Kickoff between the Tigers (8-l, 3-0) and Bulldogs (8-1, 3-0) is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Zephyr.
Blanket is no stranger to the playoffs, but has clinched its first postseason berth under the direction of head coach Michael Cherry.
Meanwhile, Zephyr – led by Jeremy Phillips – will be making its first playoff appearance since 2019 after winning a total of one game the previous two seasons.
Friday’s winner will advance to the playoffs to the face District 16 runner-up Richland Springs in the first round, while the loser of Friday’s showdown will tangle with District 16 champion Cherokee in their playoff opener.
Blanket enters the contest averaging 52 points and 307 yards – 266 rushing and 43 passing – per game, while allowing 17 points per outing.
Zephyr produces 55 points and 304 yards – 256 on the ground and 48 through the air – while surrendering 11 points per contest.
Blanket’s ground game is sparked by Levi Vazquez (1,109 yards, 26 TDs) and Brayden Day (1,026 yards, 25 TDs), while the passing attack is fueled by Mason Beck (14 of 21 for 274 yards, 7 TDs) and receivers Isaac Smith (10-219, 6 TDs) and Aydan Wheeler (6-100, TD).
Leading the charge defensively for Blanket are Kannon Kensing (89 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries), Day (81 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries), Vazquez (78 tackles, 1 interception, 5 fumble recoveries), Smith (57 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Brandon Larance (31 tackles), and Wheeler (26 tackles).
For Zephyr, the rushing attack is paced by Jayden Millican (1,374 yards, 35 TDs) along with Eathan Gowin (331 yards, 7 TDs) and Tripp Ballard (318 yards, 10 TDs). Guiding the Bulldogs through the air are Bransen Bumguardner (12 of 27 for 193 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs) and Millican (7 of 16 for 200 yards, 4 TDs), while receiving threats include Karsen Floyd (5-164, 3 TDs), Waggoner Shelton (7-73, 2 TDs), and Ethan Byers (3-40, TD).
Defensive standouts for the Bulldogs include Millican (79 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Ballard 76 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions), Karsen Floyd (54 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions), Kaden Floyd (52 tackles), and Johnny Paul Evans-Rollins (25 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions).
According to sixmanfootball.com, Blanket is a 5-point favorite.
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Brookesmith (1-8, 1-2) at Rochelle (6-3, 1-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Brookesmith Mustangs and Rochelle Hornets will conclude their seasons Friday night in District 16-A Division II action.
Brookesmith is scheduled to return to the field for the first time since defeating Lohn (46-0) in its district opener, the only win for the Mustangs in their first season under head coach Jack Graves. The Mustangs had to forfeit their district contests to Richland Springs and Cherokee due to illnesses and injuries.
In Brookesmith’s most recent outing against Lohn, Adyn Ribble rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns to spark the offense while Brennan Mendieta chipped in 79 yards and a score on the ground.
Through the air, Vegas Gilliam connected on 3 of 5 passes for 35 yards with a touchdown to Mendieta, who caught two passes for 28 yards.
Defensively, Ribble recorded 14 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Gilliam finished with 12 tackles and an interception.
Rochelle enters Friday’s contest in the midst of a two-game skid, having lost to Cherokee (70-20) and Richland Springs (44-40) over the last two weeks. The Hornets’ lone district win came at the hands of Lohn (62-0).
Standouts for Rochelle in its narrow loss to Richland Springs included Kelton Williams (150 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 75 passing yards, 1 TD), Sean Estes (49 rushing yards, 2 TDs), and Bobby Estes (18-yard TD catch, team-high 9 tackles).
Earlier this season, Sean Estes set new six-man records with 23 catches for 334 yards and nine touchdowns in the win over Lohn.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Brookesmith is a 45-point underdog.
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Eastland (1-8, 1-3) at Comanche (8-1, 4-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Comanche Indians can secure the outright District 5-3A Division II championship as they host the Eastland Mavericks Friday night, fresh off their first victory of the season.
Comanche, which tallied just one victory a season ago, carries a five-game win streak and a No. 11 state ranking from the Padilla Poll into Friday’s contest.
The Indians are averaging 45 points and 288 yards – 209 rushing and 79 passing – per game, while allowing 24 points with 23 takeaways and 21 sacks on the season.
Sawyer Wilkerson is having an all-state caliber season with 1,919 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns for Comanche, while Cayden Davis (355 yards, 3 TDs), quarterback Layden Welch (332 yards, 8 TDs) and Easton Gonzalez (217 yards, 3 TDs) have provided a spark on the ground as well.
Through the air, Welch has completed 59 of 109 passes for 1,167 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Leading receivers are Miguel Martinez (32-640, 8 TDs), Kyler Beaty (15-223, 3 TDs) and Wilkerson (7-152, TD).
Defensive standouts for Comanche include Israel Medrano (85 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack), Diego Gutierrez (64 tackles, 2 interceptions), Dom Rios (60 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), Pierson Sorrells (58 tackles, 9 for loss, 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Welch (57 tackles, 2 for loss), Ezequiel Medrano (54 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 interceptions), and Aydan Fishback (50 tackles, 6 for loss, 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries). Martinez has picked off a team-high six passes.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 35-point favorite.
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Cross Plains (7-2, 2-2) at Miles (7-2, 3-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The playoff-bound Cross Plains Buffaloes will attempt to improve their postseason positioning as they visit the upstart Miles Bulldogs in the District 6-2A Division II and regular-season finale for both squads.
Cross Plains enters the game currently seeded fourth for the playoffs, which would likely result in a match-up with No. 4 Wink in the bi-district round. Meanwhile, Miles is holding down the No. 2 seed from 6-2A Division II at the moment.
The Buffaloes are coming off a 67-0 victory over Abilene TLCA in which Cross Plains amassed 560 yards of total offense – 289 rushing and 234 passing – with one turnover, while allowing just 140 yards – 118 on the ground and 22 through the air, with one takeaway.
Kade Purvis connected on 12 of 19 passes for 234 yards and five touchdowns for the Buffaloes. Leading receivers included Asher Moses with three catches for 81 yards and touchdown; Ryder Reed with three receptions for 65 yards and a pair of scores; Ryan Reed with three catches for 54 yards and a trip to the end zone; and Dusty Wyatt with three grabs for 33 yards and a touchdown.
On the ground, Noah Moses rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown along with Riley Conlee with a 76-yard scoring sprint, Tyler Mackey with 49 yards and a score, Theron Albrecht with 38 yards and a touchdown, and Cullen Ellis with 30 yards and a trip to the end zone.
Miles, fresh off a 77-26 triumph over Roscoe, is generating 50 points and 378 yards – 221 passing and 157 rushing – per game, while giving up 17 points with 30 takeaways and 16 sacks.
Quarterback Hayven Book has connected on 122 of 192 passes for 1,903 yards with 32 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Receiving threats are Carson Ellison (37-547, 10 TDs), Cooper Ellison (29-454, 7 TDs), Jaylen Torres (17-282, 3 TDs), and Manuel Torres (12-167, 5 TDs). Top ground gainers include Tanner Wood (381 yards, 4 TDs), Book (337 yards, 9 TDs), and Dillon Medina (326 yards, 6 TDs).
Defensive stalwarts for the Bulldogs include Jaxon Petillo (67 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks), Lane Godfrey (66 tackles, 4 for loss, 4 sacks), Holton Wilson (62 tackles, 11 for loss, 1 sack), Wood (53 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks). Carson Ellison has picked off five passes and Jacob Vega has intercepted three balls.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Cross Plains is a 21-point underdog.
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Tolar (9-0, 5-0) at San Saba (6-3, 2-3)
7 p.m. Thursday
The San Saba Armadillos will wrap up their season and attempt to knock the No. 4 Tolar Rattlers from the ranks of the unbeaten as the two teams square off in the District 5-2A Division I finale for both teams.
The Armadillos, whose bye fell last week, head into the game averaging 29 points and 265 yards – 176 rushing and 89 passing – per game, while giving up 21 points with 24 sacks and 14 takeaways.
The ground game is anchored by Ethan Gonzales with 970 yards and seven touchdowns followed quarterback Lance Taylor with 440 yards and three trips to the end zone, and by Tyler Johnson with 416 yards and nine scores.
Taylor has connected on 76 of 122 passes for 963 yards with 16 scoring tosses and two interceptions. Leading receivers are Johnson (40-509, 13 TDs), Gonzales (12-115), Lane Miller (10-144, TD), and Levi Glover (9-154, 2 TDs).
Leading the charge defensively for San Saba are Zuri Herrera (108 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Winton Lackey (68 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack), Dylan Ware (67 tackles, 20 for loss, 14 sacks), and Jesus Betancourt (59 tackles, 10 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery).
Tolar, which is coming off a 56-0 win over Goldthwaite, is generating 46 points and 379 yards – 270 rushing and 109 passing – per outing.
The rushing attack is sparked by Peyton Brown (1,733 yards, 28 TDs), the main weapon in Tolar’s attack. Quarterback Jackson Lecluyse has completed 44 of 82 passes for 686 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Receiving threats include Wyatt Jones (25-492, 8 TDs) and Matthew Behrens (14-197, 2 TDs).
Tolar’s defense is giving up just 8 points per game with 23 turnovers forced and 18 sacks. Defensively standouts include Brock Owens (86 tackles, 7 for loss), Issac Blessing (67 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries), Keaton Morrison (47 tackles, 11 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Mason Berry (46 tackles, 8 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries), Cash Clark (44 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 sacks), Clayton Stembridge (40 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 interceptions), and Luke Willmon (36 tackles, 16 for loss, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries).
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, San Saba is a 42-point underdog.
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Hamilton (4-5, 2-3) at Goldthwaite (0-9, 0-5)
7 p.m. Friday
The Goldthwaite Eagles look to avoid a winless campaign as they host the playoff-bound Hamilton Bulldogs in the District 5-2A Division I and regular-season finales for both teams.
Goldthwaite is coming off a 56-0 loss to Tolar in which the Eagles were limited to 110 yards of total offense, with 102 coming on the ground. Goldthwaite also turned the ball over twice, but forced three turnovers.
Carsyn Campbell led Goldthwaite with 78 rushing yards, Cutter Campbell added 28 and Bryce Brookings chipped in 18 yards on the ground.
Zach Rodriguez completed 1 of 8 passes for 8 yards with one interception.
Hamilton was dealt a 34-27 home loss by Bangs last week asthe Dragons rallied to drop Hamilton to the fourth seed from 5-2A Division I.
Against Bangs, Hamilton finished with 319 yards – 280 rushing and 39 passing – with no turnovers, while giving up 388 yards – 260 on the ground and 128 through the air – with one takeaway.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is a 21-point underdog.
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May (8-1), bye
Richland Springs (7-1), bye