BANGS – The Bangs Dragons secured their first victory of the season, and the first in the career of head coach Colton Buzzard, with a 20-14 home triumph over the Merkel Badgers last week. In their first outing away from home this season, the Dragons target a two-game win streak against the winless Grape Creek Eagles.
Kickoff between Bangs (1-1) and Grape Creek (0-2) is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
In last week’s six-point victory over Merkel, the Dragons overcame a pair of fumbles as they generated 229 yards of total offense, with 207 coming on the ground. Defensively, Bangs surrendered 207 total yards – 158 passing and 49 rushing – and created three takeaways.
“It was a great feeling, something I’ve never felt before,” Buzzard said of earning his first victory as a head coach. “Going into the game we wanted to limit our own mistakes, not shoot ourselves in the foot, and I felt like we did a pretty good job with that. There were not a lot of pre-snap penalties or post-snap penalties.
“Offensively, we moved the ball pretty well. We didn’t throw it like we wanted to, but running ball like we were, we were able to keep ball on ground. Defensively, we played lights out all game. We did have some penalties that allowed them to keep drives going, but other than that we did a good job defensively executing the game plan.”
Among the offensive standouts, Aden Jones rushed for a team-best 103 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Brayden Gatlin chipped in 72 yards on 16 totes and scored once. Through the air, Hunter Withers – filling in for injured starter Skylar Minshew at quarterback – connected on 1 of 6 passes for 22 yards, that going to Conner Bible.
“Aden has the ability to make big plays,” Buzzard said. “He has speed and vision and going from the first week of two-a-days until now, he understands where he fits running the football. And the offensive line is also starting to understand each other and where the guy next to him is going on certain plays and who am I getting help from on others. The more we play, the more experience we get, because we’re young up front, the better we’re going to be in.”
Withers stepped in for Minshew early in the second quarter, for precautionary measures, according to Buzzard, as Minshew has practiced this week and should be back on the field Friday night.
“Hunter’s a good kid, a great leader, one of those guys you are so glad to have on your team,” Buzzard said. “You don’t have to worry about him being prepared.”
On the defensive end against Merkel, Hunter Crowell led the way with nine tackles while Eliseo Rivas scored on a fumble recovery, the second defensive touchdown for the Dragons in as many weeks. Withers and Noah Castillo, who scored in Week 1 against Early, also recovered fumbles for the Dragons defense.
“There’s not a lot of things better than a defensive touchdown,” Buzzard said. “Rivas scored on a fumble caused by Kristopher Kelly after we punted and pinned them inside the 5. They fumbled on the next play and we scored and that changed the momentum of the game. And Hunter is the leader of our defense. He knows what everybody is supposed to be doing, he’s a just a great asset to have.”
Grape Creek in the past has utilized a unique offensive philosophy, even breaking out a version of the single wing at times. The Eagle offense was kept off the scoreboard in a season-opening 14-2 loss to San Saba, but found its footing a little in last week’s 34-20 setback against Reagan County.
Defensively, the Eagles are allowing 24 points and 304.5 yards – 188.5 rushing and 116 passing – per game.
“They’re unique to say the least, but they’re also physical and coming into the week I don’t know what type of team we’d see on film,” Buzzard said. “It’s a going to be a tough battle. It will be a physical football game from first quarter to fourth quarter and whoever is the most physical will win.”
Regarding what he would like to see from his offense and defense that he hasn’t thus far, Buzzard said, “Defensively, we need to get an interception. If the ball is in the air, we need to go get it. Offensively, we need to spread the ball around more and stay on our blocks longer and turn 5-6 yard runs into 8-9 yard runs. It can become demoralizing for a defense to give up 8 yards a pop.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 6-point favorite.
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Bangs Dragons 2024 Football Season Stats
Through 2 Games (1-1)
TEAM OFFENSE
16.0 points per game (32)
206.0 yards per game (412)
175.0 rushing yards per game (350)
31.0 passing yards per game (62)
PASSING
* Skylar Minshew
4 of 9 for 40 yards, 1 INT
* Hunter Withers
1 of 6 for 22 yards
RUSHING
* Brayden Gatlin
139 yards on 26 carries, 2 TDs
* Aden Jones
146 yards on 22 carries, 1 TD
* Jackson Edmiston
41 yards on 11 carries
* Skylar Minshew
20 yards on 12 carries
* Connor Bible
8 yards on 1 carry
* Navaeh Menefield
2 yards on 1 carry
* Hunter Withers
-6 yards on 3 carries
RECEIVING
* Brayden Gatlin
1 catch, 27 yards
* Connor Bible
1 catch, 22 yards
* Rex Guerrero
1 catch, 5 yards
* Noah Castillo
1 catch, 4 yards
* Braxton Wommack
1 catch, 4 yards
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TEAM DEFENSE
23.5 points per game (47)
308.5 yards per game (617)
108.5 rushing yards per game (217)
200.0 passing yards per game (400)
TACKLES
* Hunter Crowell
11.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack
* Eliseo Rivas
10.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
* Cason Tidwell
10 tackles, 1 for loss
* Rex Guerrero
7 tackles
* Brayden Gatlin
6.5 tackles, 1 for loss
* Nevaeh Menefield
6 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack
* Conner Bible
4 tackles, 1 for loss
* Skylar Minshew
4 tackles
* Kian Kelly
3.5 tackles, 1 for loss
* Michael Parrott
3.5 tackles
* Chris Valdez
3 tackles
* Noah Castillo
3 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
* Kristopher Kelly
2.5 tackles,1 for loss
* John Paul Rangel
2.5 tackles, 1 for loss
* Hunter Withers
2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
* Aden Jones
2 tackles
* Kason Klutts
0.5 tackle
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TURNOVER MARGIN (-1)
* Bangs: 5 (4 fumbles, 1 interceptions)
* Opponents: 4 (4 fumbles, 0 interceptions)