LOMETA – The Class A Division I May Tigers continued their march toward a potential seventh straight district championship as they remained undefeated with a 54-6 triumph over the Lometa Hornets in District 14 action Friday night.
May (7-0, 2-0) needed just 235 yards of total offense – 156 passing and 79 rushing – to get the job done against Lometa (2-6, 0-2).
Braden Steele completed 4 of 6 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, Ben Harrell connected on 2 of 2 passes for 63 yards with a scoring toss, and Luke McKenzie hurled an 8-yard score on his only toss.
McKenzie also finished with a team-best four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, Kross Kenyon hauled in a 37-yard reception, Alexis Mejia grabbed a 14-yard touchdown and Bryson Guerrero snared an 8-yard completion.
On the ground, Steele rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown, Damian Salinas tacked on 23 yards with two trips across the goal line, McKenzie added 10 yards, and Landon Cheatham rushed for 6.
Defensive standouts for May were Harrell (5 tackles, a pass defended, and a tackle for loss), Guerrero (5 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 returned 30 yards for a touchdown), Steele (3 tackles and 2 passes defended), Kenyon (3 tackles and a pass defended), Cheatham (3 tackles and an interception), McKenzie (1 tackle and a pass defended), Mejia (1 tackle), and Salinas (1 tackle).
Next week, May hosts Santa Anna (3-4, 0-1), which was dealt a 62-16 loss by Jonesboro (7-1, 2-0) Friday night.
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Blanket 66, Gustine 16
BLANKET – The Blanket Tigers kicked off District 15-A Division II competition with a sixth consecutive victory, 66-16 over winless Gustine Friday night.
Blanket (6-1, 1-0), whose district bye fell last week, generated 421 total yards – 318 rushing and 103 passing – against the Gustine (0-8, 0-2) defense.
On the ground, Brayden Day rushed for 177 yards and four touchdowns, while Levi Vazquez contributed 141 yards and five touchdowns.
Mason Beck completed 3 of 4 passes for 79 yards with a touchdown, while Cameron Aultman added a 24-yard completion in his lone pass attempt.
Isaac Smith grabbed three receptions for 78 yards and the touchdown, and Aultman pulled down a 25-yard reception.
Defensively for the Tigers, standouts were Day (8 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries), Smith (8 tackles), Vazquez (6 tackles), and Aultman (1 tackle, 1 interception).
Next week, Blanket visits Mullin (3-5, 0-2), which was shutout 58-0 by Zephyr (7-1, 2-0) Friday night.
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Zephyr 58, Mullin 0
ZEPHYR – The Zephyr Bulldogs remained undefeated in District 15-A Division II action behind their seventh straight victory and fourth shutout of the season, 58-0 over Mullin Friday night.
The Zephyr (7-1, 2-0) defense allowed just 104 yards – 101 passing and 3 rushing – while forcing four turnovers against Mullin (3-5, 0-2).
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs offense churned out 316 yards – all rushing – without a turnover.
Jayden Millican rushed for 163 yards and five touchdowns, Karsen Floyd chipped in 90 yards on the ground and scored once, and Tripp Ballard finished with 42 rushing yards and two trips to the end zone.
Defensively, Millican led the way with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery followed by Ballard with eight and a fumble recovery, Kaden Floyd with six tackles, Johnny Paul Evans-Rollins with five, and Waggoner Shelton and Karsen Floyd with three tackles and one interception apiece.
Next week, Zephyr ventures to Sidney (3-3, 1-0), which had a bye Friday night, as the race for the 15-A Division II title and the league’s two playoff berths continues.
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Brookesmith 46, Lohn 0
BROOKESMITH – The Brookesmith Mustangs notched their first victory of the season and the Jack Graves coaching era, opening their District 16-A Division II slate with a 46-0 triumph over the Lohn Eagles Friday night.
Adyn Ribble rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns to spark the Brookesmith (1-6, 1-0) offense while Brennan Mendieta chipped in 79 yards and a score on the ground.
Through the air, Vegas Gilliam connected on 3 of 5 passes for 35 yards with a touchdown to Mendieta, who caught two passes for 28 yards.
Defensively, Ribble recorded 14 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Gilliam finished with 12 tackles and an interception against Lohn (0-7, 0-2).
Next week, Brookesmith travels to Richland Springs (5-1, 1-1), which is coming off a 44-40 win over Rochelle.
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Comanche 53, Jacksboro 33
JACKSBORO – The Comanche Indians took control of the District 5-3A Division II race with a 53-33 road victory over the Jacksboro Tigers Friday night.
Comanche (6-1, 2-0) finished with 560 yards of total offense – 349 rushing and 211 passing – against Jacksboro (4-3, 1-1) as the Indians overcame three turnovers to earn their third win in a row.
Sawyer Wilkinson led the onslaught with 272 yards on the ground and four scores. The Indians raced out to a 25-point halftime lead, 36-11, behind scoring sprints of 48 and 46 yards from Wilkerson, who also added a 59-yard touchdown gallop in the second half.
Layden Welch completed 10 of 12 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown, while tacking on 28 rushing yards and two more scores.
Receiving standouts were Miguel Martinez with five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, Kyler Beaty with two grabs for 52 yards, Diego Gutierrez with two for 49 yards, and Wilkerson pulled down a 48-yard reception.
Jacksboro finished with 447 yards, including 341 passing, but turned the ball over three times as well.
Raymond Crossland led the Indians with 10 tackles followed by Welch with seven, Easton Gonzalez, Israel Medrano and Gutierrez with six tackles each, and Pierson Sorrells with five tackles and two sacks. Cade Bauman and Ayden Fishback recovered fumbles and Martinez picked off a pass.
Next week, Comanche welcomes Dublin (2-5, 0-2), which suffered a 38-12 loss to Millsap (4-3, 1-1) Friday night.
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Coleman 42, Hamilton 7
HAMILTON – The Class 2A Division I No. 9 Coleman Bluecats returned to the win column with a 42-7 road victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs Friday night.
Coleman (6-2, 3-1) held Hamilton (3-4, 1-2) to just 91 yards of total offense – 65 rushing and 26 passing – with two takeaways.
Offensively, the Bluecats racked up 411 yards behind a balanced attack with 207 coming through the air and 204 on the ground.
Jadin Jackson completed 7 of 11 passes for 207 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 66 yards and two more scores.
Keaton Beets led Coleman with three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, Hagen Cavanaugh hauled in a 50-yard scoring reception, and Braxton Smith caught a 28-yard touchdown.
Ryland Gentry tacked on 64 rushing yards and a touchdown and caught a 14-yard pass. Blaine Bouldin rushed for 44 yards, Jaden Espitia added 22 yards on the ground, and Dayden Hunter rushed for 4 yards and a caught a 17-yard pass.
Next week, Coleman enjoys its district bye then hosts De Leon (3-5, 0-3) – which fell to Tolar (7-0, 3-0) by a 50-7 count Friday night – on Oct. 28.
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Richland Springs 44, Rochelle 40
ROCHELLE – Leading by 30 points at halftime, the No. 9 Richland Springs Coyotes held off a furious Rochelle Hornets rally to hang on for a 44-40 District 16-A Division II victory Friday night.
Richland Springs (5-1, 1-1) kept its hopes for at least a share of its 21st straight district championship alive, but needs Rochelle (6-2, 1-1) to knock off Cherokee (6-0, 1-0) – which ended the Coyotes’ 81-game league win streak – in order for that to become a reality.
Against Rochelle, the Coyotes finished with 358 yards – 240 rushing and 118 passing – but committed three turnovers and were shutout in the second half. The Hornets produced 282 yards – 207 on the ground and 75 through the air – with three turnovers as well.
Keston Lusty rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Richland Springs offense while Kenny Triplett chipped in 72 yards and a score on the ground. Hutton Rogers was 5 of 9 through the air for 66 yards and two scores, as Jayden Sutherland led the way with five grabs for 45 yards and both trips to the end zone.
Braxton Ethridge, Richland Springs’ leading rusher and passer, was limited to 52 yards passing on eight attempts, and 28 yards rushing on only eight carries.
Rochelle’s Sean Estes – who set new six-man state records last week with 23 catches for 334 yards and nine touchdowns – caught just two passes for 14 yards Friday.
Defensively for the Coyotes, Lusty tallied 9.5 tackles followed by Billy Perry with seven, Triplett with five, Gage Behrens with 3.5, Sutherland with three and an interception, Cohen Tharp with 2.5 tackles, and Rogers with 2.5 and a pick.
Next week, Richland Springs hosts Brookesmith (1-7, 1-1), which is coming off its first win, 46-0 over Lohn (0-7, 0-2).
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Albany 56, Cross Plains 0
ALBANY – The Cross Plains Buffaloes were dealt a second consecutive District 6-2A Division II defeat by the No. 6 Albany Lions, 56-0, Friday night.
Cross Plains (5-2, 0-2) was limited to 126 total yards – 82 rushing and 44 passing – by Albany (5-2, 2-0), which manufactured 478 yards – 284 on the ground and 194 through the air.
For the Buffaloes, Riley Conlee rushed for 53 yards trailed by Noah Moses with 28 and Dusty Wyatt with 3 yards.
Kade Purvis completed 7 of 15 passes for 44 yards with one interception. Wyatt led the way with four grabs for 31 yards, Moses hauled down two receptions for 10 yards and Ryder Reed added a 10-yard catch.
Moses’ nine tackles were a team-high trailed by eight from Tye McWalters, and seven each from Conlee and Wyatt.
Cross Plains will attempt to rebound next week at home against Hamlin (5-2, 1-1), which suffered a 28-0 loss to Miles (5-2, 1-1) Friday night.