As the regular season inches closer to the finish line, the stakes continue to climb for many local teams. Among the key match-ups this week are the District 14-A Division I championship battle between May and Jonesboro, while Blanket looks to position itself for the District 15-A Division II title as it squares off with Sidney.
The following are brief previews of the seven games in the BrownwoodNews.com coverage area this weekend:
May (8-0, 3-0) at Jonesboro (7-1, 2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Class A Division I No. 2 May Tigers, according to the latest sixmanfootball.com rankings, venture to No. 7 Jonesboro in their regular season finale, seeking a seventh consecutive district championship.
May is coming off a 60-14 victory over Santa Anna in which the Tigers produced 281 yards of total offense – 211 rushing and 70 passing.
Braden Steele rushed six times for 140 yards with four touchdowns, Landon Cheatham tacked on five carries for 64 yards and and two trips to the end zone, and Hagan Hester ran for 7 yards on one carry.
Through the air, Luke McKenzie connected on 2 of 4 pass attempts for 70 yards with a pair of touchdowns – 42 yards to Steele and 28 yards to Wyatt Hardy.
Defensive standouts were Steele (11 tackles), Kross Kenyon (9 tackles, a fumble recovery, and a kick blocked), Bryson Guerrero (8 tackles and a fumble recovery), Jackson Easterling (6 tackles and a tackle for loss), Ben Harrell (5 tackles and a tackle for loss), McKenzie (2 tackles and a tackle for loss), Adam Blankinship (2 tackles), Alexis Mejia (1 tackle, 1 pass defended, and a tackle for loss), Hardy (1 tackle), and Cheatham (1 tackle and a caused fumble).
Jonesboro enters the game on a seven-game win streak after suffering its only loss to Westbrook (30-14). The Eagles defeated Temple CenTex HomeSchool (68-60) in a non-district outing last week.
The Eagles are averaging 58 points and 288 yards – 209 rushing and 79 passing – per game, while allowing 27 points with 17 takeaways.
Caleb Christel has rushed for 857 yards and 14 touchdowns, Layden Nichols has added 441 yards and nine scores, and Jacob Cisneros has chipped in 212 yards and seven scores.
Through the air, Christel has passed for 347 yards and eight scores, Nathan Forrest has thrown for 232 yards and five scores, and Cisneros has contributed 113 yards passing and three scoring tosses.
Leading receivers are Demarcus Acoff with 13 grabs for 401 yards and 10 scores and Nichols with five catches for 138 yards and two trips to the end zone.
Defensive standouts include Jaden Domel (60 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries), Garrett Young (56 tackles, 1 for loss), Cisneros (49 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries), and Acoff (42 tackles, 16 for loss).
According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 25-point favorite.
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Sidney (3-4, 1-1) at Blanket (7-1, 2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Blanket Tigers can clinch a postseason berth and ensure a Week 11 showdown with Zephyr for the District 15-A Division II championship if they can get past the Sidney Eagles in the home finale.
Blanket posted a 60-4 victory over Mullin last week as the Tigers allowed just 99 total yards – 74 yards through the air on 7 of 20 passing and 24 yards rushing on seven carries.
The Tigers finished with 317 total yards – 282 on the ground and 35 through the air. Brayden Day rushed for 122 yards and two scores, Levi Vasquez finished with 117 yards and three trips to the end zone, Mason Beck completed 2 of 4 passes for 35 yards – both to Isaac Smith for touchdowns – and Brandon Larance tacked on 42 yards and a score on the ground.
Sidney is coming off a 68-20 loss to Zephyr in which the Eagles allowed 416 yards of total offense – 370 rushing and 46 passing – without forcing a turnover, and managed 246 yards – 132 on the ground and 114 through the air – with a pair of turnovers.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 6-point favorite.
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Comanche (7-1, 3-0) at Merkel (3-5, 2-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Comanche Indians look to continue their pursuit of the District 5-3A Division II football championship as they take to the road to battle the Merkel Badgers.
Comanche is coming off a 77-7 thrashing of Dublin in which the Indians generated 652 yards of total offense, including 512 yards rushing.
Sawyer Wilkerson led the onslaught with 310 yards and four touchdowns on just 11 carries, an average of 28.5 yards per tote. Cayden Davis chipped in 78 yards and a touchdown, Cade Bauman tacked on 44 yards, Ezequiel Medrano finished with 43 yards and a score, Easton Gonzalez added 22 yards and quarterback Layden Welch rushed for 15 yards with a trip to the end zone.
Welch completed all four of his pass attempts for 140 yards with three touchdowns. Kyler Beaty finished with two grabs for 55 yards and a touchdown, J.J. Davis added a 53-yard scoring reception, and Miguel Martinez hauled in a 32-yard touchdown catch.
Davis led the defensive effort with 12 tackles trailed by eight each from Gonzalez and Welch, and seven takedowns each from Israel Medrano, Cosme Gonzalez and Pierson Sorrells.
Merkel is averaging 19 points and 273 yards – 157 rushing and 116 passing – per game, while allowing 27 points with seven takeaways and 11 sacks.
Quarterback Joey Zink (855 passing yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs; 478 rushing yards, 2 TDs) is the leading passer and rusher, while Connor Milyerd has chipped in 358 yards and three scores on the ground. Elijah Olivarez (14-215, 3 TDs) and Maddox O’Malley (13-236, 2 TDs) are the top receivers.
The defense is led by Olivarez (107 tackles, 18 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Jose Flores (56 tackles, 1 for loss), Jack Travis (49 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks, fumble recovery) and C.J. Walcott (45 tackles).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 37-point favorite.
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De Leon (3-6, 0-5) at Coleman (6-2, 3-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
After a week off, the Coleman Bluecats look establish additional positive momentum heading into the postseason as they welcome the De Leon Bearcats in their final home game of the season.
Coleman’s last outing was a 42-7 victory over Hamilton in which the Bluecats yielded just 91 yards of total offense – 65 rushing and 26 passing – with two takeaways.
Offensively, the Bluecats racked up 411 yards behind a balanced attack with 207 coming through the air and 204 on the ground.
Jadin Jackson completed 7 of 11 passes for 207 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 66 yards and two more scores.
Keaton Beets led Coleman with three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, Hagen Cavanaugh hauled in a 50-yard scoring reception, and Braxton Smith caught a 28-yard touchdown.
Ryland Gentry tacked on 64 rushing yards and a touchdown and caught a 14-yard pass. Blaine Bouldin rushed for 44 yards, Jaden Espitia added 22 yards on the ground, and Dayden Hunter rushed for 4 yards and a caught a 17-yard pass.
In De Leon’s 35-20 loss to Hamilton last week, the Bearcats trailed 14-0 at halftime and 21-7 after three quarters.
De Leon finished with 371 yards, led by quarterback Heston Jobe’s 118 rushing yards and one touchdown and 191 passing yards and two more scores. J.R. Kelley pulled down five receptions for 124 yards with a touchdown.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Coleman is a 45-point favorite.
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Goldthwaite (0-8, 0-4) at Tolar (8-0, 4-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Goldthwaite Eagles will attempt to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the high school football season and earn their first victory, while handing the No. 5 Tolar Rattlers their first defeat.
Goldthwaite was dealt a 41-12 loss by rival San Saba last week in the 105th “Battle of the River.” Trailing just 6-0 at halftime, the game got away from Goldthwaite in the second half.
The Eagles finished with 261 yards of total offense – 209 rushing and 52 passing – but turned the ball over six times. Both Goldthwaite touchdowns were scored in the fourth quarter.
Luke Sanderson caught a 25-yard scoring toss from Cutter Campbell, who also rushed for a 5-yard score.
Campbell rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and completed 3 of 14 passes for 52 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Carsyn Campbell added 71 yards on the ground and Rylan Wiedebusch chipped in a 43-yard carry. Collin Gardner added a 25-yard reception for Goldthwaite.
Defensively, Goldthwaite surrendered 484 yards – 329 coming on the ground and 155 through the air – but forced three turnovers.
Tolar, which is coming off a 57-0 win over Bangs, is generating 45 points and 381 yards – 275 rushing and 106 passing – per outing.
The rushing attack is sparked by Peyton Brown (1,593 yards, 25 TDs), the main weapon in Tolar’s attack. Quarterback Jackson Lecluyse has completed 36 of 73 passes for 548 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Receiving threats include Wyatt Jones (23-449, 6 TDs) and Matthew Behrens (12-185, 2 TDs).
Tolar’s defense is giving up just 9 points per game with 20 turnovers forced and 17 sacks. Defensively stalwarts include Brock Owens (75 tackles, 5 for loss), Issac Blessing (59 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Keaton Morrison (45 tackles, 11 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Mason Berry (42 tackles, 8 for loss, 3 sacks), Clayton Stembridge (36 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 interceptions), Cash Clark (34 tackles, 1 for loss), and Luke Willmon (33 tackles, 16 for loss, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, there is no line for this game. Tolar is ranked 62 points higher than Goldthwaite this week.
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Abilene TLCA (0-8, 0-3) at Cross Plains (6-2, 1-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Coming off their first District 6-2A Division II triumph, the Cross Plains Buffaloes look to continue their postseason push as they welcome Abilene TLCA.
The Buffaloes chalked up a 54-19 victory over Hamlin last week to snap a two-game skid after an undefeated start to the first five weeks of the season.
Against Hamlin, Cross Plains manufactured 411 yards of total offense – 236 on the ground and 175 through the air. Defensively, the Buffaloes yielded 256 yards – 213 passing and just 43 rushing on 30 carries – and forced four turnovers.
Dusty Wyatt rushed for 76 yards and three touchdowns for Cross Plains, Riley Conlee finished with 78 yards and a trip to the end zone, and Noah Moses chalked up 61 yards and a score.
Through the air, Kade Purvis was 8 of 10 for 175 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Ryan Reed caught four passes for 122 yards and scored twice, Asher Moses pulled down three receptions for 33 yards and Noah Moses caught a 20-yard pass.
Defensive standouts for the Buffaloes were Noah Moses with 11 tackles and one interception; Theron Albrecht with 11 tackles; Wyatt with seven tackles; Ryan Reed with six tackles and one interception; Tye McWalters with three tackles and a fumble recovery; and Colt Sanderson with one tackle and a fumble recovery.
Abilene TLCA has been outscored 560-93 in its first season as an 11-man program, including 81-0 by Miles last week.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, there is no line for this game, Cross Plains is ranked 77 points higher than Abilene TLCA this week.
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Lohn (0-7, 0-2) at Richland Springs (6-1, 2-1)
7:30 p.m. Thursday
The Richland Springs Coyotes are out to finish up their District 16-A Division II campaign with a victory and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs as they host the Lohn Eagles Thursday night.
The Coyotes – coming off a forfeit win over Brookesmith – last took the field for a 44-40 victory over Rochelle.
In that contest, the Coyotes finished with 358 yards – 240 rushing and 118 passing – but committed three turnovers and were shutout in the second half. The Hornets produced 282 yards – 207 on the ground and 75 through the air – with three turnovers as well.
Keston Lusty rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Richland Springs offense while Kenny Triplett chipped in 72 yards and a score on the ground. Hutton Rogers was 5 of 9 through the air for 66 yards and two scores, as Jayden Sutherland led the way with five grabs for 45 yards and both trips to the end zone.
Braxton Ethridge, Richland Springs’ leading rusher and passer, was limited to 52 yards passing on eight attempts, and 28 yards rushing on only eight carries.
Lohn is winless this season with district losses against Rochelle (62-0) and Brookesmith (46-0).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 45-point favorite.
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Brookesmith (1-8, 1-2) forfeits to Cherokee (8-0, 3-0)