BRONTE – In a game played Thursday night, the Zephyr Bulldogs avenged one of just two losses from 2022 as they knocked off the Bronte Longhorns by a 42-18 count.

Trailing 12-0 early, the Bulldogs (1-0) responded with 42 consecutive points to seize control of the contest following a quick start by Bronte (0-1).

Zephyr was outgained 294 to 185 in total yards, but forced five turnovers including a pair that were returned for touchdowns – a 47-yard fumble recovery by Karsen Floyd and an 80-yard interception by Tripp Ballard.

Ballard also rushed for a team-high 67 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 15-yard pass.

Wyatt Stevens completed 7 of 11 passes for 64 yards with a 15-yard scoring toss to Trapper Schoenhals, while Jim Evetts was 3 of 4 for 53 yards through the air with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Floyd – who caught a team-high four passes for 57 yards.

Schoenhals led the Zephyr defense with 13 tackles followed by Ballard with 12, Floyd with 10 and Chayden Woodcock and C.J. Byers with eight apiece.

Next week, Zephyr hosts Veribest (1-0) – a 50-0 winner over Santa Ann Friday night – in its home opener.

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May 59, Iredell 28

IREDELL – In a game the May Tigers added to their schedule at 12:30 p.m. Friday after their original season opener against Ira was canceled earlier in the week, head coach Craig Steele’s squad shined with just three hours of preparation in a 59-28 road victory.

Sixmanfootball.com Class A Division I No. 5 May (1-0) featured a balance offensive attack of 286 rushing yards and 216 passing yards for a total of 502 yards against Iredell (0-1), whose original game against Gustine was canceled earlier Friday.

Braden Steele led the charge for the Tigers with 178 rushing yards and four touchdowns while completing 7 of 14 passes for 175 yards and three more scores.

Lane Goodson contributed 94 yards on the ground and caught three passes for 81 yards with a trip to the end zone, while Ben Harrell added two scoring receptions totaling 66 yards.

Other offensive contributors were Jackson Lusk with four catches for 89 yards, Cayson Dail completed 2 of 3 passes for 41 yards, and Mikey Scheriger rushed for 14 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive standouts for the Tigers included Harrell with 12 tackles and two for loss; Lusk with 12 tackles and a pass defended; Goodson with 10 tackles; Steele with eight tackles; Kaden Watkins with seven tackles and a fumble recovery; Scheriger with four tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception; Wyatt Hardy with three tackles; Hagan Hester with two tackles; and Cutter Newton with one takedown.

Next week, May is back on the road as it will visit Austin St. Stephen’s, which opened its season against Austin Veritas.

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Brookesmith 2, Mullin 0 (forfeit)

The Brookesmith Mustangs picked up a forfeit victory over the Mullin Bulldogs Friday, who called to cancel the game at 1:30 p.m.

Brookesmith head coach Jack Graves stated Mullin had eight players on its roster and three were ill.

Brookesmith (1-0) is slated to hit the field for the first time next week as it visits Kopperl (1-0) – a 68-18 winner over Hillsboro Hill County Christian Friday night.

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Rising Star 52, Blanket 6

BLANKET – For the season year in a row, the Blanket Tigers’ season opener was spoiled by the Rising Star Wildcats, who chalked up a 52-6 victory Friday night.

Kannon Kensing accounted for the lone Blanket (0-1) touchdown as he rushed for a team-high 70 yards with a trip to the end zone. AC French added 18 yards on the ground and Cameron Aultman rushed for 16.

Gage Jones completed 1 of 4 passes for 4 yards to Mason Beck, as the Tigers finished with 108 yards of total offense and three turnovers against the Wildcats (1-0).

Beck led the Blanket defense with six tackles, Adam McLaughlin, Aultman and French added four apiece and Kensing also finished with four and a fumble recovery.

Rising Star generated 318 yards – 251 rushing and 67 passing – as Dathon Morris rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns and Pacey McGinn added 72 yards and a pair of scores. Blake Wilson finished with 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground, Dakota Higgins chipped in 27 rushing yards with a trip to the end zone, while Anthony Pollard added 21 yards and scored once.

Kobey Morris threw a 17-yard touchdown to Higgins, who finished with two grabs for 51 yards. Morris was 3 of 4 through the air for 50 yards as Emerson Helmuth added a 10-yard catch and Pollard grabbed a 6-yard reception.

Pollard led Rising Star with 10 tackles while Wilson, Higgins and Dustin McGinn each recovered a fumble.

Next week, Blanket welcomes Bryson (0-1) – which fell to Azle Christian, 41-40, on opening night, while Rising Star heads to Sidney (1-0) – coming off a 46-0 win over Priddy.

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Comanche 37, Brady 8

BRADY – The Comanche Indians picked up from where they left off after a dominant 2022 regular season as they dished out a 37-8 defeat to the Brady Bulldogs Friday night.

Comanche (1-0) produced 411 yards of total offense – 248 on the ground and 163 through the air – against the Brady (0-1) defense.

Sawyer Wilkerson, fresh off a 2,000-plus yard campaign, rushed for 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while quarterback Layden Welch completed 11 of 21 passes for 163 yards with three scoring tosses and one pick, while rushing for 51 yards and another score.

Leading receivers included Baylor commit Kyler Beaty with five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, Manuel Ortiz with a 25-yard scoring reception and Ayden Fishback with an 8-yard touchdown grab. C.T. Buford also pulled down a 35-yard reception.

Defensively for Comanche, Diego Gutierrez and Alex Terrell led the way with eight tackles followed by Pierson Sorrells with seven. Kazdon Thedford recorded two sacks while Beaty, Ortiz and Ezequiel Medrano each intercepted a pass and Isaac Morales pounced on a fumble.

Next week, Comanche welcomes Bangs (0-1), which is coming off a 52-10 loss to Early, which is the opponent on the Indians’ calendar for Week 3.

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San Saba 40, Florence 3

KILLEEN – The San Saba Armadillos cruised to a comfortable 40-3 season-opening victory over the Class 3A Division II Florence Buffaloes Friday night.

San Saba (1-0) churned out 403 yards of total offense, with 365 yards and five touchdowns coming on the ground against the Florence (0-1) defense.

Ethan Gonzales compiled 133 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns and caught two passes for 39 yards with another trip to the end zone.

Quarterback Lane Miller added 122 yards rushing and one score and completed 3 of 11 passes for 56 yards with a touchdown.

Alex Estrada chipped in 63 yards rushing and also reached the end zone once.

Defensive standouts for San Saba were Winton Lackey with 15 tackles and a fumble recovery, Sterling Proffitt with eight tackles and a sack, and Levi Glover with seven tackles and a fumble recovery.

Next week, the Armadillos open their home slate against Junction (0-1), fresh off a 40-19 loss to San Saba’s District 5-2A Division I rival De Leon.

***

Cross Plains 51, Winters 28

CROSS PLAINS – The Cross Plains Buffaloes poured on the points in their season opener, as they hammered the Winters Blizzards by a 51-28 count Friday night.

Cross Plains (1-0) manufactured 473 yards of total offense – 306 rushing and 167 passing – with one turnover, while limiting Winters (0-1) to 188 total yards – 183 on the ground and 5 through the air – with three takeaways.

Dusty Wyatt rushed for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Buffaloes while Theron Albrecht tacked on 92 yards and two scores and quarterback Kade Purvis contributed 32 yards on the ground and scored twice.

Through the air, Purvis was 10 of 16 for 167 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Tyler Mackey led all receivers with four catches for 93 yards with a trip to the end zone while Gray Albrecht caught two passes for 24 yards and Coltyn Barron hauled in two receptions totaling 16 yards.

Defensive standouts for Cross Plains included Caleb Blue with eight tackles and one for loss; Mackey with seven tackles and a forced fumble; Colt Sanderson with four tackles, three for loss and a fumble recovery; Alex Parker with four tackles and a fumble recovery; and Barron intercepted a pass.

Next week, Cross Plains takes to the road as the Buffaloes visit De Leon (1-0), which rolled past Junction, 40-19, Friday night.

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Richland Springs 50, High Island 0

RICHLAND SPRINGS – In the first official game of the Shawn Rogers head coaching era at Richland Springs, the sixmanfootball.com Class A Division II No. 11 Coyotes notched a resounding 50-0 victory over the High Island Cardinals Friday night.

Richland Springs (1-0) generated 307  yards of total offense against the High Island (0-1) defense, with 285 of those yards coming on the ground.

Billy Perry led the way with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns while Rush Norris chipped in 51 yards and a touchdown and Clayton Meador contributed 47 yards with a trip to the end zone. Troy Shelton added a 36-yard touchdown scamper and Gage Behrens rushed for a 7-yard score.

Shelton also completed 2 of 3 passes for 22 yards – 17 yards to Kenny Triplett and 5 yards to Hutton Rogers.

Defensively, Norris led the way with four tackles and a fumble recovery followed by Triplett and Perry with three tackles apiece. Behrens also recovered a fumble and Rogers picked off a pass. 

Next week, the Coyotes are home again as they host Olfen, which is playing its second year of football after organizing a program in 2002.

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Mason 29, Coleman 20

COLEMAN – The Coleman Bluecats put up a fight, but the Mason Punchers were able to escape Hufford Field with a 29-20 season-opening triumph Friday night.

Coleman (1-0) struck first and Mason (1-0) rallied to force an 8-all tie at halftime, but the Punchers pulled away with all 14 points scored in the third period.

The Bluecats finished with 224 yards of total offense – 141 on the ground and 83 through the air – but turned over the ball three times, all fumbles. Coleman’s defense yielded 312 yards, including 285 rushing, and did recover a couple of fumbles.

Quarterback Jadin Jackson rushed for 88 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Coleman offense, while also completing 4 of 7 passes for 83 yards.

Brent Bouldin tacked on 67 yards rushing, while leading receivers were Blaze Hronek with two catches for 26 yards, Kelan Sikes with a 44-yard grab and Paul Silas pulled down a 16-yard reception.

Next week, the Bluecats venture to Ballinger (0-1), which suffered a 46-12 loss to Sonora in its first game of the season.

***

Crawford 28, Goldthwaite 14

CRAWFORD – Opening the season against the Crawford Pirates, a consensus Class 2A Division I Top 10 team by most every high school football ranking service, the Goldthwaite Eagles showed some of the strides they’ve made, but fell short of a victory in a 28-14 decision Friday.

Coming off a winless campaign in head coach Andy Howard’s first season, the Eagles (0-1) produced 259 yards of total offense – 202 rushing and 57 passing – I in the first game of 2023, but coughed up the ball three times against the Crawford (1-0) defense.

Quarterback Ethan Deeds rushed for a team-best 100 yards and a touchdown on nine carries while also completing 4 of 10 passes for 57 yards with two interceptions. Marcus Stevens chipped in 76 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Eagles.

Luke Sanderson led Goldthwaite with three catches for 44 yards while Malachi Thomas pulled down a 13-yard reception.

Next week, Goldthwaite plays host to Santo (1-0), which posted a 27-14 victory over Electra to kick off its 2023 campaign.