One of the premier high school football rivalries in all of Texas, “The Battle of 377,” will feature a pair of Top 10 Class 4A Division I programs Friday night.
On the heels of their fourth consecutive victory, the Brownwood Lions (4-1) continued their ascension in the rankings, moving up to No. 9 in this week’s latest Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 4A Division I Top 10. The Lions, who were ranked No. 10 by DCTF and No. 9 by Harris Ratings Weekly last week, dominated Waco Connally this past Friday for a 52-21 triumph to continue their winning ways.
Meanwhile, defending state champion Stephenville maintained its No. 1 spot in the DCTF poll as the Yellow Jackets rallied late for a 43-42 homecoming victory over Class 5A Division II No. 9 Wichita Falls Ryder this past week. Stephenville (5-0), which is averaging 51 points and allowing 46 per game, has won 21 straight games, but four of their five victories this season are by one touchdown or less, including a pair of one-point decisions.
In a series that dates back 85 years to 1937, the 82nd meeting between Brownwood and Stephenville will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tarleton Memorial Stadium. The Lions lead the all-time series 47-32-2, but the Yellow Jackets have won the last two meetings and six of the last nine contests since a 2012 break between the two teams.
The rest of the Class 4A Division I Top 10 includes No. 2 China Spring (4-1), No. 3 Corpus Christi Calallen (5-0), No. 4 Boerne (5-0), No. 5 Anna, No. 6 Celina (4-1), No. 7 Lumberton (4-1), No. 8 Somerset (4-0), No. 10 Kaufman (4-1).
Dumas, the only other Region I team in the poll last week, dropped out after a 38-20 loss to 3A Division I No. 6 Bushland.
In other rankings of local interest, Coleman (4-1) remained No. 6 in Class 2A Division I, with district rival Tolar (5-0) at No. 9. The Bluecats visit San Saba in District 5-2A Division I action Friday night.
Also, May (4-0) is No. 3 in Class A Division I and Richland Springs (4-0) is No. 2 in Class A Division II. The Tigers visit Burnet Smoking for Jesus Christian this week, while the Coyotes have another bye.