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The push for district championships and playoff berths continues around the state, and seven contests locally will pit league rivals against one another as they jockey for postseason positioning.
The following are brief previews of the games in the BrownwoodNews.com coverage area this weekend:
Santa Anna (3-4, 0-1) at May (7-0, 2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The sixmanfootball.com Class A Division I No. 1 May Tigers continue their pursuit of a seventh consecutive district championship as they host the Santa Anna Mountaineers Friday night.
May is coming off a 54-6 triumph over Lometa last week in which the Tigers needed just 235 yards of total offense – 156 passing and 79 rushing – to get the job done.
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).
Santa Anna dropped its district opener to Jonesboro, 62-16, last week. The Mountaineers opened the season with wins over Veribest (58-13), Lueders-Avoca (via forfeit), and Nueces Canyon (68-20), but has since fallen to Blanket (52-16), Medina (54-8), Gordon (62-14), and Jonesboro.
Players to watch for Santa Anna 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, and DL Trevor Minshew.
According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 45-point favorite.
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Blanket (6-1, 1-0) at Mullin (3-5, 0-2)
7:30 p.m. Thursday
The Blanket Tigers look to run their win streak to seven games and remain perfect in District 15-A Division II action as they visit the Mullin Bulldogs, still in search of their first league victory.
Blanket posted a 64-14 victory in its district opener last week against Gustine, as the Tigers generated 421 total yards – 318 rushing and 103 passing.
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).
Mullin has fallen to Sidney (54-8) and Zephyr (58-0) in its two league outings. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a four-game skid overall with losses also coming at the hands of Kopperl (34-24) and Morgan (60-10).
Mullin’s three victories this season came at the hands of Brookesmith (38-6), Panther Creek (26-22), and Moran (58-44).
Players to watch for the Bulldogs are senior Abel Martinez, sophomore Wyatt Stevens, sophomore Dameon Gonzalez, and freshman Vash Langford,
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 45-point favorite.
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Zephyr (7-1, 2-0) at Sidney (3-3, 1-0)
7:30 p.m. Saturday
Two of the three remaining undefeated teams in District 15-A Division II square off Saturday night as the Zephyr Bulldogs target an eighth straight victory as they visit the Sidney Eagles.
Zephyr is coming off a 58-0 victory over Mullin in which the Bulldog defense allowed just 104 yards – 101 passing and 3 rushing – while forcing four turnovers.
Zephyr’s 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.
Sidney’s district win also came against Mullin by a 54-8 count. The Eagles have also defeated Priddy (26-13) and Rising Star (50-44) this season, with losses coming against Bluff Dale (70-22), Aquilla (60-38) and Cherokee (50-0).
Players to watch for Sidney are QB/DL Jaylon Salinas, RB/LB Lehman Lindeque, WR/DB Peyton Terpstra, C/DL Tanner Crawford, TE/LB Dylan Terpstra (5-10, 165), and RB/DB Bryce Griffith .
According to sixmanfootball.com, Sidney is a 45-point favorite.
Brookesmith (1-6, 1-0) at Richland Springs (5-1, 1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Brookesmith Mustangs are coming off their first victory of the season in their District 16-2A Division II opener, while the No. 9 Richland Springs Coyotes are out to keep their hopes of at least a share of a 21st straight league title alive Friday night.
Brookesmith knocked off Lohn by a 46-0 count last week as Adyn Ribble rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns to spark the Mustang 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.
Richland Springs, meanwhile, held on for a 44-40 victory over Rochelle last week after surrendering the last 26 points in the contest.
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.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 45-point favorite.
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Dublin (2-5, 0-2) at Comanche (6-1, 2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Comanche Indians find themselves atop the District 5-3A Division II standings and are inching closer toward a potential league crown, but the upset-minded Dublin Lions are coming to town looking to shake up the loop standings.
Comanche posted a crucial 53-33 victory over Jacksboro last week and comes into Friday’s game averaging 40 points and 433 yards – 301 rushing and 132 passing – per game, while allowing 28 points with 18 takeaways and 15 sacks.
Sawyer Wilkerson paced the rushing attack with 1,326 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground followed by Cayden Davis with 277 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Layden Welch with 233 yards and four scores.
Welch has completed 50 of 91 passes for 921 yards with nine scoring strikes and five picks, while receiving threats include Miguel Martinez (28-536, 4 TDs), Kyler Beaty (11-135, 2 TDs),Wilkerson (6-151, TD), and Diego Gutierrez (4-77, TD).
Leading the charge defensively are Israel Medrano (66 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack), Gutierrez (57 tackles, 1 interception), Dom Rios (54 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Ezequel Medrano (48 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions), Pierson Sorrells (47 tackles, 8 for loss, 5 sacks) and Ayden Fishback (42 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries). Martinez has intercepted six passes.
Dublin, fresh off a 38-12 loss to Millsap last week, is generating 25 points and 331 yards – 192 through the air and 139 on the ground – per outing, while surrendering 44 points with 11 sacks and just four takeaways.
Chris Teten threw for 838 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in four games, while Kaden Gaitan has appeared in all seven games and tossed the ball for 509 yards with five touchdowns and three picks. Leading receivers are Dalan Rasberry (28-483, 4 TDs), Severiano Ruiz (16-250, 2 TDs), Cameron Patton (12-110, TD), Gaitan (10-124, TD), and Aidan Hernandez (8-126, 3 TDs).
On the ground, Patton (378 yards, 3 TDs), Teten (338 yards, 7 TDs), Gaitan (143 yards, 3 TDs) and Aiden Salyer (118 yards) are the top threats.
Defensively stalwarts include Patton (46 tackles, 11 for loss, 4 sacks), Lucas Azua (44 tackles, 2 for loss), and Jacen Hines (41 tackles, 1 sack).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 42-point favorite.
***
San Saba (5-3, 1-3) at Goldthwaite (0-7, 0-3)
7 p.m. Friday
The 105th “Battle of the River” finds the San Saba Armadillos clinging to faint playoff hopes while the Goldthwaite Eagles are simply looking to register their first victory of 2022.
San Saba is coming off a 42-35 home loss to Bangs and has dropped three of four since District 5-2A Division I action began. Goldthwaite had a bye last week, and its most previous performance was a 40-0 defeat at the hands of the Dragons.
Last week against Bangs, San Saba churned out 491 yards – 370 on the ground and 121 through the air – and committed the game’s lone turnover. Taylor was 14 of 23 passing and tacked on 105 rushing yards, Johnson finished with six catches for 69 yards and three scores to go with 73 yards rushing, and Ethan Gonzales produced 192 yards and two touchdowns rushing.
Defensively, the Armadillos surrendered 441 yards – 346 on the ground with four touchdowns and 95 through the air with a pair of scoring tosses. San Saba did not create a turnover.
When Goldthwaite faced Bangs the Eagles produced 178 total yards – all on the ground. Defensively, the Eagles were gashed for 394 yards – 248 on the ground with three scores, and 164 through the air with three more touchdowns.
Cutter Campbell rushed for 135 yards on 24 carries while Marcus Stevens tacked on 48 yards on 12 rushes for the Eagles.
Goldthwaite did not complete a pass in nine attempts., and the Dragons forced four turnovers.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, San Saba is a 20-point favorite.
***
Hamlin (5-2, 1-1) at Cross Plains (5-2, 0-2)
7 p.m. Friday
The Cross Plains Buffaloes will attempt to halt a two-game skid and earn their first District 6-2A Division II victory of the season Friday night as they welcome the Hamlin Pied Pipers.
Cross Plains was blitzed by state-ranked Albany last week in a 56-0 loss as the Buffaloes were limited to 126 total yards – 82 rushing and 44 passing – while surrendering 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.
Hamlin dropped a 28-0 decision to Miles last week after kicking off district action with a 60-9 victory over Abilene TLCA.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 13-point favorite.