CHEROKEE – In a battle of Class A Division II Top 10 squads, the No. 6 Richland Springs reclaimed the driver’s seat early in the District 16 race, knocking off the No. 4 Cherokee Indians, 40-32, Friday night.

Cherokee (5-1, 0-1) defeated Richland Springs (7-0, 1-0) last season to end the Coyotes’ 20-year run of district championships along with an 82-game district win streak. The Indians carried a 16-game regular season win streak into Friday’s contest, having last lost to the Coyotes during the 2021 campaign.

Playing without quarterback Troy Shelton, Richland Springs received 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Billy Perry, who also completed 5 of 11 passes for 100 yards. Kenny Triplett completed 3 of 4 passes with two touchdowns to Hutton Rogers, who grabbed three catches for 48 yards. Rogers also chipped in 22 rushing yards and Triplett added 21 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Perry logged 6 tackles including 5 sacks with a safety. Triplett chipped in 5.5 tackles and Rogers was credited with 2.5 tackles.

Next week, Richland Springs (7-0, 1-0) hosts No. 10 Rochelle (7-0, 1-0) – fresh off a 66-6 win over Lohn (0-7, 0-1) – in a game that would all but lock up a district championship for the Coyotes with a win. A loss by Richland Springs opens the door for Cherokee to make a run at a potential three-way share of the district title and a possible three-way tiebreaker to determine two playoff berths.

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May 55, Evant 0

EVANT – The short-handed May Tigers opened District 14-A Division I action with a resounding 55-0 road victory over the Evant Elks Friday night.

May (5-2, 1-0) finished with 251 yards of total offense – 199 rushing and 52 passing.

Mikey Scheriger led the charge on the ground with 69 yards and two touchdowns followed by Jackson Lusk with 57 yards and two scores, Ryland Billadeau with 33 yards and a touchdown, Cutter Dearick with 23 yards and a trip to the end zone, Ben Harrell with 11 yards and a score, and Hagan Hester added a 6-yard carry.

Through the air, Cayson Dail completed 2 of 3 passes for 52 yards – a 33-yarder to Lusk and a 19-yarder to Kaden Watkins.

Defensively for the Tigers, Harrell recorded a team-high eight tackles followed by Scheriger with seven, Lusk with six tackles and a 6-yard fumble return for a touchdown, Dail with four tackles and a fumble recovery, Hester with three tackles, Watkins with two, and Levi McInnis and Wyatt Hardy with one tackle apiece.

Next week, May hosts Lometa (3-4, 0-1), which dropped its district opener to Jonesboro (5-1, 1-0) by a 76-28 count Friday night.

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Zephyr 60, Gustine 6

ZEPHYR – The Zephyr Bulldogs began defense of their District 15-A Division II crown with a convincing 60-6 drubbing of the Gustine Tigers Friday night.

Zephyr (5-2, 1-0) finished with 221 yards of total offense – 114 on the ground and 107 through the air – while limiting Gustine to (3-4, 0-1) to 63 yards – 82 passing and -19 rushing – with three turnovers.

Chayden Woodcock scored on a 20-yard interception return for the Bulldogs and also added a 55-yard rushing touchdown on his lone carry.

Wyatt Stevens completed 3 of 3 passes for 74 yards and a pair of touchdowns – 60 yards to Karsen Floyd and 7 yards to Tripp Ballard.

Ballard also rushed twice for 53 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kick 48 yards for six points. Floyd finished with two catches for 67 yards.

Also, Jim Evetts hurled a 33-yard touchdown pass to Trapper Schoenhals.

Defensively for the Bulldogs, Floyd recorded nine tackles with three behind the line of scrimmage trailed by Woodcock with eight, Johnny Paul Evans-Rollins with five, and Ballard and CJ Byers with four tackles apiece.

Next week, Zephyr will visit Mullin (0-7, 0-1) – which is coming off a 70-18 loss to Sidney (5-2, 1-0) – at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.

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Millsap 35, Comanche 22

MILLSAP – The road to a District 5-3A Division II championship repeat got off to a rocky start for the Comanche Indians Friday night, who suffered their third consecutive loss overall, 35-22, to the Millsap Bulldogs.

Comanche (3-3, 0-1) was limited to 251 yards of total offense – 162 passing and only 89 rushing – by the Millsap (3-2, 1-0) defense.

Indian quarterback Layden Welch completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards with three touchdowns – all to Baylor commit Kyler Beaty, who hauled in seven receptions for 86 yards. Cayden Davis added three grabs for 53 yards and Raymond Crossland (12 yards) and Ayden Fishback (11 yards) hauled in receptions.

On the ground, Welch rushed for 76 yards while Sawyer Wilkerson managed just 13 yards on eight carries.

The district slate gets no easier next week for Comanche as it hosts Jacksboro (6-0, 1-0), fresh off a 49-24 victory over Eastland (1-5, 0-1) in its league opener.

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De Leon 42, San Saba 20

SAN SABA – The De Leon Bearcats are alone in first place at the top of the District 5-2A Division I standings, a half-game clear of state-ranked Tolar, following Friday night’s road victory over San Saba, which has dropped two straight league contests since upsetting Hamilton in the league opener.

De Leon (6-1, 3-0) finished with 332 yards of total offense – 291 rushing and 31 passing – as Jake Cooper compiled 166 yards while quarterback Heston Jobe tacked on 102 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Jobe also completed 4 of 10 passes for 31 yards and tossed an 11-yard touchdown to Cooper.

San Saba (2-5, 1-2) produced 237 yards – 197 on the ground and 40 through the air – as Ethan Gonzales rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 16 yards. Quarterback Winton Lackey connected on 11 of 17 passes for 40 yards and added 21 yards rushing. Alex Estrada also rushed for 28 yards and Skylar Romero caught three passes for 11 yards.

Logan McHam tallied 10 tackles for San Saba followed by eight from Estrada, and six each from Lackey, Cash Bryant, Alex Aguirre and Christian Reyes.

Next week, San Saba ventures to Bangs (2-4, 0-2), which is coming off a 42-14 loss to Goldthwaite (3-4, 1-2).

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Tolar 43, Coleman 0

TOLAR – The Class 2A Division I No. 3 Tolar Rattlers posted their second consecutive District 5 shutout Friday night, ending the Coleman Bluecats’ five-game win streak in a 43-0 decision.

Tolar (5-1, 2-0) held Coleman (5-2, 2-1) to 173 yards of total offense – 96 rushing and 77 passing – with three turnovers. Meanwhile, the Rattlers finished with 292 yards – 150 on the ground and 142 through the air – without a turnover.

For Coleman, Brayden Torres completed 7 of 16 passes for 77 yards with two interceptions, while Jadin Jackson rushed for 51 yards and Brent Bouldin added 38 yards on the ground. Hunter Lackey caught three passes for 50 yards and Blaze Hronek finished with three grabs for 27 yards.

Next week, Coleman hosts Hamilton (3-3, 0-2), which had its district bye Friday night.

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Roscoe 57, Cross Plains 21

CROSS PLAINS – The Cross Plains Buffaloes were handed a 57-21 home loss in their District 6-2A Division opener by the Roscoe Plowboys Friday night.

CROSS PLAINS – The Cross Plains Buffaloes were handed a 57-21 home loss in their District 6-2A Division II opener by the Roscoe Plowboys Friday night.

Roscoe (5-1, 1-0) jumped out to a 17-0 lead over Cross Plains (2-4, 0-1) in the first quarter en route to amassing 480 yards of total offense – 244 passing and 236 rushing – with one turnover. The Buffaloes mustered 243 yards – 152 through the air and 91 on the ground – with three turnovers.

Cross Plains quarterback Kade Purvis rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown and completed 11 of 21 passes for 119 yards with another score and two interceptions. Dusty Wyatt added a 33-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 31 yards as well. Coltyn Barron caught two passes for 37 yards and a touchdown and Tyler Mackey added 12 yards receiving on two catches, including a touchdown. Caleb Blue pulled down a 44-yard reception.

Defensively for the Buffaloes, Blue tallied nine tackles followed by Barron with six tackles and an interception, and Theron Albrecht with six tackles and a sack.

Next week, Cross Plains welcomes defending state champion Albany (6-0, 1-0), which rolled past Miles (4-2, 0-1) Friday night.

Next week, Cross Plains welcomes defending state champion Albany (6-0, 1-0), which rolled past Miles (4-2, 0-1) Friday night.

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Austin Royals JV 48, Brookesmith 38

BROOKESMITH – In a game played Thursday night, the Brookesmith Mustangs dropped a 48-38 decision to the Austin Royals JV to slip to 3-3 on the season.

No other information was available.

Brookesmith begins District 16-A Division II action at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lohn (0-7, 0-1), which is coming off a 66-6 loss to No. 10 Rochelle (7-0, 1-0).