With their 13th consecutive playoff berth and 48th postseason trip overall secured, as well as their seeding locked in, the Brownwood Lions are looking to better themselves as they tangle with the District 5-4A Division I champion and second-ranked Stephenville Yellow Jackets in the 81st Battle of 377 at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

“We’ve solidified a playoff spot and we’re just using this as an opportunity to continue to get better as we play top notch playoff teams,” said Lions fourth-year head coach Sammy Burnett. “If we can play with and beat Stephenville that proves we can play with the top teams in the state of Texas. We’re going to go over there believing we can win, that’s the bottom line, and if it doesn’t work out we’ll figure out why. We’re going to show up and hopefully make it a ball game and give ourselves a chance to win it late. We have the ability, we have the coaching staff, we have the right scheme, we have the right athletes, they just have to believe they can go out there and get it done, and I think they can.”

Brownwood (4-5, 2-2) carries a two-game win streak into the contest with victories over Waxahachie Life, 49-13, in last week’s home finale, and at Alvarado, 56-35, the week prior.

Stephenville (9-0, 4-0) has mowed down every opponent on its schedule, defeating Sweetwater (51-14), Everman (38-14), Salado (48-21), Abilene Wylie (37-7), Waco Connally (44-12), No. 7 Waco La Vega (35-7), Alvarado (56-0), Waxahachie Life (49-6) and No. 10 Midlothian Heritage (38-27).

Burnett feels the turnover battle and the Lions’ ability to control the time of possession will be the biggest determining factors in Friday’s outcome. Stephenville has forced 18 turnovers this season while the Lions have given the ball away eight times – but just three in the last seven outings.

“If you look at Stephenville’s games with La Vega and Heritage they won the turnover battle,” Burnett said. “That’s part of the reason why they’re so successful, they’re creating turnovers and opportunities. Our MO is protect the football, don’t get caught behind the chains, and move the ball offensively. We had two turnovers against Greenwood that stumped us and we didn’t show up against Wylie, but other than that when we show up and play offensively teams have had a hard time stopping us. We have to be able to do that against Stephenville, which is probably the best defense we’ve played all year. We have to move the football on the ground, we have to throw and catch and we have to move the chains.”

Along with the 18 takeaways, Stephenville’s defense is giving up just 12 points per outing with 20 sacks on the season.

The Yellow Jacket defense is anchored by senior middle linebacker Reese Young (149 tackles, 16 for loss, 4.5 sacks. 2 FR), senior linebacker Corbin Poston (72 tackles, 4 for loss), junior defensive back Bradley Beaty (60 tackles, 1 for loss) and junior defensive lineman Jack Barkley (50 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks).

Brownwood’s offense, meanwhile, is producing 35 points and 405 yards – 292 rushing and 113 rushing – per game.

Led by Ethan Pesina, Brandon Still, Slayde Espinoza, Alex Reyna, Roan Aguinaga and Damian Sanchez up front, Konlyn Anderson has churned out 1,685 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 6.5 yards on his 260 carries. Jaylan Brown has added 232 yards with a trip to the end zone.

Quarterback Chance Jones has emerged as true dual threat, completing 79 of 163 passes for 1,021 yards with 14 touchdowns and one interception, while rushing for 617 yards and six more scores. Top receiving threats include Jason Jackson (33-540 8 TDs), Elias Huerta-Doud (23-253, TD), Thad Hinds (9-113, 3 TDs), Anderson (6-38), Case Markham (3-47), and Christian Chambers hauled in a 4-yard touchdown last week for his first reception.

Stephenville’s offense is averaging 44 points and 477 yards – 262 passing and 215 rushing – per game.

Behind a front line spearheaded by 6-5, 325-pound senior left tackle Logan Davis, junior quarterback Ryder Lambert has connected on 148 of 216 pass attempts for 2,351 yards with 32 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while rushing for 495 yards and six touchdowns. Featured receivers include senior Coy Eakin (56-1,126 yards, 19 TDs) and senior Reece Elston (48-698, 5 TDs). Sophomore Tate Maruska (675 yards, 5 TDs) and junior Julian Ibibarren (580 yards, 6 TDs) are the top ground gainers for the Yellow Jackets.

The Lions will send out a defense that yields 39 points and 462 yards – 281 rushing and 181 passing – per outing, with 15 takeaways.

Standouts include Dryden Anderson (80 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 FR), Quentin Thompson (72 tackles, 1 FR), Brown (67 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 FR), Jordan Leach (51 tackles, 0.5, 1 FR, 1 INT), Quinten McCarty (45 tackles, 4.5 for loss), Cole Miller (36 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT), Pesina (32 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR), Brandon Holland (31 tackles, 2 for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 FR), Markham (30 tackles, 2 INTs), Azariah Dillard (29 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 FR), Owen Huntsinger (29 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT), and Zaiden Lopez (28 tackles).

“We can’t expect our defense to go out there and make stops over and over against one of, if not the best offense we’ve played,” Burnett said. “They score points on everybody. They’re good at what they do, they have the right kids in the right spots and they’re just rolling right now. The more we control the football and keep their offense off the field, the more of a chance we have at winning. If we can win the time of possession and not turn the ball over, that’s going to be a big part of the game.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Brownwood is a 30-point underdog.

***

Brownwood Lions Football 2021 Season Stats
Through 9 Games (4-5, 2-2)

TEAM OFFENSE
34.9 points per game (314)
405.1 yards per game (3,646)
291.7 rushing yards per game (2,625)
113.4 passing yards per game (1,021)

PASSING

‒ Chance Jones
79 of 163 for 1,021 yards, 14 TDs, 1 INT

RUSHING
‒ Konlyn Anderson
1,685 yards on 260 carries, 19 TDs

‒ Chance Jones
617 yards on 116 carries, 6 TDs

‒ Jaylan Brown
232 yards on 36 carries, TD

‒ Case Markham
61 yards on 5 carries

‒ Azariah Dillard
23 yards on 6 carries

‒ Uriah King
10 yards on 5 carries

‒ Ethan Pesina
2 yards on 1 carry, TD

‒ Jason Jackson
2 yards on 1 carry

‒ Joshua Hennington
2 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING
‒ Jason Jackson
33 catches for 540 yards, 8 TDs

‒ Elias Huerta-Doud
23 catches for 253 yards, TD

‒ Thad Hinds
9 catches for 113 yards, 3 TDs

‒ Konlyn Anderson
6 catches for 38 yards

‒ Case Markham
3 catches for 47 yards, TD

‒ Brayden Daub
2 catches for 19 yards

‒ Taylor Bessent
2 catches for 9 yards

‒ Christian Chambers
1 catch for 4 yards, TD

***

TEAM DEFENSE
38.7 points per game (348)
461.7 yards per game (4,155)
280.7 rushing yards per game (2,526)
181.0 passing yards per game (1,629)

TACKLES
‒ Dryden Anderson
80 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 FR

‒ Quentin Thompson
72 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Jaylan Brown
67 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 FR

‒ Jordan Leach
51 tackles, 0.5, 1 FR, 1 INT

‒ Quinten McCarty
45 tackles, 4.5 for loss

‒ Cole Miller
36 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT

‒ Ethan Pesina
32 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR

‒ Brandon Holland

31 tackles, 2 for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 FR

‒ Case Markham
30 tackles, 2 INTs

‒ Azariah Dillard
29 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 FR

‒ Owen Huntsinger
29 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT

‒ Zaiden Lopez
28 tackles

‒ Noah Barron
25 tackles, 0.5 for loss

‒ Jason Jackson
19 tackles, 1 INT

‒ Taylor Bessent
16 tackles, 1 sack

‒ Elias Huerta-Doud

14 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Logan Posey
13 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Thad Hinds
9 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Christian Chambers

9 tackles

‒ Uriah King
5 tackles

‒ Morsello Hooker
5 tackles

‒ Tobey Yeats

4 tackles

‒ Brayden Daub
3 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Chris Robinson
3 tackles

‒ Konlyn Anderson

2 tackles

‒ Slayde Espinoza
1 tackle, 1 for loss

‒ Jakson Yoder
1 tackle

‒ Slayde Espinoza

1 tackle

‒ Joshua Hennington

1 tackle

***

TURNOVER MARGIN: (+7)
Brownwood 8 — 7 fumbles, 1 INT
Opponents 15 — 9 fumbles, 6 INTs

***

PENALTIES

65 penalties for 573 yards

(7.2 flags for 63.7 yards per game)