Kickoff between the Dragons (1-4, 0-1) and Eagles (2-4, 0-2) is slated for 7 p.m. Friday in Goldthwaite.
“If we want to make the playoffs this game is critical,” said Bangs first-year head coach Jason Cole. “We have a lot of parity, a lot of good teams in our district and we’re all capable of beating each other. We need to be the ones on top this week if we want to be the ones to keep our playoff hopes alive.”
Cole felt Bangs’ bye week fell at an ideal time midway through the season and with the bulk of the district schedule still to come.
“We worked really hard,” Cole said of the bye week. “The practices were a little shorter but the intensity was really good. We started preparing for Goldthwaite and really worked hard at it. Our Monday practice this week was the best Monday morning practice we’ve had all year, so we’re real excited.”
Reflecting on their most recent outing against De Leon, Cole said, “On the negative side we didn’t start good again. We can’t get down 21-0 before we really start playing. We have to be more physical and more mean to start the game and get after it. Once the game gets going we’re usually pretty good, but we really want to force on starting strong and being tough and physical from the get-go.”
Goldthwaite faced De Leon last week and dropped a 56-14 decision, which came on the heels of a 46-33 setback at the hands of Coleman in the 5-2A Division I opener.
“They’re a lot better than they were last year,” Cole said of Goldthwaite. “They’re tough, their quarterback and running back are fast and athletic and their O-line is really good. They have a nice passing read scheme they run. It’s going to be quite a challenge for our defense. Also, running the ball against them is going to be a quite a challenge because they’re really big on the D-line as well. We expect it to be a really great game.”
Goldthwaite is averaging 22 points and 312 yards – 222 rushing and 90 passing – per game, while giving up 35 points.
The ground game is shouldered by Max Storm (479 rushing yards, 2 TDs), Marcus Stevens (392 rushing yards, 4 TDs) and quarterback Ethan Deeds (202 rushing yards, 6 TDs). Deeds has also completed 33 of 69 passes for 497 yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions with Luke Sanderson (22-341, 2 TDs) and Malachi Thomas (6-92) serving as the primary receiving threats.
Bangs enters Friday’s contest averaging 22 points and 323 yards – 179 passing and 144 rushing – per outing, with six turnovers.
Quarterback Kenny Cole has completed 63 of 121 passes for 896 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 217 yards and another score. Ethan Ethridge (376 yards, 4 TDs) leads the way on the ground while top receiving threats include Hunter Newton (25-388, 6 TDs), Kade Minshew (13-209, TD), Skylar Minshew (10-95) and Ethridge (5-131, TD).
Defensively, the Dragons are surrendering 44 points and 454 yards – 285 on the ground and 169 through the air – with five takeaways.
Leading the charge are Ethridge (39 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks), Hunter Crowell (36.5 tackles), Cason Tidwell (23 tackles), Newton (18.5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Weston Scantling (14.5 tackles), Kade Minshew (9 tackles, 1 INT) and Skylar Minshew (9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery).
“We have to start better, score on offense early and stop them on defense,” Cole said of the keys to a Bangs victory. “We need to play with the lead instead of playing from behind. That’s our No. 1 goal, to start physical and start tough and be aggressive.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 15-point underdog.
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Bangs Dragons 2023 Football Season Stats
Through 5 Games (1-4, 0-1)
TEAM OFFENSE
22.0 points per game (110)
323.4 yards per game (1,617)
144.2 rushing yards per game (721)
179.2 passing yards per game (896)
PASSING
* Kenny Cole
63 of 121 for 896 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs
RUSHING
* Ethan Ethridge
376 yards on 62 carries, 4 TDs
* Kenny Cole
217 yards on 52 carries, TD
* Skylar Minshew
47 yards on 22 carries
* Hunter Hudnall
42 yards on 5 carries
* Navaeh Menefield
24 yards on 5 carries, TD
* Brayden Gatlin
2 yards on 1 carry
RECEIVING
* Hunter Newton
25 catches, 388 yards, 6 TDs
* Kade Minshew
13 catches, 209 yards, TD
* Skylar Minshew
10 catches, 95 yards
* Ethan Ethridge
5 catches, 131 yards, TD
* Brayden Gatlin
5 catches, 29 yards
* Ethan Hager
2 catches, 19 yards
* Aden Jones
1 catch, 36 yards, 1 TD
* Weston Scantling
1 catch, 4 yards
###
TEAM DEFENSE
44.4 points per game (222)
454.0 yards per game (2,270)
285.2 rushing yards per game (1,426)
168.8 passing yards per game (844)
TACKLES
* Ethan Ethridge
39 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks
* Hunter Crowell
36.5 tackles
* Cason Tidwell
23 tackles
* Hunter Newton
18.5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
* Weston Scantling
14.5 tackles
* Kade Minshew
9 tackles, 1 INT
* Skylar Minshew
9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
* Hunter Hudnall
7 tackles
* Brayden Gatlin
6.5 tackles, 1 sack
* Sergio Lopez
6 tackles, 1 for loss
* Brody Newton
5 tackles
* Quade Angel
5 tackles
* Aden Jones
5 tackles
* Hunter Withers
4.5 tackles
* Kenny Cole
4 tackles
* Ethan Hager
4 tackles
* Noah Pin
2 tackles
* Cody Brooks
2 tackles
* Navaeh Menefield
1 tackle
* Damian Hudspeth
1 tackle
* Dwayne Lyon
1 tackle
* Chris Valdez
1 tackle
###
TURNOVER MARGIN (-1)
* Bangs: 6 (4 fumbles, 2 interceptions)
* Opponents: 5 (3 fumbles, 2 interceptions)