Kickoff between Bangs (0-2) and Grape Creek (0-2) is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday.
After suffering a 34-20 loss to Early in Week 1, Bangs dropped a 42-18 decision to Comanche last week.
Fifth-year Bangs head coach Kyle Maxfield said of the Dragons’ Week 2 performance, “We played a really good first quarter. The defense got a turnover, and we were up 6-0. But then they got momentum in the second quarter, and we couldn’t keep the ball away from them and it got out of hand. We came back the third quarter and settled down and played some ball. It was up and down we just need to be more consistent.”
The Dragons finished with 319 yards of total offense with 299 coming on the ground, led by Guy Powell’s 208 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’re trying to develop some versatility in our offense, but it was nice to see our run game get back on track,” Maxfield said.
Through the air, the Dragons mustered just 20 yards, completing only 2 of 14 attempts.
“With the passing game, it’s not just one thing,” Maxfield said. “It’s protection, it’s making good throws, it’s making catches, really everything. We’re getting a little better, we just need to get to a point where it all clicks.”
On the defensive end, the Dragons yielded 413 yards, including 374 rushing.
“When our ones were in there, we did a pretty good job of shutting them down,” Maxfield said. “We have to continue developing depth because that’s when they started ripping us. The power run game out of the shotgun, we didn’t have an answer for it.”
Grape Creek enters the contest coming off losses to Stanton (33-8) and Christoval (30-10). Last season, the Eagles posted a 5-6 record and earned a share of a district championship with a 4-1 league mark.
“They had a historical year last year, but they’ve lost some key players from last year just like we did,” Maxfield said. “On paper, they’re not as deep as the first two teams we’ve played, but we have to line up and play against whoever we face each Friday night, and Grape Creek is no different.”
Grape Creek is averaging 9 points and 194.5 yards per contest with four turnovers out of the single wing set.
Standouts for the Eagles in the Stanton opener were Josiah Johnston, who rushed for 95 yards on 22 carries and completed 4 of 6 passes for 44 yards with an interception; Cougar Jetton threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Colton Walker – who grabbed two passes for 18 yards – rushed for 16 yards, and caught a 14-yard reception; Colton Ramsey hauled down three receptions for 22 yards; Braden Wright made a 31-yard catch and run; and Josh Morgan connected on 2 of 5 passes for 37 yards.
Regarding facing the Grape Creek single wing, Maxfield said, “It’s definitely hard to simulate in practice, but we’ve seen it the last few years and we have more of an understanding of what they’re trying to do. It just comes down to stopping it.”
The Dragons enter the game averaging 19 points and 257.5 yards – 229 rushing and 38.5 passing – offensively, with four turnovers.
Powell has rushed for 318 yards and three touchdowns, while other contributors in the ground game include quarterback Kenny Cole (59 yards, TD), Hunter Newton (35 yards, TD), Ethan Ethridge (33 yards) and Keygan Pitts (13 yards).
Cole has completed 8 of 36 passes for 77 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions, while receiving leaders include Guy Funk (2-41), Nate Stoffer (2-20), Skylar Minshew (2-7), and Newton (1-10).
Defensively, Bangs is surrendering 38 points and 474.5 yards – 314 passing and 160.5 rushing – with four takeaways.
Standouts include Stoffer (19 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception), Pitts (17 tackles, 1 for loss), Powell (16 tackles 1 fumble recovery), Ethridge (11 tackles), Weston Jundt (5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), and Minshew (4 tackles).
In reference to the keys for Bangs to secure a victory, Maxfield said, “The offense needs to take care of the ball better and put some good drives together. Defensively, we need to get as many three-and-outs as they can because it’s a ball control offense that they run. We’ve done a good job of creating turnovers, we just have to keep it up and get our defense off the field as much as we can.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 25-point favorite.
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Bangs Dragons 2022 Football Season Stats
Through 2 Games (0-2)
TEAM OFFENSE
19.0 points per game (38)
257.5 yards per game (535)
229.0 rushing yards per game (458)
38.5 passing yards per game (77)
PASSING
* Kenny Cole
8 of 36 for 77 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs
RUSHING
* Guy Powell
318 yards on 37 carries, 3 TDs
* Kenny Cole
59 yards on 17 carries, 1 TD
* Hunter Newton
35 yards on 4 carries, 1 TD
* Ethan Ethridge
33 yards on 5 carries
* Keygan Pitts
13 yards on 1 carry
RECEIVING
* Guy Funk
2 catches, 41 yards
* Nate Stoffer
2 catches, 20 yards
* Skylar Minshew
2 catches, 7 yards
* Hunter Newton
1 catch, 10 yards
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TEAM DEFENSE
38.0 points per game (76)
474.5 yards per game (949)
314.0 rushing yards per game (628)
160.5 passing yards per game (321)
TACKLES
* Nate Stoffer
19 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception
* Keygan Pitts
17 tackles, 1 for loss
* Guy Powell
16 tackles 1 fumble recovery
* Ethan Ethridge
11 tackles
* Weston Jundt
5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
* Skylar Minshew
4 tackles
* Chris Valdez
2 tackles
* Brody Newton
2 tackles
* Noah Castillo
2 tackles
* Zack Ferguson
2 tackles
* David Herrera
2 tackles
* Braydon Fields
1 tackle, 1 interception
* Isaiah Serrato
1 tackle
* Hunter Newton
1 tackle
* Noah Pin
1 tackle
* Sergio Lopez
1 tackle
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TURNOVER MARGIN (0)
* Bangs: 4 (1 fumbles, 3 interceptions)
* Opponents: 4 (2 fumbles, 2 interceptions)