Region II-2A Division I Area

Coleman (9-2) vs. Marlin (9-2)

7 p.m. Thursday at Stephenville

The Coleman Bluecats and Marlin Bulldogs have taken similar paths to the area round of the playoffs, and look to extend their campaigns into the third round of the postseason Thursday night.

District 5 runner-up Coleman is coming off a 47-7 bi-district victory over Alvord in a rematch from a year ago, a game the Bluecats won 46-7 in 2022. Meanwhile, District 6 champion Marlin knocked off Kerens by a 36-7 count in the first round.

In last week’s victory, Coleman gave up just 77 yards of total offense to Alvord, 54 through the air and 23 on the ground, while forcing a pair of turnovers. Offensively, the Bluecats churned out 391 yards – 238 passing and 153 rushing.

Quarterback Brayden Torres completed 18 of 22 passes for 238 yards with five touchdowns, including three to Hunter Lackey who finished with seven receptions for 109 yards. Jadin Jackson caught four passes for 45 yards with a touchdown and rushed for 52 yards. Paul Salas added a team-high 63 rushing yards and a score, and Brent Bouldin hauled in a 14-yard scoring reception to go along with 23 rushing yards.

Marlin, which is in the midst of a nine-game win streak, compiled 362 yards of total offense against Kerens last week, with 330 coming on the ground. I’aire Kee finished with 119 yards and a touchdown while Mario Hopwood chipped in 110 yards and two scores. Ja’marien Womack also scored twice and added 72 yards on the ground.

For the season, the Bulldogs average 33 points and allow 13 per outing.

Quarterback Roderick Suiters has completed 81 of 142 passes for 1,380 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, with 460 rushing yards and eight scores. Hopwood leads the ground game with 1,116 yards and 17 touchdowns, Kee has chipped in 460 yards and three touchdowns, and Womack has amassed 331 yards and six scores. Leading receivers include Jordan Womack (30-343, 5 TDs), Keiayr Young (18-152, TD), D’mariion Butler (10-76) and William Workman (6-144, 2 TDs).

Thursday’s winner will face either Valley Mills (7-4) or Tioga (8-3) at in the Class 2A Division I Region II semifinals next week.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 6-point favorite.

***

Region IV-1A Division II Semifinal

Richland Springs (11-0) vs. Bronte (4-7)

6:30 p.m. Friday at Mertzon Irion County

The Class A Division II No. 4 Richland Springs Coyotes, champions of District 16, maintained their flawless record, rallying past the District 15 runner-up Sidney Eagles for a 50-37 bi-district victory a week ago. The Bronte Longhorns, runners-up in District 15, pulled off a 36-20 upset of District 14 champion Rising Star last week to continue their postseason march.

In Richland Springs’ first-round victory, the Coyotes generated 287 yards of total offense – 178 on the ground and 109 through the air.

Billy Perry led the charge for Richland Springs as he rushed for 86 yards and four touchdowns and completed 5 of 7 passes for 110 yards and three more scores. Hutton Rogers caught two passes, both touchdowns, totaling 61 yards, while Jayden Sutherland led the team with three receptions for 26 yards and scored once.

Gage Behrens chipped in 48 yards on the ground, Cohen Ethridge rushed for 44 yards and Rush Norris hauled in a 22-yard reception.

Defensively, Kenny Triplett recorded game-high 9 tackles and a forced fumble for Richland Springs, followed by Perry with 7 tackles with 1 for loss, and Behrens with 6 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery. Ethridge and Hudson Tharp each added 5 tackles, Jim Eckermann tallied 4.5 tackles, Sutherland finished with 4 tackles, Rogers recorded 3.5 tackles, and Norris logged 3 tackles.

In Bronte’s victory over Rising Star, the first six-man playoff victory for the Longhorns, Jayton Galvan completed 7 of 8 passes for 165 yards and rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Spencer Smith chipped in 70 rushing yards and two trips to the end zone, and Raymond Williams grabbed six receptions for 105 yards. Williams, Galvan, and Joel Pena spearheaded the defensive effort.

Friday’s winner will face either Cherokee (9-1) or Loraine (4-7) in the Class 1A Division II Region IV championship game next week.

According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 45-point favorite.

***

Region II-3A Division II Area

Comanche (7-4) vs. Scurry-Rosser (11-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Burleson

The District 5 third seed Comanche Indians secured a second consecutive bi-district championship over the Henrietta Bearcats, rallying for a 26-21 victory last week. Meanwhile, the District 7 Scurry-Rosser Wildcats kept their unblemished record intact with a 28-19 triumph over Blue Ridge.

In Comanche’s victory, the Indians manufactured 379 yards – 225 rushing and 154 passing – while allowing 374 yards – 257 on the ground and 117 through the air.

Sawyer Wilkerson rushed for 118 yards followed by quarterback Layden Welch with 100. Welch also completed 6 of 8 passes for 154 yards as Kyler Beaty led the way with four grabs for 120 yards and the go-ahead 89-yard touchdown, and Cayden Davis hauled in a 34-yard reception.

Scurry-Rosser generated 356 yards of total offense against Blue Ridge, with 33 coming on the ground. Kayden Bradshaw rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown, Ralph Miller tallied 89 yards, De’shawn Wren finished with 61 yards and two touchdowns and Micah Williams chipped in 38 yards and scored once.

Miller completed his lone pass attempt for 26 yards, while Bradshaw was 1 of 2 through the air for a 1-yard loss. Wren grabbed the 26-yard reception.

Friday’s winner will face either Gunter (11-0) or Wichita Falls City View (7-4) in the Class 3A Division II Region II semifinals next week.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 7-point favorite.

***

Region IV-1A Division I Semifinal

May (8-3) vs. Leverett’s Chapel (8-2)

6 p.m. Saturday at Springtown

The District 14 runner-up May Tigers avenged last year’s bi-district loss to Irion County, 92-70, to move to the second round to face District 15 champion Leverett’s Chapel, which won its own first-round shootout with Leakey, 81-70.

May enters the contest averaging 47 points and allowing 40 points per outing.

The Tigers’ ground game is led by Braden Steele (1,560 rushing yards, 26 TDs), Mikey Scheriger (303 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Ben Harrell (295 rushing yards, 8 TDs). Through the air, Steele is 72 of 120 for 1,265 yards with 21 touchdowns, while Cayson Dail is 14 of 23 for 186 yards. Leading receivers include Jackson Lusk (26-466, 6 TDs), Harrell (19-436, 8 TDs) and Scheriger (12-121, 2 TDs).

Last week against Irion County, May produced 611 yards of total offense – 333 passing and 278 rushing – as Steele accounted for 504 yards and nine touchdowns – 312 passing yards and five scores, 175 rushing yards and four touchdowns and a 17-yard reception.

Harrell caught six passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, Lusk added two grabs, both touchdowns, for 48 yards, and Ryland Billadeau hauled in a 44-yard scoring reception.

Harrell also rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown, Scheriger chipped in an 18-yard rushing score, Cayson Dail rushed for a 4-yard touchdown and caught a 7-yard pass, and Kaden Watkins tacked on an 18-yard reception.

Defensively for the Tigers, standouts were Harrell (16 tackles and a tackle for loss), Lusk (14 tackles, a pass defended, and a tackle for loss), Dail (7 tackles and a pass defended), Steele (6 tackles and a pass defended), Scheriger (6 tackles and a fumble recovery), Wyatt Hardy (6 tackles and a caused fumble), Levi McInnis (3 tackles), Watkins (2 tackles and a fumble recovery), Cutter Dearick (2 tackles), Billadeau (1 tackle), and J.D Harrell (1 tackle).

In Leverett’s Chapel’s victory last week, the Lions received 460 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns from DeMarion Brown. Brown completed 15 of 24 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 233 yards and seven scores on 19 carries.

Saturday’s winner will face either Jonesboro (10-1) or Chester (5-5) in the Class 1A Division I Region IV championship game next week.

According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 34-point favorite.