LINGLEVILLE – The Class A Division I No. 1 May Tigers capped an undefeated regular season with an outright District 13 championship – their sixth in a row – thanks to Friday night’s 54-8 triumph over Lingleville.
The May (10-0, 4-0) offense finished with 360 total yards behind a balanced attack of 185 rushing yards and 175 passing yards. Defensively, the Tigers forced their 38th turnover of the season but their string of consecutive games with a defensive touchdown ended at nine.
Blake Harrell completed 3 of 6 passes – all touchdowns – for 160 yards as Avery Williford grabbed two scoring receptions totaling 123 yards and Damian Salinas hauled in a 37-yard touchdown. Luke McKenzie completed a 10-yard pass to Kaysen King and Bryson Guerrero tossed a 5-yard pass to Braden Steele.
On the ground, Kaden Halk rushed for a team-high 68 yards and a touchdown, Harrell added 48 yards and two scores, Williford rushed for a 32-yard score on his only carry, and Steele and Salinas tacked on 23 and 14 yards, respectively.
Defensive standouts for May against Lingleville (6-4, 2-2) were Salinas (9 tackles and a pass defended), Harrell (6 tackles and a fumble recovery), Guerrero (3 tackles and a pass defended), Halk (2 tackles, a fumble caused, and 4 passes defended), Williford (1 tackle and a tackle for loss), King (1 tackle and a tackle for loss), and Chase Martin (1 tackle).
May will begin its postseason run at 7 p.m. Thursday against District 14-A Division I runner-up Irion County (8-2) at Robert Lee.
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Blanket 45, Panther Creek 0 (Thursday)
VALERA – The Blanket Tigers secured an outright District 15-A Division II championship with a 45-0 victory at Panther Creek Thursday night, the seventh straight win for head coach Casey Mund’s squad.
Blanket (9-1, 4-0) was sparked by Brayden Day’s 106 rushing yards and three touchdowns from 25, 35 and 11 yards out. Carlos Morales chipped in 68 yards and scored twice on carries of 4 and 17 yards. Levi Vazquez tacked on 54 yards to the rushing total.
Defensively against Panther Creek (3-6, 1-3), the Tigers received 10 tackles from Day, six tackles and an interception return for a touchdown by Morales, four tackles and a pick from Brandon Larance, and three tackles from Vaquez.
Blanket will face District 16-A Division II runner-up Cherokee (6-3, 3-1) in the bi-district round of the playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Zephyr.
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Sidney 60, Brookesmith 12
BROOKESMITH – The Brookesmith Mustangs’ season reached its conclusion Friday night with a 60-12 home loss to District 15-A Division II runner-up and playoff bound Sidney.
A five-year string of playoff appearances ended for Brookesmith (1-9, 0-4), which last season captured its first district title since 1985.
Sidney concluded the regular season with a 4-5 overall record and 3-1 mark against district competition.
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Richland Springs 54, Lohn 0
RICHLAND SPRINGS – The Class A Division II No. 3 Richland Springs Coyotes put the finishing touches on their 20th straight district championship with their 81st consecutive league victory, 54-0 over Lohn Friday night.
The Coyotes (7-1, 4-0) allowed just 17 yards of total offense – all on the ground – and forced three turnovers in posting their second consecutive shutout. Nick Nilson returned a fumble for a touchdown and Hutton Rogers brought an interception back for six points to highlight the defensive effort against Lohn (1-8, 0-4).
Offensively, Richland Springs manufactured 163 yards – 99 passing and 64 rushing – on just eight snaps.
Jadeyn Bryant rushed for a 59-yard touchdown and threw an 11-yard touchdown to Brandon Stewart. Zane Capps passed for 53 yards with a 17-yard scoring strike to Bryant. Rogers added 22 yards on the ground, Conner Womack rushed for a 16-yard touchdown, Cohen Tharp caught a 36-yard pass and Hudson Tharp tallied a 2-yard carry to cap Richland Springs’ offensive production.
The Coyotes also scored on a 40-yard punt return by Jayden Sutherland.
District 16 champion Richland Springs begins postseason play at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Zephyr against District 15 runner-up Sidney (4-5).
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Coleman 42, Winters 0
COLEMAN – The Class A Division I No. 4 Coleman Bluecats completed an unblemished run to an outright District 4 title with a 42-0 shutout victory over the Winters Blizzards Friday night.
Coleman (9-0, 5-0) surrendered just 72 yards to Winters (2-7, 1-4) and forced three turnovers.
The Bluecats produced 373 yards – 288 rushing and 85 passing – and overcame two turnovers of their own.
Coleman opened the scoring with an 81-yard kick return touchdown by Braxton Smith, who later reached the end zone on a 14-yard pass from Jadin Jackson. Ryland Gentry followed with scores on a 74-yard run and a 41-yard pass from Jackson. Cort McFadden chipped in a 15-yard touchdown carry, and R.J. Wright rounded out the scoring with a 6-yard run.
Gentry finished with a team-best 87 yards on the ground followed by Jackson with 65 yards, McFadden with 41, Devinar Roberson with 30 and Wright with 17.
Jackson completed 6 of 10 passes with two going to Smith for 19 yards, two to Denver Hunter for 12 yards, Gentry’s long scoring reception and a 13-yarder to Wright.
The Bluecats kick off postseason action at 7 p.m. Thursday at Abilene Wylie against District 3-2A Division I fourth seed Anson (4-6), which Coleman defeated earlier this season by a 33-6 count.
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Goldthwaite 61, De Leon 12
DE LEON – The Goldthwaite Eagles locked up the third playoff seed from District 4-2A Division I with a resounding 61-12 victory over the De Leon Bearcats Friday night.
Goldthwaite (5-5, 3-2) compiled 525 yards of total offense – 358 rushing and 167 passing – with no turnovers, while De Leon (0-10, 0-5) finished with 267 yards – 142 on the ground and 125 through the air – with the game’s lone turnover.
Lane Evans ran for 205 yards and three touchdowns for the Eagles, Jackson Patrick added 63 yards and a score, Carsyn Campbell chipped in 58 yards and reached the end zone once, Luke Sanderson contributed 21 yards, and Marcus Stevens scored a touchdown as well.
Through the air, Patrick was 5 of 9 for 167 yards as Cason Guthrie led the way with three grabs for 67 yards and a touchdown while Sanderson added a 71-yard scoring reception, Mitchell Hopper scored on a 33-yard catch and Aaron Anzua finished with a 16-yard touchdown reception.
Defensively, Seth Gardner led the way with 13 tackles including four for loss, followed by nine tackles from Patrick and eight by Campbell. Hayden Clary-Sharpe recovered the fumble for the Eagles.
Goldthwaite’s postseason run begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Gordon Wood Stadium in Brownwood where the Eagles will challenge District 3 runner-up Forsan (9-1).
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Cisco 46, San Saba 7
CISCO – The San Saba Armadillos were forced to settle for the fourth playoff seed from District 4-2A Division I as their two-game win streak was halted by the Cisco Loboes, 46-7.
San Saba (2-8, 2-3) mustered 225 yards of total offense – 123 passing and 102 rushing – against the Cisco (8-2, 4-1) defense.
Lance Taylor connected on 13 of 26 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown as Reagan Mejia led the ‘Dillos with six catches for 61 yards, and Wesley Lackey added five for 25 yards.
On the ground, Taylor led the way with 63 rushing yards followed by Zuri Herrera with 31.
Defensively, Ethan Gonzales was the leading tackler with nine followed by Herrera and Jaxzen Mask with four apiece.
San Saba has drawn District 3-A Division I champion and seventh-ranked Hawley (10-0) in the bi-district round, with that contest slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at Brownwood’s Gordon Wood Stadium.
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Albany 61, Cross Plains 3
ALBANY – The Cross Plains Buffaloes dropped their regular season finale to the No. 3 Albany Lions, 61-3, Friday night.
Despite the loss, the District 8-A Division II fourth seed Cross Plains (5-4, 1-3) will advance to the postseason to face District 7-A Division II champion and fourth-ranked Muenster (10-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday in Weatherford.
Albany (9-0, 4-0) limited Cross Plains to 96 yards of total offense – 51 passing and 45 rushing – and forced a turnover. The Buffaloes yielded 517 yards – 321 on the ground and 196 through the air – with no takeaways.
Cross Plains’ lone points were the result of a 26-yard field goal Nick Hillis sin the first quarter, which trimmed to deficit to 14-3 at the time.
Kade Purvis completed 9 of 21 passes for 58 yards with an interception as Ryan Hopkins caught three passes for 6 yards, Spade Koenig added two grabs for 25, and Gus Nickerson finished with two catches for 12 yards.
Cason Allen led the Buffaloes’ ground game with 48 yards.
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Merkel 34, Comanche 20
MERKEL – The Comanche Indians missed out on the playoffs as they dropped their District 5-3A Division II and regular season finale to the Merkel Badgers, 34-20, here Friday night.
Comanche finished with a 1-9 overall record and 1-4 league mark in its first season under head coach Jake Escobar.
The Indians produced 333 total yards behind a balanced attack of 168 rushing yards and 165 passing yards against the Merkel (4-6, 1-4) defense.
Hudson Welch completed 21 of 30 passes for 168 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and rushed for 29 yards. Kyler Beaty led all Comanche receivers with six catches for 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Sawyer Wilkerson finished with a team-best 90 yards rushing and a score.
Other offensive contributors included Luke Wilson with 44 yards rushing, Layden Welch with two grabs for 18 yards and Miguel Martinez with a 15-yard catch.
Defensively for Comanche, Beaty led the way with nine tackles followed by Hudson Welch, Diego Gutierrez and Ezekiel Medrano with six tackles apiece.