Early visits Comanche in final tune-up prior to district competition

September 26, 2024 at 7:15 am Derrick Stuckly

The Longhorns (1-3) will attempt to halt a three-game skid against the Indians (2-2), who are attempting to bounce back from a loss a week ago.

EARLY – In their final tune-up prior to the start of District 5-3A Division II competition, the Early Longhorns will hit the road looking to a snap a three-game skid against the Comanche Indians, who are also looking to rebound from a setback last week.

Kickoff between the Longhorns (1-3) and Indians (2-2) is set for 7 p.m. Friday.

“I’m proud of the way our kids have stuck together,” Early first-year head coach Randall Case said in regard to the start of the season. “We’ve had some adversity, some losses to some really good teams here recently. We have one goal and that comes at district time and doing what needs to be done to get back in the playoffs and make a run at it They’ve done a good job staying together as a unit which says a lot as a young group. I’m thrilled with how they’ve come to work each day trying to get better each week. That way we can go do what needs to be done when district comes.”

Early’s lone win this season has come on the road, as the Longhorns are on the heels of a 50-36 homecoming loss to Peaster. The Longhorns finished with 472 total yards – 289 passing and 183 rushing – with three turnovers, and allowed 514 yards – 324 through the air and 190 on the ground – with three takeaways.

“We’re never satisfied with a loss but I was proud of the way our kids competed the first whistle to the last,” Case said. “I’m excited about the fight they had to finish out the ball game. Offensively we were clicking on all cylinders, saw same good things. Andrew Reedy had a heck of a night, 18 receptions for 200 yards and five carries for 50 yards and five touchdowns. Weston Barton did a heck of a job controlling the game. And we saw some really good things out of a running back that hadn’t had a ton of reps but is about to get more reps in Cameron Love.

“Defensively, we’re young, we make young mistakes in the secondary. It’s all things that can be cleaned up and are going to be cleaned up as these kids gain more experience and more game speed, game time reps. I saw some good things, too, some kids flying to the football and tackling better than we did the week before. We just have to clean up young mistakes and that will get better with time.”

For the year, the Longhorns are generating 22 points and 367 yards – 211 passing and 156 rushing – per outing. Reedy has hauled in 40 receptions for 664 yards with six touchdowns already, while Ben Bleth has added 18 catches for 231 yards with two trips to the end zone. Weston Barton has connected on 64 of 114 passes for 923 yards with nine touchdowns and three picks, while the ground game is led by Cameron Love (179 yards), Ben Morris (154 yards), Reedy (120 yards, 5 TDs) and Brandon Walker (110 yards, TD).

Defensively, Early gives up 38 points and 437 yards – 269 rushing and 168 passing – on average, while forcing nine turnovers.

Standouts include Kaeden Byrd (56 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Mario Vazquez (40 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), Morris (24 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack), Brayden Schafer (22 tackles, 2 for loss), Barton (21 tackles, 2 INTs), Bleth (18 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Will Speck (18 tackles, 1 for loss), Angel Marquez (16 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Reedy (15 tackles, 1 INT), Brennen Rasor (14 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Rhett Williams (14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), and Da’Corrain McBride (14 tackles).

Comanche’s two-game win streak was snapped by Tolar, 14-7, last week.

The Indians enter the contest producing 23 points and 336 yards – 207 rushing and 129 passing – while giving up 21 points on average.

Quarterback Cayden Davis has completed 34 of 64 passes for 509 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions, while also rushing for a team-high 373 yards and three more scores. Ladanian Smith has chipped in 349 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while top receiving threats include CT Buford (15-242, 3 TDs) and Manuel Ortiz (8-171, TD).

“They’ve some kids at receiver, and the quarterback is extremely talented, and they’re all fast,” Case said. “They throw and catch very well. The quarterback, when things are covered, tucks and runs and he’s extremely dangerous. We’re going to try and keep him in the pocket and defend those edge guys who are long and athletic and can really run.”

Defensively, the Indians have forced six takeaways and are led by Badger Sanchez (37 tackles, 3 for loss), JJ Davis (36 tackles), Alex Terrell (31 tackles, 1 for loss), Zaden Tello (23 tackles, 7 for loss, 6 sacks), Chance Boswell (22 tackles), and Ortiz (22 tackles).

“I want to see our offense keep progressing, I think they’ve gotten better each week,” Case said. “We need to keep going in the right direction that way when we hit district we’ll be ready to go. Defensively we just need to clean up the rookie mistakes. We’re making mistakes with kids who are playing on Friday nights for the first time ever, and they’re maturity mistakes. We need to clean that up each week, because the ones that really matter are coming after this week so we have to make sure things are squared away.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 13-point underdog.

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Early Longhorns 2024 Football Season Stats

Through 4 Games (1-3)

TEAM OFFENSE

22.0 points per game (66)

367.0 yards per game (1,101)

155.7 rushing yards per game (467)

211.3 passing yards per game (634)

PASSING

* Weston Barton

64 of 114 for 923 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs

RUSHING

* Cameron Love

179 yards on 20 carries

* Ben Morris

154 yards on 39 carries

* Andrew Reedy

120 yards on 20 carries, 5 TDs

* Brandon Walker

110 yards on 21 carries, 1 TD

* Weston Barton

87 yards on 20 carries

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

40 catches, 664 yards, 6 TDs

* Ben Bleth

18 catches, 231 yards, 2 TDs

* Jaxson Stockman

3 catches, 20 yards, 1 TD

* Brayden Moya

1 catch for 6 yards

* Cameron Love

1 catch for 5 yards

* Ben Morris

1 catch, -3 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

38.0 points per game (152)

437.0 yards per game (1,748)

269.3 rushing yards per game (1,077)

167.7 passing yards per game (671)

TACKLES

* Kaeden Byrd

56 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Mario Vazquez

40 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries

* Ben Morris

24 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack

* Brayden Schafer

22 tackles, 2 for loss

* Weston Barton

21 tackles, 2 INTs

* Ben Bleth

18 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Will Speck

18 tackles, 1 for loss

* Angel Marquez

16 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Andrew Reedy

15 tackles, 1 INT

* Brennen Rasor

14 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Rhett Williams

14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Da’Corrain McBride

14 tackles

* Brandon Walker

12 tackles, 1 for loss

* Aaron Mendoza

7 tackles

* Cameron Love

4 tackles

* Rhett Smith

4 tackles

* Eli Pallette

4 tackles

* Jack Nowell

3 tackles

* Jaxson Stockman

2 tackles

* Brayden Moya

2 tackles

* Riley Barton

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+4)

* Early: 5 (2 fumbles, 3 interceptions)

* Opponents: 9 (6 fumbles, 3 interceptions)