1A DI No. 13 Garden City (3-0) at 1A DI No. 4 May (3-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The May Tigers passed their biggest test of the young season this past Friday with an 81-58 victory at previously undefeated Knox City, and return home Friday with another undefeated foe coming to town in the Garden City Bearkats.
May has started its season with victories over Jayton (58-12), Austin St. Stephens (77-46) and Knox City. Garden City has knocked off Valley (30-26), Menard (54-8) and Midland Trinity (61-0) thus far.
The Tigers, who are averaging 72 points per game, produced 604 yards of total offense – 336 rushing and 268 passing – against a Knox City defense that had allowed an average of just 10 points per game through its first two outings.
Damian Salinas rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns while Luke McKenzie chipped in 154 yards and five scores to pace the May attack.
McKenzie also completed 9 for 14 passes for 222 yards with three touchdowns, while Ben Harrell was 2 for 5 for 46 yards and a score.
Leading receivers included Salinas with two catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, Jackson Easterling with three catches for 61 yards and a score, Harrell with three grabs for 47 yards, Bryson Guerrero with a 47-yard scoring reception, and McKenzie with two grabs for 46 yards with a trip to the end zone.
Defensive standouts for May included Salinas (19 tackles, 1 for loss), Kross Kenyon (11 tackles, 1 fumble caused, 1 fumble recovered, 1 blocked kick, 1 for loss), Harrell (8 tackles), Guerrero (7 tackles, 1 for loss), McKenzie (4 tackles, 1 pass defended), Wyatt Hardy (4 tackles, 1 for loss), Alexis Mejia and Easterling (2 tackles each), and Adam Blankinship and Ryland Billadeau notched one blocked extra point kick.
Garden City is coming off its rout of Midland Trinity in which the Bearkats yielded negative-26 yards of total offense, including -55 rushing on 13 carries, with two first downs allowed and two takeaways.
Offensively, Garden City tallied 339 yards – 264 rushing and 75 passing.
Preston Dehlinger rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, Carson Goodwin added 43 yards and a score, Keith Latch chipped in 30 yards and scored once, and John Lopez reached the end zone on a 27-yard carry.
Through the air, Logan Seidenberger completed 4 of 5 passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns – a 37-yarder to Kamdyn Roe and a 1-yarder to Mason Walker.
Defensively, Walker and Seidenberger intercepted passes for Garden City. Walker returned his interception for a touchdown, while Dehlinger recorded a safety.
According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 42-point favorite.
###
Santa Anna (3-0) at Blanket (2-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Blanket Tigers will attempt to push their win streak to three games and hand the Santa Anna Mountaineers their first setback in the process.
Blanket is coming off its most complete win of the season, and the Micheal Cherry coaching era, in a 50-0 blowout of Eden.
The Tigers finished with 291 yards of total offense – 258 rushing and 33 passing – against the Eden defense.
Brayden Day anchored the ground game with 139 yards and three touchdowns of 2, 35 and 45 yards. Kannon Kensing scored on a 55-yard scamper, Levi Vazquez added a 40-yard touchdown jaunt, Brandon Larance tacked on 25 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Emmanuel McLaughlin rushed for 8 yards.
Through the air, Brennen Varner completed both of his pass attempts for 33 yards – 17 yards to Aydan Wheeler and 16 yards to Isaac Smith.
Adam McLaughlin tacked on four two-point kicks.
Defensively for Blanket, Kensing again led the way with 18 tackles followed by Vazquez with seven, Smith with five, Wheeler with four, and Day with three.
Santa Anna picked up a 68-20 win at Nueces Canyon Saturday, which follows victories over Veribest (58-13) and Lueders-Avoca (via forfeit).
Players to watch for the Mountaineers include RB/LB Tatum Cantu, ATH Bruce Brown, E/DL Levi Daniel, E/DB Jacob Jimenez, RB/LB William Perry, OL/DL Lealand Bernal, OL/DL Dakota Donham, RB/DB James Denson, OL/DL Aaron Donham, DL Trevor Minshew.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 45-point underdog.
###
Zephyr (2-1) at Lohn (0-3)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Zephyr Bulldogs are coming off their second straight victory and look to stretch their win streak to three games as they venture to Lohn to battle the winless Eagles Friday night.
In their most recent victory, the Bulldogs compiled 235 total yards – 147 rushing and 88 passing – against Waco Eagle Christian.
Jayden Millican rushed for 100 yards and five touchdowns, scoring on carries of 15, 4, 5, 17 and 45 yards. Millican also threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Karsen Floyd to cap a 3 for 4 effort through the air for 74 yards.
Waggoner Shelton contributed a 20-yard rushing touchdown for Zephyr, Eathan Gowin finished with 27 yards on the ground on eight carries, and Bransen Bumguardner threw a 14-yard pass to Ethan Byers.
Defensively, Tripp Ballard logged 12 tackles for the Bulldogs followed by Millican with 11, and Karsen Floyd and Kaden Floyd with five tackles apiece.
Lohn has started its season with losses at the hands of Paint Rock (64-14), Trent (67-34) and Paint Creek (40-29).
Players to watch for the Eagles include RB/DB Kavaan Flores, OL/LB Zac Barrington, RB/DL Fermin DeLaRosa, and WR/DB Alex Pitcox.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Zephyr is a 45-point favorite.
###
Brookesmith (0-3) at Priddy (2-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Brookesmith Mustangs will attempt to land in the win column for the first time in 2022 Friday night against a school that revived its program after a near 60-year break – the Priddy Pirates.
Brookesmith has started its first season under head coach Jack Graves with losses against Mullin (38-6), Kopperl (24-8) and Mount Calm (46-0).
After a 60-plus year program hiatus, Priddy picked up a 58-37 victory over the Panther Creek varsity last week after falling to Sidney (26-13) in Week 1. The Pirates also have a 27-12 triumph over the Santa Anna JV to their credit, though it does not count in the official standings.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Brookesmith is a 45-point underdog.
###
Comanche (3-0) at 2A DI No. 10 Tolar (3-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
In a battle of unbeatens, the Class 3A Division II No. 21 Comanche Indians travel to Tolar to square off against the Class 2A Division I No. 10 Rattlers.
Comanche, which won just one game a season ago, has defeated Brady (49-7), Bangs (42-18) and Early (49-40) thus far in 2022. Tolar, meanwhile, has knocked off Peaster (29-15), Early (51-14) and Flower Mound Coram Deo Academy (56-7).
The Indians enter the contest averaging 47 points and 472 yards – 351 rushing and 121 passing – per game with four giveaways, while giving up 22 points with 10 sacks and seven takeaways.
Sawyer Wilkerson anchors the rushing attack with 628 yards and eight touchdowns followed by quarterback Layden Welch with 158 yards and two scores and Easton Gonzalez with 101 yards and two trips to the end zone.
Welch has completed 16 of 36 passes for 360 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Leading receivers are Miguel Martinez (11-239, TD) and Kyler Beaty (4-41, TD).
Defensive standouts for the Indians include Ezequiel Medrano (31 tackles), Isaac Medrano (28 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Dom Rios (28 tackles, 2 for loss), Ayden Fishback (21 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks), Pierson Sorrells (21 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks), and Diego Gutierrez (19 tackles, 1 interception).
The Rattlers are averaging 45 points and 418 yards – 275 rushing and 143 passing – per game, while giving up 12 points per game with eight sacks and nine takeaways. The points scored and allowed have improved each week for Tolar.
Tolar’s rushing attack is led by Peyton Brown with 545 yards and nine touchdowns, followed by Isaac Blessing with 102 yards and a touchdown and Garrison Nation with 91 yards and a score.
Quarterback Jackson Lecluyse has connected on 28 of 50 passes for 422 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. Receiving threats include Wyatt Jones (9-177, 2 TDs), Matthew Behrens (8-113, TD), Brock Owens (4-56, 2 TDs), and Brown (4-35).
Leading the charge defensively for Tolar are Owens (24 tackles, 1 for loss), Blessing (20 tackles, 1 for loss), Keaton Morrison (17 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries), Mason Berry (12 tackles, 2 for loss), Cash Clark (11 tackles, 1 for loss), Luke Willmon (11 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), and Clayton Stembridge (10 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 6-point underdog.
###
2A DI No. 6 Coleman (3-0) at 3A DI No. 20 Llano (3-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Class 2A Division I No. 6 Coleman Bluecats put their unblemished mark on the line against likely their toughest test to date, the Class 3A Division I 20th-ranked and unbeaten Llano Yellowjackets.
Coleman owns victories over Mason (7-6), Ballinger (48-0), and Brady (56-24). Meanwhile, Llano has defeated 4A Division II Jarrell (48-26), 4A Division I Burnet (29-21), and 5A Division II Austin Crockett (57-13).
In the Bluecats’ win over Brady last week, Coleman generated 523 yards of total offense – 338 rushing and 185 passing – with one turnover, while allowing 352 yards – 261 through the air and 91 on the ground – with a pair of takeaways.
Bluecat quarterback Jadin Jackson rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns, Ryland Gentry chipped in 133 yards and three scores, and Brent Bouldin finished with 37 yards and a trip to the end zone.
Jackson completed 8 of 14 passes for 185 yards with a touchdown to Braxton Smith, who hauled in four catches for 85 yards. Hunter Lackey added two receptions for 52 yards, Dayden Hunter made a 43-yard catch and Bouldin caught an 18-yard pass.
Defensively, Gentry returned an interception 54 yards for another Bluecat touchdown.
Llano is averaging 45 points and 546 yards – 409 rushing and 137 passing – per game while giving up 20 points with 12 sacks and nine takeaways.
Leading rushers for the Yellowjackets include Carson Kuykendall (508 yards, 7 TDs), Miguel Hernandez (343 yards, 2 TDs), and Briggs Green (153 yards, TD).
Through the air, Green has completed 32 of 45 passes for 407 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. Weapons in the passing game include Ross Prokop (8-197, 2 TDs) and Jackson Dillard (5-76, 3 TDs).
Defensive standouts are Hayden Manahan (22 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 for loss), Isaiah Bush (17 tackles), Fitz Kennedy (14 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), and Ricky De la torre (12 tackles, 3 sacks).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 2-point favorite.
###
San Saba (3-0) at Eldorado (1-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The San Saba Armadillos hit the road for the third straight week, seeking a fourth consecutive victory overall as they visit the struggling Eldorado Eagles.
San Saba, after winning two games in 2021, has kicked off the 2022 campaign with victories over Florence (46-14), Junction (18-6) and Johnson City (28-3). Meanwhile, Eldorado has fallen to Sonora (24-7) and Winters (18-12, OT) in consecutive weeks after starting the season with a triumph over Christoval (7-0).
The Armadillos enter the contest averaging 31 points and 287 yards – 251 rushing and 36 passing – per game, while giving up 8 points with 16 sacks and five takeaways.
Ethan Gonzales sparks the ground game with 350 yards and one touchdown followed by Tyler Johnson with 191 yards and seven scores and quarterback Lance Taylor with 154 yards and a trip to the end zone.
Taylor has completed 12 of 23 passes for 95 yards with three scoring tosses. Leading receivers are Johnson (9-72, 3 TDs), Lane Miller (2-20) and Dylan Ware (1-3).
Defensive standouts for the Armadillos include Ware (35 tackles, 13 for loss, 9 sacks), Zuri Herrera (30 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Jesus Betancourt (20 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), and Winton Lackey (20 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack).
Players to watch for Eldorado are L Sam Griffin, QB/DB Jason Covarrubiaz, WR/DB Nino Tambunga, OL/LB Garrett Porter, OL/DL Braxton Elias, OL/DL Vinny Pina, TE/LB Tony Kmiec, FB/DL Omar Barajas, OL/DL Jayson Santellano, WR/LB Jose Contreras, OL/DL Ernesto Nava, WR/DB Marcos Morin, OL/DL Seth Parker, RB/LB Paul Luna, RB/DL Aizik Soto, QB/LB Eleazar Hernandez, and WR/DB Ethan Elias
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, San Saba is a 13-point favorite.
###
Junction (0-3) at Cross Plains (3-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Cross Plains Buffaloes have yet to taste defeat in 2022, while the Junction Eagles are still searching for their initial victory as the two teams clash Friday night.
Cross Plains has upended Winters (40-14), De Leon (27-6) and Hico (33-7). Meanwhile, Junction has dropped decisions to De Leon (28-8), San Saba (18-6) and D’Hanis (21-6)
In Cross Plains’ victory over Hico last week, the Buffaloes amassed 334 yards of total offense behind a balanced attack of 188 yards on the ground and 146 through the air, with one turnover. Hico (1-2) was limited to 141 yards – 96 rushing and 45 passing – with one turnover.
Noah Moses rushed for 119 yards and a score, Dusty Wyatt chipped in 47 yards, Riley Conlee finished with 14 yards and a trip to the end zone, and Asher Moses added 8 yards.
Kade Purvis completed 13 of 24 passes for 146 yards with three touchdowns – all to Ryan Reed, who finished with six grabs for 89 yards. Wyatt added six catches for 38 yards, and Asher Moses hauled in a 19-yard catch.
Defensive standouts were Conlee with 12 tackles and two for loss; Noah Moses with 11 tackles; Asher Moses with nine tackles; Kadin Galvan with seven tackles, one sack, and two fumble recoveries; Wyatt with seven tackles; Theron Albrecht with six tackles; Reed with five tackles, Michael Samora with four tackles; and Coltyn Barron with three tackles and a fumble recovery.
Players to watch for Junction include ATH Aidan Cardwell, QB/DB Caden Robers, RB/DB Angel Cruz, OL/DL Gavin Gonzales, RB/LB Julian Barrera, OL/DL Marco Ponce, OL/LB Sergio Ochoa, OL/DL Rafael Benavides, and WR/DB Ragan Levien.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 30-point favorite.
Granger (2-1) at Goldthwaite (0-3)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Goldthwaite Eagles will attempt to snap a season-long skid and earn their first victory under head coach Andy Howard, while also handing the Granger Lions their second defeat.
Goldthwaite has suffered setbacks at the hands of Crawford (49-0), Santo (20-7) and Rosebud-Lott (36-14) out of the gate in 2022. Meanwhile, Granger has kicked off its season with wins over Hubbard (28-6) and Holland (28-20), with an overtime loss to Thorndale (36-34) in Week 2.
In the Eagles’ most recent outing against Rosebud-Lott, Goldthwaite finished with 286 yards – 183 rushing and 103 passing – with a pair of turnovers. Defensively, the Eagles yielded 355 yards, including 311 rushing, and created a turnover.
Quarterback Bryce Brookings completed 5 of 17 passes for 94 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and also rushed for 11 yards and a score. Marcus Stevens hauled in a 25-yard touchdown reception, while Collin Gardner led the team with three catches for 59 yards. On the ground, Carsyn Campbell compiled 93 yards on 16 carries.
Defensively, Stevens led the way with seven tackles followed by Mason Reven with six, Rance York with four and Gardner with three.
Granger rushes for 290 yards and passes for 59 per outing.
D.J. McClelland is the top ground gainer with 586 yards and seven touchdowns, and the leading receiver with four receptions for 91 yards and two more trips to the end zone. Nathan Tucker has completed 17 of 36 passes for 172 yards with three touchdown and two interceptions.
On the defensive end, McClelland has a team-high 24 tackles with two for loss followed by Chase Edwards with 22 tackles, three for loss, one sack and three fumble recoveries, and Isaac Lizardo with 15 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Granger has created five turnovers through three games.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is a 20-point underdog.
###
1A DI No. 2 Richland Springs (3-0), BYE
The first Richland Springs bye falls the week head coach Jerry Burkhart was issued a three-year suspension by the UIL based on allegations of recruiting.
The Coyotes are back in action Sept. 23 against Coolidge (1-2) at Jonesboro.