7:30 p.m. Friday
The Blanket Tigers look to keep their unblemished record intact and remain atop the District 13-A Division I standings as they host the Rising Star Wildcats Friday night.
Last week, Blanket knocked Gustine from the ranks of the unbeaten in a 59-13 decision. The Tigers, who have now outscored their foes 367-59, produced 433 yards of total offense – 239 passing and 194 rushing.
Dallas Shumaker finished with 120 passing yards and two touchdowns while Cameron Aultman added 119 yards through the air and three scoring tosses.
Mason Beck led the way with four grabs for 116 yards and two trips to the end zone, Brian Shannon caught two touchdown passes totaling 36 yards, Kade Russell finished with two receptions for 52 yards and scored once, and Kannon Kensing hauled in a 37-yard touchdown catch.
On the ground, Kensing contributed 137 yards and two more touchdowns and Aultman finished with 57 rushing yards and scored once.
Defensively, Shumaker, Beck, Kensing and Ethan Tomme each recovered a fumble for Blanket.
Rising Star is coming off a 45-0 loss to Zephyr in its league opener as the Wildcats managed just 38 total yards – 24 passing and 14 rushing – while allowing 307 yards, including 267 rushing.
In the most recent win for Rising Star, 46-0 over Priddy on Oct. 5, the Wildcats produced 213 total yards – 114 rushing and 99 passing – as Anthony Pollard passed for 78 yards and a 60-yard touchdown to Payton McGinn, who also returned a kickoff 68 yards for a touchdown. Manning Miller led the way on the ground with 80 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Wildcats did not allow a first down and held Priddy to negative yards.
Dustin Pollard recovered three fumbles and returned two for touchdowns while also blocking a punt and recording 12 tackles, with five for loss, and one sack. Pollard picked off a pass and returned a fumble for a touchdown and also logged 12 tackles with six for loss. Miller recorded an interception as well, to go along with five tackles, including three for loss. Leland Schenk led the Wildcats with 14 tackles, six for loss, and a sack.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is 31-point favorite.
***
Sweetwater (3-3, 1-0) at Comanche (4-2, 1-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Comanche Indians picked up a 13-10 overtime victory over Jim Ned to kick off District 3-3A Division I action, while the Sweetwater Mustangs pummeled San Angelo TLCA, 90-0, last week.
Alex Terrell booted field goals of 31 yards at the end of regulation and 30 yards in overtime to catapult Comanche to the victory.
The Indians finished with 254 total yards – 137 on the ground and 117 through the air, while allowing 293 yards – 188 rushing and 105 passing – with three takeaways.
Quarterback Cayden Davis completed 11 of 17 attempts for all the passing yards and added a team-high 95 yards on the ground for Comanche. CT Buford finished with four grabs for 62 yards and a touchdown, while Ladanian Smith added 37 rushing yards and a 26-yard reception. Other Comanche players catching passes were Terrell (1-14), Zayden Tello (1-10) and Manuel Ortiz (1-6).
Sweetwater is led by quarterback Caiden Ortiz (748 passing yards, 7 TDs, 7 INTs; 116 rushing yards, TD), running backs Korda Moore (420 rushing yards, 7 TDs), Nick Avila (153 rushing yards) and Uriah Martines (151 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and receivers Amare Arevalo (13-111) and Darwin Blueford (10-145).
Defensively, Blayne Bohall (55 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks), Mason Blueford (42 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Moore (41 tackles, 3 for loss) and Jade Rodriquez (41 tackles, 1 for loss) lead the charge for the Mustangs,
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 6-point favorite.
***
De Leon (3-3, 1-0) at Coleman (0-6, 0-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coleman Bluecats pushed undefeated Hamilton to the limit last week but fell short in their District 5-2A Division I opener, 21-14, while the De Leon Bearcats mauled Hico, 56-0.
Against Hamilton last week, Coleman finished with 265 yards of total offense – 152 rushing and 113 passing – with a pair of turnovers. The Bluecat defense gave up 317 yards, with 222 coming on the ground, but did force a turnover – a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Brody Bland.
Blaine Bouldin scored the offensive touchdown for Coleman as he finished with 71 yards on the ground and the 7-yard scoring sprint. Brayden Torres passed for 113 yards and rushed for 42, while Anthony Espitia rushed for 41 yards and caught three passes for 43 yards. Braylon Stewart led all Bluecat receivers with four grabs for 65 yards.
Brooks Clippinger and Paul Salas led Coleman with 12 tackles apiece followed by 11 from Torres, and nine each from Espitia and Lane Bowers.
For De Leon against Hico, Heston Jobe passed for 251 yards and five touchdowns and added 110 yards on the ground. Lane Couch chipped in 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns and added 54 yards receiving. Jake Cooper finished with 52 yards and three scores.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 3-point favorite.
***
San Saba (4-2, 1-0) at Thorndale (4-2, 0-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The San Saba Armadillos began their District 14-2A Division I schedule with a lopsided 38-15 victory over Johnson City and will look to keep Thorndale winless in league play Friday night.
Against Johnson City last week, San Saba compiled 434 yards of total offense, with 341 coming on the ground.
Quarterback Luke Tharp rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns and also connected on 8 of 11 passes for 93 yards. Jason Everett tacked on 44 yards on the ground and scored once and Graden Lebow rushed for 43 yards.
Levi Glover caught a team-high four passes for 22 yards, Preston Gray grabbed a pair of receptions for 31 yards and Skylar Romero caught a 38-yard pass.
Defensively, Kolton Pierce recovered two fumbles and Tharp intercepted a pass. Juan Patino led the Armadillos with 13 tackles and three for loss, while Lebow and Everett both finished with six tackles apiece and one sack.
Thorndale is coming off a 58-14 loss to state-ranked Mason as the Bulldogs are led by quarterback Gunner Ferguson (733 passing yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs; 199 rushing yards, 3 TDs), running back Noah Crabtree (520 rushing yards, 6 TDs), and receivers Jayden Clawson (14-273, 3 TDs), Jaxson Eschberger (10-160, 2 TDs) and Ethan Schramm (9-91, 2 TDs).
Defensive standouts include Kale Meadors (65 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Kade Becker (31 tackles, 1 for loss), Luciano Legon (24 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery) and Will Cloud (23 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery). Clawson and Schramm have each intercepted three passes.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, San Saba is a 4-point favorite.
***
Miles (4-2, 0-1) at Cross Plains (3-3, 0-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Cross Plains Buffaloes are looking to rebound from a loss in the District 7-2A Division II opener, as are the Miles Bulldogs as the two teams clash Friday night.
Cross Plains suffered a 46-7 defeat at the hands of Roscoe as the Buffaloes finished with 261 yards of total offense, including 204 passing, with one turnover, while allowing 478 yards – 255 on the ground and 223 through the air.
Kade Purvis passed for 162 yards with a touchdown and an interception, as Tyler Mackey grabbed six receptions for 60 yards and scored once and also rushed for a team-high 39 yards for Cross Plains. Landry Savell added six grabs for 47 yards and Colter Wedeking finished with two receptions covering 62 yards.
Defensively for the Buffaloes, Colt Sanderson recorded nine tackles with three for loss, followed by Cullin Ellis with seven, and Jessey Bradford with six tackles.
Miles dropped a 47-15 decision to Albany last week as the Bulldogs are led by quarterback Liam Yancy (1,243 passing yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs), running back Tevin Meade (671 yards, 11 TDs), and receivers Cooper Ellison (38-823, 11 TDs), Dillon Medina (20-237, 3 TDs) and Keagen Walz (7-150, 3 TDs).
Defensive standouts are Jaylen Torres (43 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Colton Kelley (41 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Lane Godfrey (39 tackles, 2 for loss) and Jaxon Petillo (37 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 sacks).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 34-point underdog.
***
Goldthwaite (4-2, 3-0) at Bremond (4-2, 2-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Goldthwaite Eagles look to remain atop the District 10-2A Division II standings as they face their toughest league foe to date in the Bremond Tigers.
Goldthwaite is coming off a 69-28 triumph over Frost last week as the Eagles racked up a staggering 671 yards of total offense, with 642 of those yards coming on the ground, while giving up 395 yards – 290 through the air and 105 on the ground – and forced two turnovers.
Landry Sanderson rushed for 300 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries, Luke Sanderson contributed 185 yards and three scores on 12 totes, Gary Wiedebusch chipped in 83 yards and a touchdown, and Aidyn Lee compiled 77 yards on the ground with a score.
Lee also completed 6 of 14 passes for 29 yards, with Luke Sanderson grabbing four receptions for 28 yards.
Bremond’s lone district loss was at the hands of Mart, 28-22, as the Tigers have defeated Meridian (70-7) and Wortham (60-30).
The Tigers are led by quarterback Sam Kasowski (758 passing yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs), running back Terrence Scott (702 rushing yards, 11 TDs), and receivers Tristan Morehead (19-413, 4 TDs) and Carson Crowley (14-156).
Leading the way defensively for Bremond are Scott (78 tackles, 9 for loss), Eddy Carrizales (75 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Dominic Williams (35 tackles, 2 sacks), Braylon Estrada (34 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception), Xavier Clark (33 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 interceptions) and Jeramiah Morgan (31 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is a 20-point underdog.
***
Gustine (5-1, 0-1) at Sidney (3-2, 0-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Playing for the first time since Sept. 27, the Sidney Eagles look to put two off weeks behind them and start District 13-A Division II action in the win column against the Gustine Tigers, who suffered their first loss of the season last week.
The last win for Sidney came on Sept. 20, a 56-30 triumph over a then-undefeated Bluff Dale squad.
In that game the Eagles finished with 338 yards of total offense – 204 rushing and 134 passing.
Leading the charge were Lehman Lindeque, who rushed for 88 yards and three touchdowns, passed for 63 yards and two more scores, and caught a team-high four passes for 40 yards. Ethan Scantling added 84 yards and a score on the ground, threw for 71 yards and another touchdown, and grabbed a 2-yard scoring reception.
Other offensive standouts included Dylan Terpstra with two catches for 61 yards and a touchdown and Rees Miller scored on a 19-yard reception.
Defensively, Lindeque recorded 16 tackles, followed by 12 from Scantling, 10 from Terpstra and 10 from Jaylon Salinas, who also recovered two fumbles.
Gustine suffered a 59-13 loss to Blanket last week after opening the year with six consecutive victories. The Tigers surrendered 433 yards of total offense – 239 passing and 194 rushing – in the defeat.
Players to watch for Gustine include Allen Lopez, Gabriel Patino, Anthony Patino, Michael Garcia, and Juan Munoz.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Sidney is a 45-point favorite.
***
Evant (1-5, 0-0) at Mullin (2-5, 0-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Mullin Bulldogs will attempt to regroup from last week’s 42-0 loss to No. 3 Oglesby and remain in the playoff chase in District 14-A Division II.
Meanwhile, the Evant Elks are playing their first league game after having a district bye week last week. Evant was in action this past Friday, falling to Mount Calm, 77-42.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Mullin is a 26-point underdog.