STERLING CITY – After falling to the Sterling City Eagles twice in 2020, including the Class A Division I state championship game, the May Tigers gained a measure of revenge with a 104-80 victory Friday night in a battle of the Top 2-ranked teams in the state.

No. 1 May (2-0), coming off a 51-6 win over Borden County, racked up 543 yards of total offense – 408 passing with nine touchdowns and 135 rushing with two more scores – against No. 2 Sterling City (1-1).

Through the air, Blake Harrell completed 15 of 18 passes for 323 yards with seven touchdowns. Luke McKenzie connected on 5 of 6 attempts for 85 yards and two scoring strikes.

Leading receivers for the Tigers included Kaden Halk (8-145, 4 TDs), Kaysen King (6-104, 2 TDs), Avery Williford (3-100, 2 TDs), Bryson Guerrero (1-26, TD), Brian Kunkel (2-20), and McKenzie (1-13).

On the ground, Williford finished with 47 yards and two scores, Halk led all carriers with 48 yards, Harrell rushed for 21 yards, Damian Salinas tacked on 11 and Kunkel had an 8-yard carry.

The Tigers also added two defensive touchdowns on a 25-yard interception return by Salinas, who led May with 11 tackles. King finished with two interceptions, including a 26-yard pick six, and eight tackles. Kunkel notched 10 tackles, Williford amassed seven, Halk recorded six with five pass break ups, and Harrell logged five.

Next week, May opens its home slate against Knox City (0-2), which fell to Motley County, 68-22, Friday night.

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Blanket 60, Gustine 51

GUSTINE – The Blanket Tigers survived a close call in their first road test of the season, upending Gustine by a 60-51 count.

Brayden Day rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns of 16 and 54 yards to spark the Blanket (2-0) offense while Carlos Morales chipped in 114 yards and two scores of 2 and 5 yards. Levi Vasquez scored three times from 14, 5 and 9 yards out and gained 96 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Vazquez intercepted three Gustine (0-2) passes and returned a pick 80 yards for a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble and tallied 11 tackles. Day notched 11 tackles with a fumble recovery, and Morales finished with eight takedowns.

Next week, Blanket hosts Lingleville (0-2), which was dealt a 56-8 loss by Three Way Friday night.

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Brookesmith 30, Abilene TLCA 26 (Thursday)

ABILENE – The Brookesmith Mustangs secured their first victory of the season and of the Todd Lawdermilk coaching era, rallying for a 30-26 victory over Abilene TLCA Thursday night.

Brookesmith (1-1) finished with 309 yards of total offense – 254 rushing with four touchdowns and 55 through the air.

Tristen Slayton anchored the ground game with 187 yards and four touchdowns while Blayzon Walker contributed 67 yards.

Through the air, Conner Heard completed 7 of 17 passes for 55 yards. Slayton caught three passes for 35 yards, Walker added three grabs for 16 yards and Brandon Been hauled in a 4-yard reception.

Brookesmith will attempt to piece together a win streak next week as they host Evant (2-0), fresh off a 51-6 triumph over Moran.

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Goldthwaite 27, Cross Plains 0

GOLDTHWAITE – The Goldthwaite Eagles picked up their first victory of the 2021 campaign by handing the Cross Plains Buffaloes their initial defeat, 27-0, here Friday night.

Goldthwaite (1-1) scored one touchdown in each quarter – a 4-yard run by Luke Sanderson in the first period; an 8-yard pass from Jackson Patrick to Aaron Anzua in the second; a 7-yard carry by Lane Evans in the third; and a 40-yard gallop by Evans in the fourth.

The Eagles churned out 334 yards of total offense, with 296 coming on the ground. Evans tallied 79 yards rushing followed by Sanderson with 76, Patrick with 74 and Seth Gardner with 59. Through the air, Patrick connected on 3 of 8 passes for 38 yards.

Cross Plains (1-1) was limited to 139 yards of total offense – 92 through the air and 47 on the ground. Kade Purvis completed 14 of 23 passes for 92 yards as Spade Koenig caught four for 22 yards, Cason Allen grabbed three for 32 yards and Asher Moses hauled in two for 26 yards. On the ground, Allen led the way with 45 yards.

Next week Goldthwaite ventures to Olney (1-1), coming off a 20-18 loss to Petrolia, while Cross Plains welcomes Haskell (1-1), which fell to Archer City, 34-14, Friday night.

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Coleman 33, Anson 6

ANSON – The Coleman Bluecats kept their early-season unbeaten record intact with a convincing 33-6 road victory over the Anson Tigers Friday night.

After posting a 24-0 win over Miles last week in a game that ended after one quarter due to a lightning storm, Coleman (2-0) manufactured 581 yards of total offense – 401 rushing and 180 passing – against the Anson (1-1) defense.

The Bluecats scored on passes of 54 and 73 yards from Jadin Jackson to Devinar Roberson in the first quarter, a 28-yard Christian Villeda field goal and a 60-yard Ryland Gentry sprint in the second, and another 26-yard run from Gentry along with a 33-yard boot from Villeda in the fourth.

Anson mustered its only points in the second period on a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Jackson finished with 180 yards passing and a pair of scores while Gentry rushed for 170 yards with two trips to the end zone. Jackson also chipped in 91 yards on the ground while R.J. Wright added 24 rushing yards. Along with Roberson’s 127 receiving yards and two scores on two catches, Genry hauled in a 22-yard reception, and Braxton Smith finished with two grabs for 20 yards.

Next week, Coleman visits Brady (2-0), a 46-19 winner over Comanche Friday night, in a battle of unbeatens.

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Veribest 31, Zephyr 12

ZEPHYR – The Zephyr Bulldogs suffered their second straight defeat Friday, dropping their home opener to the Veribest Eagles, 31-12.

No statistical information was available.

Next week, Zephyr seeks its first win of the season at Stephenville Faith (0-2), which tumbled against Mineral Wells Community Christian, 88-62, Friday night.

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Brady 46, Comanche 19

BRADY – The Brady Bulldogs kept the Comanche Indians winless under new head coach Jake Esobar, thanks to a 46-19 triumph Friday night.

Comanche finished with 244 yards of total offense – 156 through the air and 88 on the ground.

Quarterback Hudson Welch completed 10 of 18 passes for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Layden Welch added a 25-yard scoring toss. Miguel Martinez led Comanche with four catches for 84 yards and two trips to the end zone, while Chris Reeves pulled down a 25-yard scoring reception.

On the ground, Layden Welch finished with 32 yards followed by Hudson Welch with 30. Easton Gonzales added 19 yards rushing, and Israel Medrano chipped in a 13-yard catch.

Defensively, Diego Gutierrez logged 17 tackles for the Indians followed by Kyler Beaty with eight and Medrano and Layden Welch with six apiece.

Next week, Comanche (0-2) will attempt to derail Early (2-0), which knocked off Tolar, 33-16, in Week 2.

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Rogers 46, San Saba 14

ROGERS– The San Saba Armadillos are off to an 0-2 start following a 46-14 road loss at the hands of the Rogers Eagles.

San Saba surrendered the game’s first 23 points Friday night and trailed 30-7 at halftime.

The Armadillos were limited to 209 yards of total offense by Rogers (1-1) – 193 passing and 16 rushing.

Lance Taylor completed 20 of 39 passes for 181 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while Tegen Suiz added a 12-yard completion. Leading receivers were Reagan Mejia with eight grabs for 48 yards and a touchdown, Tyler Johnson with six catches for 71 yards and Wesley Lackey with four catches for 57 yards.

On the ground, Suiz rushed for 8 yards, Lackey tallied 6 and Taylor added 2 as San Saba ran the ball just eight times.

Next week, San Saba (0-2) plays host to Mason (2-0), which cruised past Comfort, 39-6, Friday night.