BANGS – “The kids know what they’re playing for and everybody’s jacked up.”

Those were the words of Bangs third-year head coach Kyle Maxfield earlier this week as the Dragons prepared for Friday’s 7 p.m. showdown with the Ballinger Bearcats, which will likely determine the District 2-3A Division II champion and No. 1 seed for the playoffs.

The undefeated Dragons (7-0, 3-0) are seeking their first district championship since 2008 – when current Ballinger (8-1, 3-0) head coach Chuck Lipsey was in charge of the Bangs program.

“It’s been an easy week for the coaches as far as trying to motivate the kids,” Maxfield said. “They know what they’re playing for. They put themselves in this situation, which is a big complement to them, and now that we’re here we definitely have to show up.”

Bangs – ranked No. 17 in Class 3A Division II this week by Harris Ratings Weekly – is coming off its most impressive win of the season, a 48-14 victory at Sonora which had reeled off three straight victories. The Dragons scored the first 41 points of the game en route to 501 yards of total offense, while limiting Sonora to just 169 total yards.

“We were very concerned going into the game, it was just one of those nights where everything went our way,” Maxfield said. “We dominated on both sides of the ball and it was definitely our night for sure.”

The lone blemish on Ballinger’s schedule was a 34-0 loss at Class 3A Division I Llano. The Bearcats – ranked No. 20 in Class 3A Division II this week by Harris Ratings Weekly – have outscored their opponents an average of 32-7 in their eight victories. In three last three games, however, Ballinger has averaged 45 points per contest while yielding a total of 18.

“They’re plenty good and very well balanced on both sides of the ball, which is what you would expect from a team that’s 8-1,” Maxfield said.

Ballinger is producing 276 yards – 177 rushing and 96 passing – per game.

Carter Arrott (640 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs) and Tyler Vaughn (224 yards, 3 TDs, INT) has split time at quarterback, while leading rushers include Garrett Dixon (618 yards, 11 TDs), Arrott (350 yards, 4 TDs), Beau Perkins (233 yards, 2 TDs), and Weston Rollwitz (211 yards, 2 TDs). Top receiving threats include Rollwitz (22-300, 3 TDs), Gavin Martinez (15-209, 3 TDs), and Dixon (8-138, 2 TDs).

“Their quarterback is really athletic and throws the ball well, that’s the biggest concern,” Maxfield said. “They’re very solid up front. They can hurt you in a lot of different ways. They’re very multiple, a lot like us on offense. You can’t just focus on one thing because they’ll hurt you with something else.”

Defensively, the Bearcats have registered 7 sacks and 16 takeaways – 11interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries.

“The front four, with the Winn kid that was all state last year, they’re big and move well,” Maxfield said. “Their two ends are pretty athletic for their size and their two tackles are hard to move. That’s really what stands out.”

Bangs’ offense enters the contest averaging 46 points and 457 yards – 286 rushing and 171 passing – per outing.

Quarterback Ethan Cortez has connected on 55 of 77 passes for 1,199 yards with 15 touchdowns and only 1 interception, while rushing for 575 yards and nine more scores – second on the team. Ethan Sanchez anchors the rushing attack with 1,196 yards and 20 touchdowns, while catching 4 passes for 202 with 3 trips to the end zone. Other receiving weapons for the Dragons include Brayton Wedeman (21-435, 6 TDs), Damien Santillanes (11-71, TD), Trevor Bowers (8-232, 3 TDs), Guy Powell (8-199, 2 TDs), and Logan Massey (4-60).

“Our guys up front have done a great job this year, but if you’re going pound for pound we’re a little bit overmatched so we’re going to have to get off the ball well and run our schemes almost perfectly to run the ball on them,” Maxfield said. “The key for us it to patient on offense because it’s going to be tough in the trenches. We’ve done a good job of adjusting to different defenses so it’s going to be really important Friday night to take what they’re giving us. We have to move the chains, convert third downs, get down in the red zone and finish the drives.”

The Dragons defense is surrendering just 9 points and 208 yards – 127 rushing and 81 passing – per contest.

Standouts include Sanchez (75 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs, 2 FRs), Santillanes (57.5 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR, 1 INT), Charlie Smith (43 tackles, 4 for loss), Wedeman
(36 tackles, 3 INTs), Wyatt Lykins (30.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 4 FRs, 1 INT), Trey Ivey (24 tackles, 1 for loss), Logan Bishop (24 tackles, 1 for loss), and Evan Belez (20.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs).

Having trailed after one quarter against Ingram Moore two weeks ago, Maxfield feels the Dragons are prepared should adversity come their way Friday night.

“That was a test for us to see how we reacted to adversity, and there’s definitely going to some adversity Friday night, that’s a given when you’re playing a team like Ballinger,” Maxfield in reference to scoring the final 40 points in a 47-15 win over Ingram Moore. “How you respond to that is really and with our senior leadership we’re going to play for four quarters. Hopefully the ball bounces our ways, we can make some plays and bring home another ‘W.’”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, the game is considered a toss up.

Bangs Dragons 2020 Football Stats

Through 7 Games (7-0, 3-0)

TEAM OFFENSE
45.9 points per game (321)
457.4 yards per game (3,202)
286.1 rushing yards per game (2,003)
171.3 passing yards per game (1,199)

PASSING
‒ Ethan Cortez
55 of 77 for 1,199 yards, 15 TDs. 1 INT

RUSHING
‒ Ethan Sanchez
1,196 yards on 102 carries, 20 TDs

‒ Ethan Cortez
575 yards on 61 carries, 9 TDs

‒ Damien Santillanes
191 yards on 19 carries, 1 TD

‒ Guy Powell
115 yards on 23 carries

‒ Harley Keely
31 yards on 7 carries

‒ Jesse Sterling
10 yards on 3 carries

‒ Trevor Bowers
5 yards on 1 carry

‒ Tait Bowers
5 yards on 1 carry

‒ Trevor Lorah
1 yard on 1 carry

‒ Brayton Wedeman
–8 yards on 4 carries

‒ Team
–28 yards on 3 carries

RECEIVING
‒ Brayton Wedeman
21 catches for 435 yards, 6 TDs

‒ Damien Santillanes
11 catches for 71 yards, TD

‒ Trevor Bowers
8 catches for 232 yards, 3 TDs

‒ Guy Powell
8 catches for 199 yards, 2 TDs

‒ Ethan Sanchez
4 catches for 202 yards, 3 TDs

‒ Logan Massey
4 catches for 60 yards

TEAM DEFENSE

9.0 points per game (63)

208.8 yards per game (1,462)
127.7 rushing yards per game (894)
81.1 passing yards per game (568)

TACKLES

‒ Ethan Sanchez
75 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs, 2 FRs

‒ Damian Santillanes
57.5 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR, 1 INT

‒ Charlie Smith

43 tackles, 4 for loss

‒ Brayton Wedeman
36 tackles, 3 INTs

‒ Wyatt Lykins
30.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 4 FRs, 1 INT

‒ Trey Ivey

24 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Logan Bishop
24 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Evan Belez
20.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs

‒ Trevor Bowers
16.5 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Donovan Ruiz

14.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Jesse Sterling
14 tackles

‒ Ethan Cortez
12 tackles

‒ Logan Massey
11 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Guy Powell
9.5 tackles, 1 INT

‒ Braden Montgomery

9 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Trevor Lorah
6.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Hunter Bernal
6.5 tackles

‒ Harley Keely
4 tackles

‒ Tait Bowers

4 tackles

‒ Luke Duncan
3 tackles

‒ Jackson Light
3 tackles

‒ Austin Tilley
3 tackles

‒ Jackson Light
3 tackles

‒ Harley Keely
2 tackles

‒ Jesse Sterling
2 tackles

‒ Dakota Baker
1.5 tackles

‒ Braxton Melling

1 tackle, 1 FR