Week 6 is the lightest in terms of games scheduled with several teams on bye at the midway point of the season, but District 5-2A Division I action remains in full string, along with a handful of six-man contests.
Brookesmith (3-1) at Zephyr (3-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
In a battle of Brown County six-man squads, the Zephyr Bulldogs host the Brookesmith Mustangs in a Class A Division II pre-district tilt.
Brookesmith chalked up its first win on the field last week, knocking off Gustine, 38-18, for homecoming. The previous victories for the Mustangs came via forfeit in Week 1 against Mullin and a 54-12 triumph over the Veribest JV.
Against Gustine, Brookesmith’s Adyn Ribble rushed for 156 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries to spark the Mustang offense, while Kevin Keith added a 38-yard touchdown run. Defensive standouts included Ribble, Vegas Gillam and Devon Keith.
Zephyr is looking to bounce back from a 52-35 road loss to Robert Lee as the Bulldogs finished with 265 yards – 137 passing and 128 rushing – with one turnover, and allowed 286 yards, including 237 on the ground, without a takeaway.
Wyatt Stevens completed 7 of 12 passes for 82 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Rhett Williams caught both touchdowns and finished with three receptions for 37 yards.
Jim Evetts rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown; Karsen Floyd added 37 rushing yards and a score to go along with two catches for 15 yards; Tripp Ballard contributed 28 yards with a touchdown on the ground and a pair of receptions for 34 yards; Chayden Woodcock caught a 30-yard pass; and Ethan Byers added a 21-yard reception.
Defensively for Zephyr, Floyd led the way with 11 tackles trailed by Trapper Schoenhals with eight, CJ Byers with six, and Woodcock and Corben Gosnell with five tackles apiece.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Zephyr is a 45-point favorite.
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May (4-1) at Oglesby (5-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Class A Division I No. 8 May Tigers will attempt to knock the Class A Division II No. 11 Oglesby Tigers from the ranks of the unbeaten Friday night in one of the premier six-man match-ups across the state.
May escaped with a 55-54 home victory over Fort Worth THESA this past Friday as the Tigers generated 416 yards of total offense – 299 rushing and 117 passing.
Braden Steele led the charge for May with 235 rushing yards and four touchdowns to go along with 79 passing yards and two more scores, completing 6 of 8 attempts.
Mikey Scheriger chipped in 30 yards rushing while Jackson Lusk added 27 yards and a touchdown and Hagan Hester scored on a 7-yard carry.
Lusk also led May with three catches for 19 yards and another trip to the end zone, Kaden Watkins hauled in two receptions for 59 yards, Ryland Billadeau caught a 26-yard pass, Hester scored on a 10-yard reception and Cayson Dail caught a 6-yard pass. Dail also completed 3 of 4 passes for 38 yards.
Defensively for the Tigers, Lusk led the way with 11 tackles trailed by Steele with nine, Watkins with seven and a fumble recovery, Levi McInnis with seven tackles, Hester with six, Scheriger and Wyatt Hardy with four each, Billadeau with two, and Dail and Cutter Dearick with one tackle apiece.
Oglesby has started its season with victories over Penelope (66-16), Walnut Springs (46-0), Covington (56-8), Fredericksburg Heritage Christian (54-8) and Waco Methodist Children’s Home (38-19).
Kyler Fossett has rushed for 1,042 yards and 19 touchdowns thus far while EJ Aviles has chipped in 264 yards and five scores on the ground. Hunter Walter has completed 15 of 28 passes for 347 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions, while leading receivers include Landon Williamson with eight for 186 yards and four touchdowns and Cash Lee with five for 120 yards and three scoring receptions.
Defensive standouts for Oglesby – which has forced 17 turnovers – include Williamson (33 tackles, 1 interception), Lee (28 tackles), Johnny Gomez (26 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries), Aviles (25 tackles, 1 interception), Fossett (23 tackles) and Jack Hendricks (20 tackles, 1 fumble recovery).
According to sixmanfootball.com, May is an 18-point favorite.
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Evant (0-5) at Blanket (2-3)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Blanket Tigers are setting their sights on their first win streak of the season as they welcome the winless Evant Elks for homecoming Friday night.
Blanket rolled to a 51-6 road victory over Moran this past Saturday as the Tigers produced 297 yards of total offense – 211 on the ground and 86 through the air.
Kannon Kensing finished with 101 yards on the ground and four touchdowns, Cameron Aultman tacked on 89 yards and four scores, and A.C. French rushed for 21 yards.
Gage Jones completed 5 of 6 passes for 64 yards, while Aultman was 1 of 2 for 11 yards. Brennen Varner caught a 30-yard pass, Mason Beck hauled in an 18-yard reception and Aultman caught a 5-yard pass.
Defensively, Kensing led the way with 10 tackles followed by Beck with nine and a fumble recovery, French with five, and Kade Russell with four tackles and a fumble recovery.
Evant has started its season with losses at the hands of Stephenville Faith (71-26), Gorman (72-26), Cherokee (56-0), Kopperl (49-18), and Rochelle (53-6).
Players to watch include Cason Ingram, Luis Arellano, Hunter White, Daniel Honea, and Canyon Smith.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 39-point favorite.
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San Saba (2-3, 1-0) at Coleman (4-1, 1-0)
7 p.m. Friday
In a battle of District 5-2A Division I unbeatens, the Coleman Bluecats open the home portion of their league slate against the San Saba Armadillos, who halted a three-game skid at the ideal time this past Friday.
In San Saba’s 32-28 upset win over Hamilton, which had won its last three contests, the Armadillos churned out 363 yards of total offense, including 301 rushing, against a Hamilton defense that blanked Early, 40-0, the week prior.
Ethan Gonzales anchored the ground game with 215 yards and three touchdowns while quarterback Lane Miller rushed for 87 yards and two scores. Miller also completed 6 of 9 passes for 61 yards as Winton Lackey grabbed three catches for 18 yards and Raymond Saucillo pulled down two receptions for 43 yards.
Defensively for the Armadillos, Glover tallied 12 tackles followed by Lackey and Juan Patino with nine each. Skylar Romero and Sterling Proffitt intercepted passes while Miller recovered a fumble as San Saba created three turnovers.
Meanwhile, Coleman outlasted the upstart Goldthwaite Eagles for a 46-33 road triumph last week as the Bluecats notched their fourth win in a row by manufacturing 458 yards of total offense – 247 rushing and 211 passing – and overcoming four turnovers. Coleman allowed 308 yards of total offense – 180 on the ground and 128 through the air – with a pair of takeaways.
Jadin Jackson returned to the lineup and rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns while Brayden Torres chipped in 49 yards on the ground and two scores, and Brent Bouldin tacked on 84 yards rushing. Torres also completed 12 of 15 passes for 211 yards with a pair of scoring strikes and one pick. Hunter Lackey finished with two scoring receptions totaling 79 yards while Jackson added four grabs for 79 yards, Kelan Sikes caught four passes for 32 yards, Paul Salas hauled in a 20-yard reception and Bouldin caught a 2-yard pass.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 13-point favorite.
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Goldthwaite (2-3, 0-1) at De Leon (4-1, 1-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Goldthwaite Eagles are looking to bounce back from a District 5-2A Division I opening loss to Coleman and hand De Leon – which defeated Bangs last week – its first league defeat as the two teams square off Friday night.
In the 46-33 loss to Coleman last week, Goldthwaite produced 308 yards of total offense – 180 on the ground and 128 through the air – but lost a pair of turnovers. The Eagles gave up 458 yards of total offense – 247 rushing and 211 passing – but forced four turnovers.
Ethan Deeds completed 8 of 16 passes for 128 yards with two touchdowns and also rushed for 42 yards and another score. Max Storm finished with a team-best 96 yards on the ground while Marcus Stevens chipped in 34. Luke Sanderson caught three passes for 70 yards with a trip to the end zone, while Malachi Stevens added three receptions for 38 yards.
In De Leon’s 40-21 victory at Bangs last week, quarterback Heston Jobe threw for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns and chipped in 144 yards on the ground and another score. Jake Cooper contributed 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns and Blake Alegria tacked on 65 receiving yards and two trips to the end zone.
Defensively, the Bearcats gave up 398 yards of total offense – 208 rushing and 190 passing – and did not force turnover.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, the game is a toss up.
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Richland Springs (5-0) at Burkeville (0-3)
6 p.m. Friday
Class A Division II No. 10 Richland Springs picked up a sixth game over weekend, as the Coyotes will make the 700-mile round trip to Burkeville – on the Louisiana border – Friday night.
Burkeville is ranked 72nd out of 75 teams in Class A Division I and is still seeking its initial victory of the season in its first year of six-man football. The Mustangs have fallen to Huntsville Alpha Omega (64-14), Union Hill (62-13), and Beaumont Legacy Christian Academy (60-50).
A year ago, Burkeville posted a 4-6 record in the Class 2A Division II ranks and qualified for the playoffs.
Richland Springs is coming off a come-from-behind 42-38 win at Coolidge last week.
The Coyotes were sparked by the efforts offensively of Kenny Triplett, who completed 6 of 9 passes for 89 yards with two touchdowns, rushed for 77 yards, and added an 11-yard catch; Gage Behrens, who rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 23 yards with a trip to the end zone; and Hutton Rogers, who hauled in three receptions for 66 yards and scored twice.
Defensively for the Coyotes, Rogers and Connor Womack logged eight tackles apiece, and Triplett finished with six tackles and a forced fumble.
There is no line on the Richland Springs-Burkeville game, according to sixmanfootball.com, due to the late addition to the schedule.