Off to their best start since 2019 when they opened the campaign with eight consecutive victories, the Brownwood Lions seek a 4-0 start as they venture to Glen Rose to battle the Tigers in a 7 p.m. Friday non-district showdown.

The Lions, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A Division I this week by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and No. 9 by Harris Ratings Weekly, took a different route to their third straight victory last week, shaking off a slow start and coming from behind to win another traditionally close contest against the Burnet Bulldogs, 24-10.

The Lions (3-0) would like their fourth outing to follow more of the pattern in the first two – victories of 35-21 over Abilene Wylie and 56-7 over Marble Falls – in which Brownwood seized control early and was able to keep the opponents at bay for much of the contest.

“We want to be at an elite level all the time and not be concerned with who we play, but how we play,” said Lions sixth-year head coach Sammy Burnett. “If we handle that part of it, the rest will take care of itself and I think our kids are grasping that. I’ve seen growth in our team this week.”

Glen Rose (1-2) enters the contest having defeated Gatesville, 21-20, in Week 2, sandwiched between an opening loss to Grandview, 35-7, and last week’s setback against Graham, 45-21. Despite the record, Burnett feels Glen Rose will present the Lions with a formidable challenge Friday night.

“They’re a good football team, sound, and they always have a good game plan so there will have to be some adjustments made by us because of what we see that is new,” Burnett said. “Coach (Cliff) Watkins does a phenomenal job over there and we’ll have to be prepared for them.”

Thus far in 2023, Glen Rose has been an extremely pass heavy offense despite averaging just 16 points, with 305 of its 338 yards of total offense per game coming through air. Quarterback Canyon Evans has completed 58 of 113 passes for 844 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions, as the Tigers have turned over the ball 10 times in the first three games. Leading receivers include Josiah Groeneweg (15-296, TD receiving), Adrian Sanchez (12- 110, TD receiving), Camden Raymond (11-188, 2 TDs receiving), and Kaleb Baker (10-159, 2 TDs receiving), while the top rushers are Braylon Reid (79 yards rushing), and Ryder Ribitzki (60 yards rushing; 72-yard TD pass).

“They’ve adjusted a little from last year’s team to this year’s team in that they’re throwing a little bit more,” Burnett said. “They have a running back that is out after he had some knee damage during a scrimmage. We know they’re going to throw the football, we’ve repped a lot of the stuff that they’re doing in the passing game. We still understand we have to stop the run and if we can do that and make them throw the football, make them one-dimensional, and understand what they’re trying to do we’re going to do a good job of covering. It’s easier if you know they’re one-handed instead of two-handed and if we can keep them behind the chains where they have to throw the football, we can have success.”

The Lions defense is allowing just 13 points and 254 yards – 154 through the air and 100 on the ground – per outing, but Glen Rose will be the most extensive passing offense Brownwood has faced to date. Standouts for the Lions include Sam Kallman (46 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks), Stevie Ramirez (38 tackles, 1 INT), Noah Gonzalez (27 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Jake Jetton (23 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Jaylan Brown (21 tackles, 1 for loss), Weston Wolf (15 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), and Jordyn Nickerson (15 tackles).

Glen Rose’s defense is yielding 33 points per contest and will see a Brownwood offense that produces 38 points and 355 yards – 189 through the air and 155 on the ground – behind a front five of Quinten McCarty, Cole Miller, Davis Le, Aidan Packheiser and Logan Knight. Who lines up at quarterback for the Lions, will likely remain a mystery until shortly before kickoff.

Starter Ike Hall (19 of 30 for 417 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 237 rushing yards on 19 carries, 3 TDs) left last week’s game during the second series with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Braeden Stacks (13 of 16 for 150 yards, 3 TDs; 43 rushing yards on 9 carries, TD), who threw for three touchdowns and 144 yards, connecting on 12 of 15 attempts.

“Ike is a very precious commodity for us and we have to have Ike in district,” Burnett said. “We have to make sure we do what’s right for him health-wise. I’ve talked to him, he wants to play, and I think he could have an opportunity to play, but I will make that decision right before the game starts. I’ll go off how things feel from talking to him, watching him, talking to (quarterbacks) Coach (Caleb) Hill and what we feel is best for the team at the time. If he does go, hopefully we can get up in the game and then put Braeden in to finish and get more growth and development for him.”

Burnett admitted the game plan will defer if Stacks is the quarterback behind center against Glen Rose.

“Braeden does a phenomenal job throwing the ball down field, he’s a good deep ball passer,” Burnett said. “He does a good job running the offense, getting the ball to the backs and he can lull people to sleep with the fact that when he feels the pocket collapsing and needs to run he can do that. He understand his limitations, he’s not a burner like Ike, so the plays we call are different for him. He’s not as much a dual threat, more of a keep you honest type guy. The passing game doesn’t change much because Braeden understands that. When Ike is in there, we’re going with everything because he can do it all – throw it, run it, read it – and makes you worry about him throwing the ball or keeping it. The playbook is wide open with Ike, but the run game is a little different with Braeden.”

Other offensive weapons for the Lions include receivers Carson Noe (11 catches, 124 yards, TD), Aaron Edmonds (6 catches, 96 yards, TD), Hayden Noe (5 catches, 129 yards, TD), Morsello Hooker (3 catches, 47 yards, 2 TDs), Stone Ratliff (2 catches for 61 yards, TD), Weston Wolf (2 catches, 45 yards, TD) and Xavier Zepeda (2 catches, 34 yards). Out of the backfield, Brown (103 yards on 21 carries, 4 TDs) is expected to receive an expanded workload to complement Levi Pearson (95 yards on 30 carries, TD), according to Burnett.

“We’ve moved some people around position-wise offensively and defensively to shore up some things that need shoring up,” said Burnett, adding that Gray Stewardson will be making his season debut and will see time in the secondary after missing the first three games of the season.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Brownwood is a 31-point favorite.

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Brownwood Lions 2023 Football Season Stats

Through 3 Games (3-0)

TEAM OFFENSE

38.3 points per game (115)

354.7 yards per game (1,064)

165.7 rushing yards per game (497)

189.0 passing yards per game (567)

69.6 completion percentage (32 of 46)

PASSING

* Ike Hall

19 of 30 for 417 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT

* Braeden Stacks

13 of 16 for 150 yards, 3 TDs

RUSHING

* Ike Hall

237 yards on 19 carries, 3 TDs

* Jaylan Brown

103 yards on 21 carries, 4 TDs

* Levi Pearson

95 yards on 30 carries, TD

* Braeden Stacks

43 yards on 9 carries, TD

* Case Burnett

27 yards on 7 carries

* Logan McKibben

12 yards on 4 carries

RECEIVING

* Carson Noe

11 catches, 124 yards, TD

* Aaron Edmonds

6 catches, 96 yards, TD

* Hayden Noe

5 catches, 129 yards, TD

* Morsello Hooker

3 catches, 47 yards, 2 TDs

* Stone Ratliff

2 catches for 61 yards, TD

* Weston Wolf

2 catches, 45 yards, TD

* Xavier Zepeda

2 catches, 34 yards

* Levi Pearson

2 catches, 30 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

12.7 points per game (38)

253.7 yards per game (761)

99.7 rushing yards per game (299)

154.0 passing yards per game (462)

53.4 opponents completion percentage (39 of 73)

TACKLES

* Sam Kallman

46 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks

* Steve Ramirez

38 tackles, 1 INT

* Noah Gonzalez

27 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Jake Jetton

23 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Jaylan Brown

21 tackles, 1 for loss

* Weston Wolf

15 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Jordyn Nickerson

15 tackles

* Julius Lara

13 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 for loss

* Robert Trowbridge

12 tackles

* Zakk Zebecki

12 tackles

* Hayden Noe

12 tackles

* Morsello Hooker

8 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT

* Kenyan McDowell

6 tackles, 1 INT

* Quinten McCarty

6 tackles

* Cole Miller

4 tackles

* Ricky Vasquez

4 tackles

* Jamaria Harmon

2 tackles, 1 for loss

* Isaiah Rosas

2 tackles

* Yovani Figueroa

2 tackles

* Davis Le

1 tackle

* Xavier Zepeda

1 tackle

* Case Burnett

1 tackle

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KICKING

* Junior Martinez

1 of 2 FGs – long of 33, missed from 44

16 of 16 PATs

19 points

9 punts, 367 yards, 40.8 average – long of 52; 1 inside opponents’ 5

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+2)

* Brownwood: 2 (1 fumble, 1 interception)

* Opponents: 4 (1 fumble, 3 interceptions)

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PENALTIES

* Brownwood: 23 for 198 yards (7.7 for 66.0 per game)

* Opponents: 18 for 112 yards (6.0 for 37.3 per game)