Class A Division II Region IV Semifinal

Zephyr (10-1) vs. Richland Springs (11-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Comanche

The Class A Division II No. 10 Zephyr Bulldogs and No. 2 Richland Springs Coyotes clash with a berth in the regional championship game at stake.

Zephyr is coming off a 46-0 bi-district win over Evant, while Richland Springs received a bye into the second round after Calvert forfeited due to a lack of players.

For the season, the Bulldogs average 49 points and 331 yards – 210 rushing and 121 passing – per game, with 12 turnovers.

Standouts on offense include Wyatt Stevens (1,220 passing yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT; 615 rushing yards, 10 TDs), Reese Hamm (566 rushing yards, 9 TDs; 13-364, 8 TDs receiving), Chayden Woodcock (545 rushing yards, 9 TDs), CJ Byers (313 rushing yards, 10 TDs; 18-218, 3 TDs receiving), Corben Gosnell (12-232, 3 TDs receiving), Trapper Schoenhals (8-204, 5 TDs receiving), and Wyatt Frank (7-201, 3 TDs receiving).

Defensively, Zephyr has created 34 turnovers – 23 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries – and allowed just 17 points and 177 yards per game on average.

Leading the way defensively are Schoenhals (97 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries), Stevens (84 tackles, 6 for loss, 9 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries), Gosnell (78 tackles, 12 for loss, 1 interception), Byers (68 tackles, 8 for loss, 3 fumble recoveries), Johnny Paul Evans-Rollins (67 tackles, 3 for loss, 8 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries), Hamm (51 tackles, 3 interceptions), and Woodcock (42 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 interceptions).

The Coyotes, meanwhile, are producing 58 points and 237 yards – 187 rushing yards and 50 passing yards – per contest, with only two turnovers all season.

Billy Perry has rushed for 577 yards and 14 touchdowns while Cohen Ethridge has chipped in 462 yards and 12 scores. Gage Behrens has added 180 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Perry is also the leading passer, connecting on 16 of 29 attempts for 350 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. Ethridge is 3 of 4 through the air for 97 yards and all three of his completions have resulted in touchdowns.

Leading receivers for the Coyotes are Hutton Rogers (8-249, 6 TDs), Brice Roesler (3-57, 2 TDs), Hudson Tharp (3-47), Ethridge (2-39), EJ Aviles (1-29, TD), Perry (1-18, TD) and Ethan Deeds (1-8).

Richland Springs’ defense yields just 5 points on average as the Coyotes have amassed 28 takeaways – 18 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries – 4 safeties, 48 sacks and 11 defensive touchdowns.

Standouts include Ethridge (67 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries), Aviles (63 tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions), Perry (63 tackles, 22 sacks, 1 safety, 1 interception, 4 fumble recoveries), Rush Norris (45 tackles, 6 sacks), Behrens (42 tackles, 10 sacks, 1 safety, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries), Rogers (36 tackles, 4 interceptions), Jim Eckermann (35 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 safety, 3 interceptions), Deeds (23 tackles, 1 interception) and Tharp (22 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 safety, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery).

Friday’s winner faces either Oglesby (9-2) or Cherokee (10-1) in the Region IV championship game.

Sixmanfootball.com lists Zephyr as a 20-point underdog.

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Class 2A Division I Region II Area Playoff

Coleman (4-7) vs. Axtell (10-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Weatherford

The Coleman Bluecats ride their four-game win streak into the second round of the playoffs where the Axtell Longhorns await.

The Bluecats are coming off a 40-35 victory over Wolfe City for their fourth consecutive bi-district championship. Meanwhile, Axtell knocked off Cayuga, 24-10 in its first-round contest.

Coleman is averaging 25 points per game during its current win streak, and has set a new high in points each of the last two weeks – 31 against Bangs and then 40 against Wolfe City.

The Bluecats offense is sparked by the rushing of Blaine Bouldin (760 rushing yards, 8 TDs), Anthony Espitia (327 rushing yards, 4 TDs), and Paul Salas (164 yards, 2 TDs).

Hunter Edington took over the quarterback position during district play has completed 34 of 70 passes for 559 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Brayden Torres (61 of 120 for 716 yards, 3 TDs, 6 INTs; 195 rushing yards, TD) could also see time behind center.

Primary receiving threats for Coleman include Braylon Stewart (30-300, TD), Espitia (28-356, TD), Kelan Sikes (15-289, 5 TDs), Micah Luckey (7-128), and Salas (7-114).

During their four-game win streak, the Bluecats are surrendering just 16 points per game, and for the year the unit has amassed 15 takeaways – 10 fumble recoveries and 5 interceptions – with a dozen sacks.

The Coleman defense is led by Paul Salas (116 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Brooks Clippinger (112 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Cutter Cody (98 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 sacks), and Easton Meador (80 tackles, 7 for loss, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries). Meanwhile, Anthony Espitia, Kelan Sikes, Javon Christophe, Blaine Bouldin, and Jimmy Diaz have each recorded one interception.

Axtell had a string of 23 consecutive regular-season victories snapped earlier this year with its lone loss – 21-7 to Italy. Over the course of the rest of the regular season the Longhorns defeated Milano (52-0), Kerens (16-14), Iola (48-20), Crawford (20-7), Dawson (37-6), Valley Mills (54-34), Rio Vista (44-20), Bosqueville (37-27), and Itasca (50-21).

In Axtell’s 37-27 win over Bosqueville earlier this year. Coldyn Horn rushed the ball 14 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns, while also completing a pair of pass attempts for 55 yards and a score. Troy Arlitt caught the 25-yard scoring toss, while Cole Tindle scooped up a fumble on defense and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown.

Friday’s winner faces either Mildred (11-0) or De Leon (7-4) in the regional semifinals next week.

Harris Ratings Weekly lists Coleman as a 3-point underdog.

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Class 2A Division II Region III Area Playoff

Goldthwaite (7-4) vs. Grapeland (8-3)

7 p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium

The Goldthwaite Eagles carried over their stellar play from the upset of Mart in the regular season finale as they pummeled Maud, 55-12, last week to set up an area playoff showdown with the Grapeland Sandies, who downed West Sabine, 42-20, in the bi-district round.

Goldthwaite enters the second round of the playoffs averaging 44 points and 398 yards – 318 rushing and 80 passing – per game, with just six turnovers.

The Eagle offense is sparked by Luke Sanderson (1,067 rushing yards, 20 TDs; 32-519, 6 TDs receiving), Landry Sanderson (1,118 rushing yards, 14 TDs), Aidyn Lee (56 of 105 for 804 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT; 592 rushing yards, 12 TDs), Gary Wiedebusch (307 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 3-43, TD receiving), Casen Wiedebusch (9-85, TD receiving), and Zach Rodriguez (4-99, TD receiving).

Goldthwaite’s defense surrenders just 20 points per game on average with 15 sacks and 21 takeaways – 13 fumble recoveries, 8 interceptions.

Leading the charge are Luke Sanderson (97 tackles, 14 for loss, 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Hagen Greenway (86 tackles, 17 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception), Cayden Koho (80 tackles, 21 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Walt Thompson (79 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack), Jacob Ross (69 tackles, 10 for loss, 1 sack), and Gary Wiedebusch (62 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries).

Grapeland during the regular season collected victories over Goldthwaite’s district rival Bremond (44-32), Cayuga (36-14), Groveton (48-6), Alto (20-6), Mount Enterprise (44-0), Cushing (40-0), and Tenaha (45-0). The losses for the Sandies came at the hands of Frankston (17-14), Overton (41-36), and Lovelady (13-12).

In the playoff win over West Sabine last week, Grapeland finished with 344 yards – 223 rushing and 121 passing – and turned the ball over once while creating two takeaways.

Grapeland scored on a 69-yard pass from Sean Walker to Bryson Johnson, a 25-yard run Kitraviunce Gilmore, a 22-yard halfback pass Maleek Johnson to Bryson Johnson, and Sawyer Perry recovered a fumble for the Sandies.

Friday’s winner faces either Mart (9-2) or Overton (9-2) in the regional semifinals next week.

Harris Ratings Weekly lists Goldthwaite as a 4-point underdog.