MAY – The Class A Division I No. 1 May Tigers’ string of shutouts ended at three, but their win streak extended to nine as they wrapped up at least a share of their sixth straight district championship with an 82-34 triumph over the Baird Bears Friday night.
The Tiger (9-0) defense also scored a touchdown in its ninth consecutive contest as May has now forced 32 turnovers on the season with 12 being returned for six points.
On offense, May churned out 442 total yards – 295 rushing and 147 passing.
Kaden Halk led the way on the ground with 97 yards and two touchdowns trailed by Avery Williford with 86 yards and two scores, Blake Harrell with 51 yards and a trip to the end zone, Damian Salinas with a 34-yard carry, Braden Steele with 25 yards, and Brian Kunkel with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Through the air, Harrell completed 5 of 10 passes for 88 yards with two scoring tosses, Luke McKenzie was 3 of 4 – all touchdowns – for 54 yards, and Steele completed a 5-yard pass.
Kunkel grabbed three passes – all touchdown receptions – totaling 95 yards, McKenzie added a 25-yard catch, Chase Martin hauled in a 14-yard scoring toss, Kross Kenyon grabbed a 7-yard touchdown pass, and Williford caught two balls for a total of 6 yards.
Defensively, Salinas led the way with 12 tackles, including two for loss, with two interceptions, while Harrell tallied eight tackles, with one for loss, and returned an interception return for a touchdown. Other standouts included Williford (7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss), Kunkel (6 tackles), Halk (4 tackles, 2 passes defended), Kaysen King (4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss), Bryson Guerrero (2 tackles), and McKenzie (1 tackle).
May is off next week, then will visit Lingleville (6-2, 2-0) – a 54-6 winner over Santa Anna Friday – on Nov. 5 in a game that could determine the outright 13-A Division I champion.
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Blanket 70, Sidney 40
SIDNEY – The Blanket Tigers put themselves in the driver’s seat in the race for the District 15-A Division II championship with a 70-40 triumph at Sidney Friday night.
Blanket (7-1, 2-0), which won its fifth game in a row, finished with 446 yards of total offense – 335 rushing and 101 passing – against the Sidney (3-5, 2-1) defense.
Brayden Day rushed for 156 yards and four touchdowns of 13, 5, 6, and 63 yards; Carlos Morales added 117 yards on the ground and three scores from 15, 30 and 1 yard out; Levi Vazquez finished with 70 rushing yards and a 41-yard score; and Hayden Rodgers added a 2-yard touchdown run.
Brennen Varner completed 4 of 6 passes for 101 yards with a 35-yard touchdown to Vazquez, who caught two passes for 40 yards. Morales also hauled in two receptions for 61 yards.
Defensively, Morales led the way with 18 tackles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown; Rodgers added 17 tackles; and Day tallied 6 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Blanket was slated to face Brookesmith next week, but the Mustangs have forfeited the contest according to Tigers head coach Casey Mund.
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Richland Springs 48, Mullin 0
RICHLAND SPRINGS – With their 80th straight league victory, the Class A Division II No. 5 Richland Springs Coyotes wrapped up at least a share of their 20th consecutive district championship with Friday’s 48-0 win over the Mullin Bulldogs.
Richland Springs (6-1, 3-0) limited to Mullin (5-2, 0-2) to just 32 yards of total offense and forced the game’s only turnover.
Offensively, the Coyotes rushed for 193 of their 203 total yards.
Jadeyn Bryant finished with 88 yards and two scores while Zane Capps chipped in 53 yards and reached the end zone twice. Keston Lusty added a 45-yard scoring sprint, while Capps tossed a 10-yard pass to Cohen Tharp.
Defensively, Lusty led the charge with 9.5 tackles.
Richland Springs has its district bye next week then closes out the regular season Nov. 5 against Lohn (0-6, 0-2), which forfeited its game to Cherokee Friday night.
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Coleman 31, Cisco 7
COLEMAN – In a battle of Class 2A Division I Top 10 teams, the No. 8 Coleman Bluecats cruised past the No. 4 Cisco Loboes, 31-7, to seize control in the race for the District 4 championship.
Coleman (7-0, 3-0) never trailed and opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal by Christian Villega after a Cisco fumble, followed by a 50-yard touchdown pass from Jadin Jackson to Cort McFadden. Jackson later rushed for a 62-yard touchdown – also set up by a Loboes turnover – to boost the advantage to 17-0 midway through the second period.
In the second half, Jackson added a 1-yard plunge into the end zone and Ryland Gentry rushed for a 3-yard score for the final 24-point margin.
Cisco (6-2, 2-1) finished with 222 yards of total offense – 129 rushing and 93 passing – led by quarterback Hunter Long’s 93 yards passing and 74 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The Bluecats produced 307 yards – 221 on the ground and 86 through the air – and overcame two turnovers. Jackson tallied 133 yards rushing followed by Gentry with 44 and Brent Bouldin with 34. Jackson also completed 3 of 6 passes – the touchdown to McFadden and receptions of 24 yards by Devinar Roberson and 12 yards by Braxton Smith.
Next week, Coleman ventures to San Saba (2-6, 2-1) which is in the midst of a two-game win streak after Friday’s 45-14 win over De Leon.
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Goldthwaite 49, Winters 13
WINTERS – The Goldthwaite Eagles inched closer to the postseason with a 49-13 road victory over the Winters Blizzards Friday night.
Goldthwaite (4-4, 2-1) manufactured 326 yards of total offense – 274 rushing and 52 passing – without a turnover, while holding Winters (1-6, 0-3) to 190 yards – and just 48 rushing – with three takeaways.
Seth Gardner rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns, Jackson Patrick chipped in 38 yards and a score, Luke Sanderson produced 32 yards and crossed the goal line once, Carsyn Campbell compiled 28 yards, Cutter Campbell added 25 yards with a trip to the end zone, Aaron Anzua finished with 18 yards and Mason Reven tacked on 12.
Patrick completed 2 of 6 passes for 36 yards with a 26-yard touchdown to Cason Guthrie, while Guthrie hurled a 16-yard completion to Patrick. Gardner also caught a 10-yard pass form Patrick.
Defensively, Saul Vaquera returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown, Sanderson also picked off a pass, and Anzua pounced on a fumble. Reven and Carsyn Campbell led the Eagles with 11 tackles each followed by Patrick with eight, Guthrie with seven and a sack, Hayden Clary-Sharpe with seven, and Gardner and Kody Roberts with six tackles apiece.
Next week Goldthwaite welcomes Cisco (6-2, 2-1), which will be looking to rebound from a 31-7 loss to Coleman Friday night.
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San Saba 45, De Leon 14
DE LEON – The San Saba Armadillos secured their second win in a row and continued their push for a postseason berth with a 45-14 victory over De Leon Friday night.
San Saba (2-6, 2-1) finished with 302 yards of total offense – 184 passing and 118 rushing.
Lance Taylor completed 16 of 24 passes for 161 yards with a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 33 yards and a touchdown. Weston Lackey grabbed three receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 6 yards and another score. Tyler Johnson caught a team-high five passes for 60 yards while Drake Bryant grabbed three passes for 16 yards and scored once.
On the ground, Zuri Herrera chipped in 28 yards, Tegan Suiz contributed 16, Johnson ran for 15 and Franco Franco added 13.
Defensively, San Saba yielded just 73 yards of total offense to De Leon (0-8, 0-3), registered seven sacks, forced a pair of turnovers and Cooper Moreno returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Hurrera logged 16 tackles followed by Weston Oliver with 12, Bryant with 10, and Leonel Aranda with nine.
Next week, San Saba hosts district front-runner Coleman (7-0, 3-0), which knocked off Cisco, 31-7, Friday night.
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Comanche 49, Millsap 34
COMANCHE – The Comanche Indians captured their first victory of the season and the Jake Escobar coaching era with a 49-34 triumph over Millsap that opened the door to a potential postseason berth.
With the win, Comanche (1-7, 1-2) currently holds the tiebreaker over Millsap (3-5, 1-2) for the fourth and final playoff berth from District 5-3A Division II with two contests remaining.
Comanche finished with 383 yards of total offense – 258 on the ground and 125 through the air.
Luke Wilson rushed for 169 yards and five touchdowns while Hudson Welch chipped in 87 yards on the ground.
Welch also connected on 10 of 14 passes for 125 yards as leading receivers included Chris Reeves (2-28), Miguel Martinez (2-23), Raymond Crossland (2-22), Kyler Beaty (2-16), Layden Welch (1-15), and Ayden Fishback (1-12, TD).
Defensively, Comanche gave up 545 yards – 323 rushing and 222 passing – but scored a touchdown on an interception return by Wilson, who finished with a team-high seven tackles. Martinez and Israel Medrano added six takedowns each followed by Pierson Sorrells with five.
Next week, Comanche welcomes Jacksboro (4-3, 2-1), fresh off a 51-48 victory over Eastland (3-5, 2-1), before closing the regular season at Merkel (3-5, 0-3) – which dropped a 28-20 decision to Dublin (7-1, 3-0) Friday night – on Nov. 5
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Cross Plains 60, Meridian 12
CROSS PLAINS – The Cross Plains Buffaloes snapped a two-game District 8-2A Division II losing streak and put themselves in position to earn a postseason berth with Friday’s 60-12 thrashing of Meridian.
Cross Plains (5-3, 1-2) led Meridian (1-7, 0-2) by a 14-0 count after one quarter, 35-6 at halftime, and 47-12 through three frames.
The Buffaloes tallied 520 yards of total offense – 341 rushing and 179 passing – while allowing 225 yards – 123 through the air and 102 on the ground – with one takeaway.
Kade Purvis passed for 185 yards and three scores as Ryan Hopkins led the way with seven grabs for 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dusty Wyatt contributed five catches for 37 yards and scored once.
Hopkins also rushed for a team-best 113 yards and two scores trailed by Cason Allen with 91 yards on the ground and two trips to the end zone. Noah Moses chipped in 86 yards and scored once and Theron Albrecht contributed 50 yards and reached the end zone once.
Riley Conlee recovered the fumble for the Buffaloes defense.
Next week, Cross Plains has its district bye. The Buffaloes close the regular season on Nov. 5 at home against Albany (7-0, 2-0).
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Rising Star 41, Brookesmith 12 (Thursday)
BROOKESMITH – In a game called in the third quarter due to Brookesmith not having enough healthy players to continue, the Rising Star Wildcats tallied a 41-12 victory in District 15-A Division II action Thursday night.
Brookesmith (1-7, 0-2) finished with 138 yards of total offense against Rising Star (4-4, 1-2) while allowing 226 yards – all on the ground.
The Mustangs, who also turned the ball over twice, were sparked by 75 yards passing from Trey Toft. Leading receivers included Grant Featherston (3-45), Mathew Chambers (2-4), Blayzon Walker (1-14), and Conner Heard (1-12).
For Rising Star, Dathon Morris rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown and Blake Wilson tacked on 82 yards and three scores.
Next week’s Brookesmith game against Blanket has been forfeited, while Rising Star hosts Panther Creek (3-4, 1-1).
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Jonesboro 59, Zephyr 0
JONESBORO – The Zephyr Bulldogs remained winless on the season with a 59-0 loss at Class A Division I No. 4 Jonesboro Friday night in District 15-A Division II action.
Stats on the game were not available.
Zephyr (0-9, 0-2) closes out its season next week at home against Evant (4-5, 0-2) – coming off a 51-6 loss to Lometa – as the Bulldogs’ bye comes in Week 11.