A Division II title outright with a 71-52 triumph over the Sidney Eagles Friday night.

With the win, Brookesmith (7-2, 4-0) will next face District 15 runner-up Cherokee (7-3) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Zephyr in bi-district playoff action.

The Mustangs trailed Sidney (5-4, 2-2) by an 8-6 count in the first period, but followed with 30 straight points to open a 36-8 advantage. Brookesmith led 42-20 at halftime and 63-44 through three periods.

Brookesmith finished with 412 total yards – 391 rushing and 21 passing – while allowing 411 yards – 242 on the ground and 169 through the air. Sidney turned over the ball twice, while Brookesmith had one turnover.

Avery Williford led the Mustangs with 228 rushing yards and four touchdowns while Johnathan Willoughby contributed 142 yards and two scores on the ground. Zach Ferguson hurled a 21-yard touchdown pass to Randall Williams as well.

Goldthwaite 47, De Leon 43

GOLDTHWAITE – Aaron Anzua scored on an 18-yard run in the closing seconds, after Goldthwaite forced a De Leon fumble while attempting to run out the clock, as the Eagles secured the final playoff berth from District 4-2A Division I with a 47-43 victory Friday night.

Goldthwaite (3-7, 1-4) will move on to face District 3-2A Division I champion Hawley (8-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday in Brownwood in bi-district playoff action.

The Eagles led De Leon (1-9, 0-5) by a 14-0 count after one quarter, but trailed 22-14 at halftime. Through three periods, De Leon led 29-27. In the fourth quarter, Anzua scored on runs of 13 and 26 yards to push Goldthwaite in front, 40-29, before De Leon clawed back with a 63-yard pass and a 72-yard run to regain a 43-40 edge.

Goldthwaite finished with 473 yards of total offense, including 405 rushing, with three turnovers. De Leon generated 437 yards – 286 on the ground and 151 through the air – with three giveaways.

Anzua rushed for 159 yards and four touchdowns while quarterback Jason Patrick added 131 yards on the ground and a score. Angel Morales chipped in 92 yards and a touchdown as well.

Through the air, Patrick passed for 68 yards with a touchdown and an interception, as Seth Gardner led the way with four grabs for 60 yards and a trip to the end zone.

May 61, Lingleville 6

MAY – The Class A Division I No. 5 May Tigers wrapped up their fifth straight outright district championship with a convincing 61-6 victory over the Lingleville Cardinals in the 13-A Division I finale Friday night.

Next up for May (9-1) is a bi-district playoff battle with District 14-A Division I runner-up Irion County (9-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Robert Lee.

Against Lingleville (1-9, 0-4), May amassed 187 yards – 159 rushing and 28 passing – and also scored on a 50-yard punt return by Kaden Halk.

On the ground, Rory Bustamante rushed for a 59-yard touchdown on his lone carry. Korbin Bass added a 35-yard touchdown run, Aaron McGinn scored on a 30-yard carry, Luke McKenzie chipped in a 9-yard scoring run, and Luke McGinn added a 5-yard touchdown carry. Ethan Self and Cade Lindley chipped in 9-yard carries and Zander Easterling rushed for 3 yards.

Through the air, Blake Harrell hurled a 28-yard pass to Isidro Salinas.

May’s defense also got in the scoring act with a pick six by Halk and a fumble return for a touchdown by Hayden King.

Defensive standouts included Salinas (5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss), King (5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown), Bustamante (3 tackles and 2 tackles for loss), Chris Flenniken (3 tackles), Aaron McGinn (3 tackles), Jayce Blankenship (2 tackles), Lindley (2 tackles), Halk (1 tackle and a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown), Bass (1 tackle and a tackle for loss), and Self, Brian Kunkel, Alexis Mejia, Adam Blankinship, and Kaysen King (1 tackle each).

Comanche 52, Merkel 14

COMANCHE – The Comanche Indians are heading into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed from District 5-3A Division II after Friday night’s 52-14 triumph over the Merkel Badgers.

Comanche (8-2, 3-2) will kick off postseason against District 7-3A Division II runner-up Wichita Falls City View (6-4) at 7 p.m. Friday at Joshua.

The Indians tallied a season-high in points against Merkel (3-6, 1-4) while racking up 485 yards, including 433 rushing.

Luke Wilson led the ground attack with 120 yards and two touchdowns while Logan Wilkerson chipped in 112 yards and a score. Oscar Rios contributed 97 yards with a trip to the end zone, Kyler Beaty tacked on 47 yards and scored once, and Richard Reynolds added a 5-yard touchdown run.

Miguel Martinez tossed a 30-yard touchdown to Blanton Gunter, while Hudson Welch passed for 22 yards. Jorge Rios (14 yards), Taelon Sorrells (9 yards) and Aaron Suniga (9 yards) also caught passes.

Defensively, Cash Cook led Comanche with seven tackles followed by Wilson and Wilkerson with four apiece.

Cross Plains 57, Meridian 0

MERIDIAN – The Cross Plains Buffaloes solidified their status as the second seed from District 8-2A Division II with a 57-0 win over the Meridian Yellow Jackets Friday night in a game made up due to a COVID cancellation in October.

Cross Plains (8-2, 4-1) will open postseason play against District 7 third seed Petrolia (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in Breckenridge.

In the win over Meridian (3-6, 1-4), the Buffaloes led 14-0 after one quarter, 36-0 at halftime and 50-0 through three periods.

Cross Plains finished with 505 total yards, including 433 rushing. Meridian managed just 45 yards and turned over the ball twice.

On the ground, Cody McWilliams rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns, Cason Allen added 100 yards and a score, Ryan Hopkins chipped in 71 yards and a touchdown, Noah Moses finished with 55 yards and a trip to the end zone and Asher Moses tallied 49 yards and a score.

Quarterback Justin Gresham completed 7 of 14 passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 18 yards.

Leading receivers included Ketch Thomas with two catches for 29 yards, Allen with a 14-yard touchdown, Wade Byrd with an 8-yard scoring reception, Gus Nickerson with a 10-yard catch and Spade Koenig grabbed a 1-yard pass.