The Longhorns (4-3, 1-1) host the Clyde Bulldogs (3-4, 2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a pivotal District 3-3A Division I encounter.
“It’s awesome to be in this position after where we’ve been since I’ve been here and where it’s been since even before I got here. To be talking about the playoffs now is something special and the kids are excited,” said Price, who has spent three years overall with the program. “We’re excited about the opportunity and I know the boys were really excited last week when they won. They know what’s at stake. If we go out there and perform well and give ourselves a chance to win and clinch that spot it would be unbelievable, especially being my first year (as a head coach) and the first year with all the extra things that have gone on leading up to this, the ‘what ifs’ and ‘I hope we get to play’ attitude since last spring.”
Early knocked off Breckenridge, 21-0, last week, securing one of the two victories required to secure a playoff berth from 3-3A Division I. After Friday night’s game, the Longhorns also have a home game with San Angelo TLCA (0-7, 0-2) and a road trip to Wall (4-3, 1-1) left on the schedule.
Clyde did not play last week as San Angelo TLCA was forced to forfeit to due COVID. The Bulldogs opened district play Oct. 9 against Breckenridge, tallying a 38-21 victory.
In pre-district play, Clyde’s lone win came over Riesel (52-14) with losses against Cisco (39-14), Idalou (49-14), Ballinger (21-14) and Sweetwater (54-10).
In the win over Breckenridge, Clyde finished with 461 yards of total offense – 240 rushing and 221 rushing – while surrendering 218 yards – 139 on the ground and 70 through the air. Both teams committed one turnover.
Quarterback Dylan Neuman completed 16 of 24 passes for 221 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 96 yards, Austin Hastings amassed 127 yards on the ground with two touchdowns while catching four passes for 63 yards. Jacob Roberts caught six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, Canaan Charleston chipped in 25 rushing yards with a trip to the end zone and Jorge Cantu finished with three receptions for 39 yards and a score.
Defensive standouts included Corbin Keidl and Zane Hall with 10 tackles apiece, Sesario Thompson with eight, Blake Carr and Stedham Buchanan with seven each, and Zach Hoffman with six tackles. Buchanan and Hoffman each recorded a sack while Garis Gray intercepted a pass.
“It’s going to be a typical Clyde team, big, physical, and well-coached,” Price said. “Where they’re a little bit different than what we’ve seen is they’re going to throw the ball a little bit more. They’ve got some skill kids that can run, and their quarterback is really good. He’s a three-year starter, he’s a got a lot of experience and you can see that on film. We’re going to have to play well Friday night to give ourselves a chance to win.”
The Longhorns’ shutout of Breckenridge was their second in two weeks, a rare feat in the day of high octane offenses.
“The coaching staff, Coach Clip, Coach Case and Coach Fisk, they’ve done a great job preparing those guys every week,” Price said of the defense. “They keep it really simple and when you keep it really simple it allows you to add more complex things as you go. They do a really good job of implementing that physicality that we need on the defensive side of the ball. Coming in we knew that was going to be our strong point with a lot of returners coming back and with their experience they’ve taken things to a whole different level. It’s been better than I ever thought it would be. The ability to shut teams out in modern football is something special. The fact that we’ve got two of them in three games is awesome.”
Early enters the contest allowing 22 points and 270 yards – 157 rushing and 113 passing – per outing.
Leading the charge are Tre Beam (65 tackles, 11 for loss, 5 sacks), Marcus Morelan (55 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 sacks), Caleb McCullough (42 tackles, 1 FR), Bradon Schwartz (41 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), Korbin Hall (32 tackles, 2 for loss), Tucker Hale (30 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR), Franky Villarreal (29 tackles, 2 for loss), Tyson Tyler (24 tackles, 1 INT), John-Stewart Gordon (15 tackles, 3 INTs), Cole Miller (15 tackles), Wade Kennedy (13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR), Jeremy Brown (12 tackles, 2 INTs), and Rylie Hill (12 tackles, 2 INTs).
On the offensive end, Early is producing 21 points and 283 yards – 180 on the ground and 103 through the air – per contest.
Quarterback Jaxyn Price has connected on 49 of 129 passes for 644 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions, while Gordon has completed all four of his pass attempts for 77 yards. Alex Jacobs (642 yards, 5 TDs) anchors the ground game while Beam (330 yards, 5 TDs) and Price (223 yards, 2 TDs) are also key contributors. Receiving threats include McCullough (12-75, TD), Beam (9-181, TD), Tyson Tyler (8-113), Jacobs (9-135, 2 TDs), Hayden Schroeder (5-82, TD), Gordon (3-74, TD), Hill (3-18), Brown (2-17), Caydon Laird (1-22) and Jake Simpson (1-10).
Keys to victory for the Longhorns, according to Price, include, “we want to see a repeat performance defensively and see those guys show up and be physical and tackle as well as they did last Friday in Breckenridge. Offensively, we can’t beat ourselves with penalties and put ourselves in a bad position, and I’d like to see us throw and catch a little bit better Friday night.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is an 11-point underdog.
Early Longhorns 2020 Football Stats
Through 7 Games (4-3, 1-1)
TEAM OFFENSE
21.4 points per game (150)
283.7 yards per game (1,986)
180.7 rushing yards per game (1,265)
103.0 passing yards per game (721)
PASSING
‒ Jaxyn Price
49 of 129 for 644 yards, 5 TDs, 8 INTs
‒ John-Stewart Gordon
4 of 4 for 77 yards
RUSHING
‒ Alex Jacobs
642 yards on 118 carries, 5 TDs
‒ Tre Beam
330 yards on 54 carries, 5 TDs
‒ Jaxyn Price
223 yards on 73 carries, 2 TDs
‒ Wade Kennedy
27 yards on 4 carries
‒ Tucker Hale
23 yards on 5 carries, 1 TD
‒ Franky Villarreal
16 yards on 2 carries
‒ Rylie Hill
4 yards on 1 carry
‒ Caleb McCullough
0 yards on 1 carry
RECEIVING
‒ Caleb McCullough
12 catches for 75 yards, 1 TD
‒ Tre Beam
9 catches for 181 yards, 1 TD
‒ Tyson Tyler
8 catches for 113 yards
‒ Alex Jacobs
9 catches for 135 yards, 2 TDs
‒ Hayden Schroeder
5 catches for 82 yards, 1 TD
‒ John-Stewart Gordon
3 catches for 74 yards, 1 TD
‒ Rylie Hill
3 catches for 18 yards
‒ Jeremy Brown
2 catches for 17 yards
‒ Caydon Laird
1 catch for 22 yards
‒ Jake Simpson
1 catch for 10 yards
TEAM DEFENSE
22.0 points per game (154)
270.0 yards per game (1,890)
157.1 rushing yards per game (1,100)
112.9 passing yards per game (790)
TACKLES
‒ Tre Beam
65 tackles, 11 for loss, 5 sacks
‒ Marcus Morelan
55 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 sacks
‒ Caleb McCullough
42 tackles, 1 FR
‒ Bradon Schwartz
41 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks
‒ Korbin Hall
32 tackles, 2 for loss
‒ Tucker Hale
30 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR
‒ Franky Villarreal
29 tackles, 2 for loss
‒ Tyson Tyler
24 tackles, 1 INT
‒ John-Stewart Gordon
15 tackles, 3 INTs
‒ Cole Miller
15 tackles
‒ Wade Kennedy
13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR
‒ Jeremy Brown
12 tackles, 2 INTs
‒ Rylie Hill
12 tackles, 2 INTs
‒ Casey Moseley
11 tackles
‒ Dowton Taylor
10 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Adan Aleman
7 tackles
‒ Jaxyn Price
4 tackles
‒ Chris Fernandez
2 tackles
‒ Caydon Laird
2 tackles
‒ Alex Jacobs
1.5 tackles
‒ Kaleb Ozuna
1 tackles
‒ Bradly Roman
.5 tackle
‒ Ryan Parisi
.5 tackle