WACO – The Brownwood JV Lions kept their unblemished record intact with a 28-14 road victory over the Waco Connally Cadets Thursday night.
Quarterback Dallas Shumaker completed 7 of 8 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed two touchdowns of 15 and 30 yards.
Sophomore receiver Grant Gray caught three balls, including a 25-yard touchdown pass, and sophomore tight end Aiden Driskill hauled in a 10-yard scoring reception.
Sophomore kicker Eliuth Valenciano converted all four of his extra-point opportunities.
The Lions defense forced two turnovers on the night, an interception each by sophomore defensive backs Raven Prado and Aden Smith.
The defense also came up with a pair of huge stops – one on 4th and goal at the 1 yard line before halftime, and then a two-point conversion attempt to keep the score at 21-14 in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore linebackers Robbie Robinson, Brinson Martin, and Elias Munoz led the way with multiple tackles each. Sophomore defensive backs Grant Gray, Durham Brown, and Caven Webster had multiple physical hits. Defensive linemen Treyvon Mitchell, Aiden Driskill, Ben Wilson, Wesley Isquirdeo, and Ian Barrerra all played well up front, according to the coaching staff.
The JV Lions (5-0) have outscored their first five opponents of the season, 161-38, and will be on the road next week to face Stephenville at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
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Waco Connally 34, Freshman Lions 28
WACO – The Brownwood Freshman Lions came up just short Thursday night, falling at Waco Connally by a 34-28 count.
The Freshman Lions (2-3) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Rory McNeese to Conner Cornelius, coupled with a McNeese extra point.
Connally scored twice in the second period to open a 14-7 halftime lead, but the Lions answered with a 51-yard touchdown rub by McNeese to pulled even at 14 early in the third quarter.
Connally regained a 20-14 edge only for Brownwood to score the next two touchdowns on a 33-yard McNeese run and a 4-yard reception by Malakai Wyatt from McNeese.
Leading 28-20 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Lions saw Connally score a touchdown late but Brownwood turned away the two-point try. Down 28-26, Connally pounced on an onside kick and scored the decisive touchdown and two-point try with 2:30 left.
The Lions advanced into the red zone on their final drive, but fumbled away a snap in the closing seconds.
Defensive standouts included Wyatt Wolf with 9 tackles; Isaac Rodrigues with 8 tackles; Waylon Harrington with 5 tackles and 2 for loss; Finn Hull with 5 tackles; Levi Moss with 5 tackles; and Jacoby Belvin with 4 tackles.
The Freshman Lions will venture to Stephenville next Thursday.
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Copperas Cove 40, Combined Team 0
COPPERAS COVE – The Brownwood Lions Subvarsity Combined Team dropped a 40-0 decision at Class 6A Copperas Cove Thursday night to slip to 2-3 on the season.
Jacob Green led the rushing attack for the Lions while Noah Grummert pulled down five receptions.
Defensively, Kayden Avalos recovered a fumble and tallied two tackles for loss.