With the arrival of Week 7 of the high school football season, most teams in the BrownwoodNews.com coverage are kicking off their district schedules this weekend. The following are brief previews for the eight locals this weekend:
Gorman (4-1, 0-0) at May (6-0, 0-0)
7:30 p.m. Thursday
The Class A Division I No. 1 May Tigers begin their hunt for a sixth straight district championship as they welcome the Gorman Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Tigers (6-0, 0-0)) have defeated Borden County (51-6), Sterling City (104-80), Knox City (65-16), Evant (63-6), Blum (77-14), and Newcastle (55-0) to open the season.
The only loss for Gorman (4-1, 0-0) is a setback to Strawn (60-15) with victories over Sidney (54-8), Blum (47-34), Gustine (65-16) and Perrin-Whitt (44-42).
For the season, the Tigers are averaging 69 points and 302 yards – 173 rushing and 139 passing per game – while giving up 20 points per contest.
Leading the way on the ground are Kaden Halk (394 yards, 8 TDs), Avery Williford (250 yards, 9 TDs), Blake Harrell (206 yards, 4 TDs), and Damian Salinas (98 yards, 5TDs).
Through the air, Harrell has completed 25 of 35 passes for 548 yards with 10 touchdowns, while Luke McKenzie has connected 12 of 16 attempts for 207 yards with 6 scoring tosses.
Top receiving threats include Halk (12-217, 5 TDs), Kaysen King (8-215, 4 TDs), and Williford (5-149, 3 TDs).
Defensively – where the Tigers have forced 20 turnovers and produced eight touchdowns thus far – top tacklers are Williford (41 tackles, 4 FRs, 15 for loss), Harrell (36 tackles, 8.5 for loss), Salinas (38 tackles, 1 INT, 3 FRs, 3.5 for loss), Brian Kunkel (34 tackles, 4 FRs, 5 for loss), King (27 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR), and Halk (26 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INTs, 2 FRs).
Gorman is producing 45 points and 332 yards – 265 rushing, 67 passing – per game, while giving up 32 points on average.
Leading rushers include Demitri Brandenburg (667 yards. 12 TDs), Brian Scitern (350 yards, 5 TDs) and Joseph Rainey (217 yards, TD. Rainey has also thrown for a team-high 184 yards an a touchdown, Nash Guthery has passed for 80 yards and two scores, Alan Olivares has tossed a 40-yard touchdown and Bradenburg has added a 31-yard touchdown pass. Brandenburg has also caught five passes for 46 yards and Erik Ramirez has chipped in four receptions for 95 yards with three touchdowns.
Defensive standouts include Guthery with 46 tackles, Martinez with 33, Christian Campos with 28, Brandenburg with 22, and Michael Falco with 21.
According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a a 45-point favorite.
***
Rising Star (3-2, 0-0) at Blanket (5-1, 0-0)
7:30 p.m. Thursday
The Blanket Tigers look to stretch their win streak to four games and get a jump on the rest of District 15-A Division II as the Rising Star Wildcats visit in the league opener for both teams,
Since suffering their only loss to Lingleville, Blanket has rebounded with wins over Zephyr (61-0), Gholson (68-0), and Evant (42-30).
Blanket is averaging 49 points per game led by a ground attack that features Brayden Day (800 rushing yards, 17 TDs), Levi Vazquez (448 yards, 10 TDs), and Carlos Morales (374 rushing yards, 8 TDs).
Defensively, where the Tigers are giving up 24 points per game, leading tacklers are Day (56 tackles, 2 FR, 3 INTs), Vazquez (46 tackles, 3 INT, 4 FRs), Morales (45 tackles, 2 FR), and Hayden Rogers (41 tackles, 1 FR).
Rising Star – led by head coach Derek Stevens, a former assistant at May – has upended Gustine (57-50), Trent (64-13) and Lohn (54-7) this season, with losses at the hands of Santa Anna (60-8) and Three Way (49-18).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 45-point favorite.
***
San Saba (0-5, 0-0) vs. Goldthwaite (2-3, 0-0)
7 p.m. Thursday at Gordon Wood Stadium, Brownwood
For the second year in a row, Brownwood’s Gordon Wood Stadium will serve as the host of the 104th “Battle of the River” as archrival Goldthwaite and San Saba begin District 4-2A Division I action against one another.
Goldthwaite heads into the contest with wins over Cross Plains (27-0) and Olney (33-8) with defeats at the hands of Crawford (25-6), Florence (10-7) and Christoval (43-28). San Saba is still looking for its first victory after losses to Eldorado (42-20), Rogers, (46-14), Mason (35-28), Llano (48-18), and Dublin (38-24).
The Armadillos generate 19 points and 322 yards – 256 passing and 66 rushing – per game, while allowing 42 points on average.
Taylor has thrown for 1,011 yards with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions, as leading receivers include Reagan Mejia (22-204, 2 TDs), Weston Lackey (21-312, 3 TDs), Tyler Johnson (18-207, TD) and Drake Bryant (12-103,1 TD). The ground game is led by Lackey with 118 yards, while Tegan Saiz has rushed for four touchdowns and 81 yards.
Zuri Herrera leads San Saba with 57 tackles trailed by Mejia with 36, Saiz with 29 and Lackey with 28.
In Goldthwaite’s most recent outing against Christoval, the Eagles led 14-7 in the second period, but allowed four consecutive touchdowns fall behind by 21 points by the end of the third quarter,
The Eagles finished with 313 total yards – 259 rushing and 54 passing – but lost a pair of turnovers. The Cougars generated 341 yards, with 276 coming on the ground, and only lost the ball once.
Goldthwaite quarterback Jason Patrick rushed for 60 yards and a pair of touchdowns and threw for 54 yards and two more scores.
Lane Evans led the Eagles’ rushing attack with 93 yards, Carsyn Campbell chipped in 46 yards, Luke Sanderson added 30 and Cutter Campbell finished with 26 yards.
Cason Guthrie caught two passes for 44 yards, including a 26-yard touchdowns, the Eagles, while Cutter Campbell hauled in a 10-yard scoring toss.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is a 5-point favorite.
***
Ranger (1-4) at Zephyr (0-6)
7 p.m. Friday
In their final game prior to the start of District 15-A Division I action, the Zephyr Bulldogs look to notch their first victory as the Ranger Bulldogs visit for homecoming.
Zephyr has fallen Sidney (21-18), Veribest (31-12), Stephenville FAITH (65-19), Blanket (61-0), Paint Rock (35-14) and Cherokee (54-6).
Ranger, in its first season at the six-man level, has knocked off Waco Eagle Christian (62-12) with losses to Oglesby (52-32), Lometa (64-18), Gold-Burg (65-20) and Newcastle (68-22).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Zephyr is a 31-point underdog.
***
Rochelle (5-1, 0-0) at Richland Springs (3-1, 0-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Richland Springs Coyotes’ pursuit of a 20th straight district championship and 78th league win in a row as they welcome the Rochelle Hornets in the District 16-A Division II opener for both squads Friday night.
The Coyotes, whose last game was a 119-112 triumph over Fort Worth Covenant Classical, is averaging 72 points and 448 yards – 335 rushing and 113 passing – per game with five turnovers, while giving up 57 points and 420 yards – 293 through the air and 127 on the ground – with six takeaways.
Richland Springs’ game is led by Jadeyn Bryant (714 yards, 18 TDs), Zane Capps (423 yards, 10 TDs) and Keston Lusty (228 yards, 3 TDs).
Through the air, Bryant has completed 12 of 23 passes for 526 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. Capps has chipped 111 yards and one touchdown passing, completing 7 of 13 attempts.
Leading receivers include Cohen Tharp (4-132, TD), Nick Nilson (4-95, 2 TDs), Lusty (3-61), Capps (3-56, TD), Brandon Stewart (3-41) and Jayden Sutherland (2-54, TD).
Rochelle’s only blemish is a 69-20 loss to undefeated Lometa with victories over Stephenville FAITH (62-40), Lubbock Kingdom Prep (64-63), Paint Rock (59-7), Medina (93-74), and Gustine (71-26).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 45-point favorite.
***
Hico (3-3, 0-0) at Cross Plains (4-1, 0-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Cross Plains Buffaloes target a fourth consecutive victory as the Hico Tigers come calling in the District 8-2A Division II opener for both squads.
Since a 27-0 loss to Goldthwaite, Cross Plains has rebounded with victories over Haskell (28-7), De Leon (21-13) and Miles (37-32).
In the Buffaloes’ last outing against Miles, Cross Plains finished with 360 yards of total offense – 287 rushing and 73 passing – with four turnovers, while Miles generated 437 yards – 250 through the air and 187 on the ground – with three giveaways.
Kade Purvis completed 8 of 16 passes for 73 yards with three touchdowns for the Buffaloes, as Ryan Hopkins caught six passes for 60 yards and all three scoring receptions.
On the ground, Noah Moses rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown, Cason Allen added 50 yards, Hopkins chipped in 48 yards and Wyatt finished with 36 yards.
Cross Plains is off next week, then begins District 8-2A Division II action Oct. 8 at home against Hico (2-3), which lost to Winters, 48-7, Friday night.
Hico has splits its six contests to date, defeating Waco Texas Wind (41-6), Junction (24-7), and Frost (57-8), with losses against Moody (42-36), Hamilton (30-0), and Winters (48-7).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 25-point favorite.
***
Coleman (4-0, 0-0) at De Leon (0-5, 0-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Class 2A Division II No. 11 Coleman Bluecats look to keep their perfect record intact as they visit the winless De Leon Bearcats in the District 4-2A Division I opener for both teams.
Coleman has upended Miles (24-0), Anson (33-6), Grape Creek (49-0) and Colorado City (62-13). Meanwhile, De Leon has fallen to Dublin (43-7), Windthorst (49-0), Millsap (45-20), Cross Plains (21-13), and Seymour (55-7.)
In the Bluecats’ last outing against Colorado City, Coleman compiled 425 yards of total offense – 339 rushing and 86 passing – with no turnovers, while allowing just 57 yards – 44 on the ground and 13 through the air – with three takeaways.
Quarterback Jadin Jackson rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown while completing 6 of 12 passes for 86 yards with another score. Ryland Gentry chipped in 75 yards on the ground with two scores, and a 45-yard reception.
Devinar Roberson rushed for a 53-yard touchdown and returned a kick 80 yards for six points, R.J. Wright tacked on 59 rushing yards and a score, and Brent Bouldin finished with 14 yards on the ground and a trip to the end zone.
Braxton Smith caught a team-high three passes for 71 yards, including a 58-yard scoring reception, and Denver Hunter (9 yards) and Christian Espitia (6 yards) also made catches.
Hunter also returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown as well.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 45-point favorite.
***
Dublin (4-1, 0-0) at Comanche (0-5, 0-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Comanche Indians will look to secure their first victory of the season and the Jake Escobar coaching era as they welcome the Dublin Lions in Friday night’s District 5-3A Division II opener.
Comanche’s season thus far has included losses to Mason (34-13), Brady (46-19), Early (58-14), Tolar (42-25) and Cisco (41-14). Dublin’s only setback was a 48-21 loss to Albany with wins coming over De Leon (43-7), Anson (21-14), Brady (38-12) and San Saba (38-24).
In Comanche’s last outing against Cisco, three Indians attempted a pass as Hudson Welch went 5 for 5 for 62 yards and two touchdowns, Miguel Martinez was 3 of 4 for 53 yards and a score, and Layden Welch completed a 1-yard pass.
Kyler Beaty led Comanche with four catches for 79 yards, Martinez added two grabs for 9 yards, and Ayden Fishback (16 yards), Chris Reeves (8 yards) and Layden Welch (3 yards) tallied one reception each.
On the ground, Luke Wilson churned out a team-best 63 yards followed by Layden Welch with 16 and Martinez with 12 yards.
The Indians finished with 210 total yards – 115 passing and 95 rushing – to the Loboes’ 370 yards, which featured 315 on the ground.
Dublin heads into the game averaging 32 points and 381 yards – 324 passing and 57 rushing – per outing, led by quarterback Chris Teten’s 1,617 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, Mosiah Lolohea’s 169 rushing yards and one touchdown, and receivers Dalan Rasberry (24-353, 3 TDs), Christian Ramirez (17-375, 5 TDs), and Tyler Harrell (18-325, 2 TDs).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 10-point underdog.