The Class A Division I No. 1 May Tigers look to keep their unblemished record intact against a team with the same goal in mind as the Evant Elks serve as hosts at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

May (3-0) has opened its season with wins over Borden County (51-6), Sterling City (104-80) and Knox City (65-16). Meanwhile, Evant (3-0) has upended Cranfills Gap (68-49), Morgan (51-6), and Brookesmith (56-6).

In May’s win over Knox City last week, the Tigers finished with 279 yards of total offense – 201 rushing and 78 passing – while the May defense forced two fumbles as Avery Williford returned one 22 yards for a touchdown. On special teams, Kaden Halk scored on kickoff returns of 70 and 75 yards for the Tigers.

Halk also rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, Williford chipped in 40 yards and two scores, Blake Harrell contributed 33 yards with a trip to the end zone and Damian Salinas scored on a 19-yard carry.

Through the air, Harrell was 3 of 6 for 78 yards. Receptions were made by Kaysen King (44 yards), Williford (24 yards), and Halk (10 yards).

Defensive standouts for the Tigers were Brian Kunkel (9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 fumble caused, 1 tackle for loss), Halk (6 tackles, 1 pass defended, 1 tackle for loss), Harrell (6 tackles, 1 fumble caused, 2 tackles for loss), Williford (5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, fumble return for TD), Salinas (5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 tackle for loss), King (5 tackles), Luke McKenzie (3 tackles, 1 pass defended), and Braden Steele (1 tackle, 1 tackle for loss).

Stats for Evant were not available.

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

***

Blanket (2-1) at Zephyr (0-3)

8 p.m. Friday

In a battle of Brown County rivals, the Blanket Tigers and Zephyr Bulldogs are both looking to rebound from losses last week.

Blanket dropped a 60-12 decision to Lingleville in one of the state’s surprise outcomes, while Zephyr was knocked off by Stephenville Faith (65-19).

In Blanket’s loss last week, Levi Vazquez rushed for 60 yards with a 45-yard touchdown, Brayden Day chipped in 37 yards on the ground with a 7-yard score, and Carlos Morales finished with 9 yards on the ground. Blanket did not complete a pass in five attempts.

Defensively for Blanket, Morales tallied seven tackles trailed by Vazquez and Day with three apiece, and Hayden Rodgers, Mark Yeats and Brandon Larance with two apiece.

Statistics from last week, and for the season, for Zephyr are not available.

The Bulldogs have also fallen to Sidney (21-18) and Veribest (31-12), while the Tigers defeated Bryson (51-6) and Gustine (60-51) to start their campaign.

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

***

Santa Anna (3-0) at Brookesmith (1-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Brookesmith Mustangs will look to pull off a homecoming night upset as they welcome the undefeated Santa Anna Mountaineers.

Brookesmith has alternated results in its first three games, falling to Veribest (41-12), defeating Abilene TLCA (30-26), and coming up short against Evant (56-6). Meanwhile, Santa Anna has chalked up victories over Abilene Christian (84-46), Rising Star (60-8) and Trent (56-0).

In the Mustangs’ loss to Evant last week, Brookesmith was limited to 81 yards of total offense with four turnovers, as the Mustangs threw for 50 yards and rushed for 31. Defensively, Brookesmith allowed 383 yards – 351 on the ground and 32 through the air – with one takeaway.

Conner Heard passed for 49 yards with a touchdown to Tristen Slayton, who grabbed two catches for 26 yards. Slayton also rushed for a team-best 43 yards. Blayzon Walker grabbed a 21-yard reception for the Mustangs.

Defensively, Slayton led Brookesmith with six tackles and Kyler Cantu tallied a pair.

Statistics for Santa Anna were not available.

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

***

Nueces Canyon (0-3) at Richland Springs (1-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Richland Springs Coyotes picked up their first victory of the season this past Thursday, knocking off the Coolidge Yellow Jackets, 66-32. Meanwhile, the Nueces Canyon Panthers are still in search of their first win as the hit the road this Friday night.

In the Coyotes’ win over Coolidge last week, Zane Capps rushed for 223 yards and six touchdowns while passing for 88 yards. Kelton Lusty chipped in 106 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 56 yards. Also tallying receptions were Cohen Tharp (20 yards), Nick Nilson (7 yards) and Brandon Stewart (5 yards).

Richland Springs finished with 417 total yards while allowing 297 yards – 172 on the ground and 125 through the air – with three takeaways.

Jayden Sutherland led the Coyotes with 5.5 tackles and an interception followed by Lusty with 5 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Nilson and Jeremiah Beam with 4 tackles each.

The Panthers have been shutout the last two weeks by San Antonio FEAST (46-0) and Balmorhea (64-0) to go along with an opening night loss to San Antonio Saint Mary’s Hall (61-36).

In their season opener, Nueces Canyon produced 406 total yards – 309 rushing and 97 passing.

There is no spread for this game as it was a late addition to the schedule.

***

Cross Plains (2-1) at De Leon (0-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Cross Plains Buffaloes will attempt to put consecutive wins together for the first time this season as they visit the winless De Leon Bearcats Friday night.

Cross Plains owns wins over Menard (33-14) and Haskell (28-7) sandwiched around a loss to Goldthwaite (27-0). Meanwhile, De Leon has fallen to Dublin (43-7), Windthorst (49-0) and Millsap (45-20).

In Cross Plains’ win over Haskell last week, the Buffaloes generated 409 yards of total offense – 287 passing and 122 rushing – with four turnovers, while surrendering 212 yards – 114 through the air and 98 on the ground – while also forcing four turnovers.

Kade Purvis completed 17 of 27 passes for 287 yards with three touchdowns – a pair to Ryan Hopkins, who finished with five catches for 103 yards, and one to Ryan Reed, a 75-yard scoring reception. Asher Moses added six catches for 75 yards, Spade Koenig caught three passes for 24 yards and Cason Allen hauled in a 14-yard reception.

On the ground, Allen rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown while Noah Moses tacked on 20 yards.

Defensively, Reed and Koenig intercepted passes for Cross Plains while Asher Moses and Nick Hillis scooped up fumbles.

Stats for De Leon were not available.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 14-point favorite.

***

Grape Creek (1-2) at Coleman (2-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Coleman Bluecats – ranked No. 11 in Class 2A Division I this week by Harris Ratings Weekly – have played just five quarters this season, but carry a perfect record into Friday’s contest with the Grape Creek Eagles, who are coming off their first victory of 2021.

Coleman’s game with Brady last week was cancelled due to COVID concerns. The Bluecats’ most recent outing was a 33-6 triumph over Anson. Grape Creek knocked off San Angelo TLCA (50-22) last week after opening the season with losses to Christoval (55-7) and Stanton (19-7).

In the Bluecats’ win over Anson, Coleman manufactured 581 yards of total offense – 401 rushing and 180 passing.

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.

Stats for Grape Creek were not available.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 36-point favorite.

***

Florence (2-1) at Goldthwaite (2-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Goldthwaite Eagles seek the third straight win as they welcome the upstart Florence Buffaloes for homecoming Friday night.

Goldthwaite bounced back from an opening loss to No. 6 Crawford (35-6) with victories over Cross Plains (27-0) and Olney (33-8). Meanwhile, Florence is a two-point conversion away from being undefeated, dropping the opener to Johnson City (14-13) followed by wins over Bangs (45-14) and Bruceville-Eddy (48-18).

In last week’s win over Olney, the Eagles generated 478 yards of total offense – 356 rushing and 122 passing – with no turnovers, while yielding 287 yards – 242 on the ground and 45 through the air – with a pair of takeaways.

Goldthwaite quarterback Jackson Patrick rushed for a team-high 104 yards with a 69-yard touchdown, while completing 5 of 12 passes for 122 yards with a pair of scoring tosses.

Carsyn Campbell chipped in 75 yards rushing, including a 72-yard scoring sprint, while Seth Gardner rushed for a 31-yard touchdown and 40 yards overall. Aaron Anzua contributed 42 yards on the ground while Luke Sanderson chipped in 40 yards rushing.

Sanderson also caught a team-high three passes for 63 yards and scored twice, Campbell hauled in a 50-yard reception and Cason Guthrie caught a 12-yard pass.

Defensively, Gardner led the Eagles with 12 tackles including four for loss, while Campbell also notched 12 tackles. Patrick tallied nine tackles and Mason Reven finished with eight takedowns.

Florence is averaging 365 yards – 242 rushing and 123 passing – per game, led by quarterback Victor Bonilla (347 passing yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 274 rushing yards, 3 TDs), running back Levi Martin (245 rushing yards, 6 TDs); and receiver Zak Webb (10-119, TD).

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is a 5-point favorite.

***

Llano (2-1) at San Saba (0-3)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The San Saba Armadillos got closer in Week 3, but are still in search of their first victory as they welcome the Llano Yellowjackets Friday night.

San Saba has been upended by Eldorado (42-20), Rogers (46-14) and Mason (35-28). Meanwhile, Llano owns wins over Austin Crockett (37-7) and Sonora (35-12) with a loss to Gatesville (27-7).

In San Saba’s loss to Mason last week, the Armadillos finished with 326 yards of total offense – 167 passing and 159 rushing.

Lance Taylor completed 14 of 34 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, while also rushing for 35 yards. Weston Lackey rushed for a team-high 79 yards and caught four passes for 34 yards with a touchdown.

Tegen Suiz finished with 40 yards on the ground and scored twice, while Reagan Mejia grabbed a team-high seven passes for 68 yards with a touchdown. Tyler Johnson caught three passes for 65 yards.

Defensively, Zuri Herrera paced the Armadillos with 14 tackles trailed by Mejia and Weston Oliver with 11 apiece, and Suiz with 10. Franco Franco intercepted a pass for the San Saba defense.

Llano is averaging 343 yards – 182 rushing and 161 passing – per game, led by quarterback Maddox Green (483 passing yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs), running backs Carson Kuykendall (266 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and Miguel Hernandez (229 rushing yards, 1 TD); and receivers Sam Sueltenfuss (11-135, 2 TDs) and Ross Prokop (10-124, TD).

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, San Saba is a 10-point underdog.

***

Tolar (2-1) at Comanche (0-3)

7:30 p.m. Friday

The Comanche Indians will attempt to lock down their first victory of the season Friday night as they host a pesky Tolar Rattlers squad.

Comanche’s season has featured losses to Mason (34-14), Brady (46-19) and Early (58-14). Meanwhile, Tolar has defeated Post (48-0) and Boyd (76-48) with a loss to Early (33-16).

Against Early last week, Comanche’s Luke Wilson rushed for 81 yards, Miguel Martinez chipped in 5 yards and the other three Indian ball carriers finished with -75 yards on 16 carries.

Hudson Welch connected on 13 of 28 passes for 171 yards with two scoring tosses and one pick. Martinez pulled down nine receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns, while Layden Welch chipped in three catches for 51 yards.

The Indians committed five turnovers – four fumbles and an interception.

Defensively, Comanche allowed 405 yards of total offense – 208 through the air with four touchdowns and 197 on the ground with three more scores – but forced two turnovers.

Stats for Tolar were not available.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 21-point underdog.