AUSTIN – The Class A Division I No. 6 May Tigers chalked up their second win of the season, and second on the road, with a 50-20 triumph over the Austin St. Stephens Spartans Friday.
May (2-0) finished with 422 yards of total offense – 317 rushing and 105 passing – against the St. Stephens (0-2) defense.
Braden Steele again set the pace with 203 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries, while Mikey Scheriger chipped in 102 yards and a score on nine rushes. Lane Goodson tacked on 12 yards on four carries.
Steele also completed 7 of 9 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, while Goodson’s lone pass attempt was good for a 39-yard completion.
Leading receivers were Jackson Lusk with a pair of catches for 52 yards and a touchdown; Hagan Hester with two catches for 19 yards and a score; Wyatt Hardy with two grabs for 17 yards; Scheriger with one for 10; and Goodson with a 9-yard reception.
Defensive standouts for the Tigers included Kaden Watkins with seven tackles, including two for loss, and a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown; Scheriger with six tackles; Goodson with six tackles and a pick; Steele with five tackles, including two for loss; Lusk with four tackles; Hardy, Hester, Ryland Billadeau, and Cutter Newton with two tackles apiece; and Leevi Stephens with one takedown.
Next week, May hosts No. 5 Knox City (2-0), a 52-6 winner over Borden County Friday night, in its home opener. Knox City defeated reigning two-state champion Westbrook, 34-24, in its season opener.
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Goldthwaite 28, Santo 19
GOLDTHWAITE – The Goldthwaite Eagles earned their first victory under head coach Andy Howard, snapping a 12-game losing streak dating to 2021 with a 28-19 home win over the Santo Wildcats Friday night.
Goldthwaite (1-1) manufactured 339 yards of total offense – 223 on the ground and 126 through the air – against Santo (1-1).
Marcus Stevens rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles and Max Storm chipped in 108 yards and a trip to the end zone. Quarterback Ethan Deeds also contributed a 5-yard touchdown carry.
Through the air, Deeds completed 9 of 13 passes for 126 yards with an interception. Luke Sanderson recorded a team-high seven grabs for 85 yards and Malachi Thomas caught two passes for 41 yards.
Defensive standouts for Goldthwaite were Sanderson (17 tackles), Cayden Koho (9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Stevens (8 tackles), Thomas (8 tackles), Deeds (7 tackles), and Jacob Ross (5 tackles, 2 for loss).
Next week, the Eagles play host to Rosebud-Lott (0-2), which has lost its first two games to Jewett Leon, 27-21, and Wortham, 36-14.
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Coleman 40, Ballinger 0
COLEMAN – The Coleman Bluecats collected their first victory of the season in resounding fashion, rolling past the Ballinger Bearcats, 40-0, Friday night.
Coleman (1-1) produced 415 yards of total offense – 339 rushing and 76 passing – with one turnover, while holding Ballinger (0-2) to just 130 yards – 86 through the air and 44 on the ground – with four turnovers.
Brent Bouldin rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns to lead the charge for the Bluecats followed by 89 yards from Anthony Espitia, 43 yards and a touchdown from Brayden Torres, 27 yards and a score from Paul Salas, and 24 yards from quarterback Jadin Jackson.
Jackson completed 2 of 4 passes for 76 yards with a 72-yard scoring strike to Blaze Hronek. Hunter Lackey added a 4-yard reception.
Next week, Coleman travels to Brady (0-2), which has started its season with losses to Comanche, 37-8, and Mason, 41-7.
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Richland Springs 51, Olfen 6
RICHLAND SPRINGS – In a late addition to the schedule, the Richland Springs Coyotes were able to pick up a 10th regular season game as the Olfen Mustangs came to town Friday night.
Richland Springs improved to 2-0 with its second straight 45-point victory thanks to three rushing touchdowns, a pair of passing touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns.
The Coyotes opened the scoring with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Troy Shelton to Jayden Sutherland, then Billy Perry connected with Hutton Rogers on a 13-yard scoring toss. Perry followed with a 15-yard touchdown scamper ahead of fumble returns for touchdowns by Rush Norris and Clayton Meador. Richland Springs later capped the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run by Meador and a 3-yard touchdown carry by Norris.
Next week, the Coyotes play their third consecutive opponent at home as Lometa (2-0) – which has defeated Gorman, 34-12, and Blum, 72-65 – comes calling.
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Veribest 42, Zephyr 22
ZEPHYR – The Zephyr Bulldogs were denied in their bid for a 2-0 start to the season, as the Veribest Falcons instead earned that distinction with a 42-22 road victory Friday night.
Zephyr (1-1) led 8-0 after one quarter and tied the game at 16-16 on a Rhett Williams interception return in the second, but Veribest (2-0) scored the next 20 points to seize control.
The Bulldogs finished with 274 yards of total offense – 184 rushing and 90 passing – but coughed up the ball seven times, including six on fumbles. The Falcons tallied 219 yards – 117 on the ground and 102 through the air.
Tripp Balled rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown for Zephyr followed by Karsen Floyd with 56 yards, and James Evetts with 43 yards and a score.
Through the air, Wyatt Stephens completed 3 of 8 passes for 64 yards and Evetts added a 26-yard completion.
Floyd finished with two catches for 40 yards, Ballard hauled in a 40-yard reception, and Reese Hamm caught a 10-yard pass.
Defensively, Ballard logged 15 tackles with one for loss; Floyd tallied 11 with two for loss; Stevens notched six with two for loss; and Tanner Schoenhals finished with five tackles and one behind the line of scrimmage.
Next week, Zephyr ventures to Waco Eagle Christian Academy (0-2), which lost to Temple CenTex Homeschool, 70-6, Thursday night.
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Bryson 63, Blanket 28
BLANKET – Seeking their first victory of 2023, the Blanket Tigers were instead turned back for the second week in a row on their home turf as the Bryson Cowboys chalked up a 63-28 victory.
The Tigers scored on the ground, through the air, via kick return and on the defensive end as Blanket (0-2) finished with 144 yards of total offense – 92 rushing and 52 passing – against Bryson (1-1).
Cameron Aultman rushed for 39 yards, Kannon Kensing added 35 yards and a touchdown, and A.C. French finished with 18 yards on the ground.
Aultman also completed 2 of 3 passes for 27 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown to Mason Beck. Gage Jones was 3 of 6 through the air for 25 yards as Aultman caught all three of Jones’ attempts, while Adam McLaughlin pulled down a 10-yard reception from Aultman.
Aultman also reached the end zone on a 52-yard kick return for Blanket, while French scooped up a fumble and returned it 18 yards for six points.
French and Beck led Blanket with seven tackles apiece followed by Kensing with six, Abel McLaughlin with four, and Beck, Kade Russell, Ethan Tomme and Adam McLaughlin with two apiece.
Next week, the Tigers hit the road for the first time as they venture to Eden (0-2) – which has started its season with losses to Leakey, 62-18, and Blackwell, 46-25 – in search of their first win.
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Kopperl 28, Brookesmith 27
KOPPERL – Stepping on the field for the first time in 2023, the Brookesmith Mustangs fell one point shy of a 2-0 start with a 28-27 loss at Kopperl.
The Mustangs picked up a forfeit win in Week 1 over Mullin, which did not have enough players to field a team.
Kopperl improved to 2-0 with the narrow win following a 68-18 rout of Hillsboro Hill Country Christian last week.
No statistical information on this game is available.
Next week, the Mustangs will visit the Veribest JV on Thursday night.
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Junction 34, San Saba 22
SAN SABA – The San Saba Armadillos suffered their first setback of the season, dropping a 34-22 decision at home to the Junction Eagles Friday night.
San Saba (1-1) finished with 347 yards – 186 passing and 161 rushing – but threw a pair of interceptions against Junction (1-1), which was coming off an opening loss to De Leon.
Lane Miller completed 9 of 17 passes for 94 yards with a pair of interceptions while Winton Lackey was 6 of 10 for 82 yards through the air with two scoring tosses, and 39 yards rushing.
Ethan Gonzales rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 54 yards and another score. Haiden Van Bebber added six grabs for 59 yards and another touchdown, while Levi Glover finished with three receptions for 27 yards and Skyler Romero caught two passes covering 46 yards.
Defensively for San Saba, Gonzales led the way with eight tackles trailed by six and a fumble recovery from Glover and six from Adrian Martinez. Romero picked off a pass to account for the second takeaway.
Next week, the Armadillos will attempt to bounce back in their second straight home game against Johnson City (1-1), which is coming off a 56-42 loss to Thrall Friday night. The Eagles beat Comfort, 58-20, in their opener.
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De Leon 42, Cross Plains 7
CROSS PLAINS – In a battle of teams seeking 2-0 starts to the season, the De Leon Bearcats dished out a 42-7 defeat to the Cross Plains Buffaloes Friday night.
Trailing 15-7 after one quarter, Cross Plains (1-1) fell victim to a 20-point second period by De Leon (2-0) and never recovered.
The Buffaloes were limited to 132 yards of total offense – 78 passing and 54 rushing – with three turnovers. Meanwhile, the Bearcats amassed 357 yards – 207 on the ground and 150 through the air – and did not commit a turnover.
Theron Albrecht finished with 49 yards rushing for the Buffaloes followed by Dusty Wyatt with 21 yards and a touchdown and 8 yards from Gray Albrecht.
Kade Purvis completed 9 of 15 passes for 78 yards while leading receivers were Travis Mackey with six catches for 54 yards, Gray Albrecht with two for 23 yards, and Caleb Blue with a 1-yard grab.
Defensive standouts for Cross Plains were Colt Sanderson with 10 tackles, Bryson Barron and Theron Albrecht with eight apiece, Blue and Ryder Reed with seven each, and Colton Barron, Gray Albrecht and Alex Parker with five tackles apiece.
Next week, the Buffaloes will attempt to return to the win column against Hico (2-0), which has defeated Moody, 33-0, and Bruceville-Eddy, 37-8, thus far in 2023.