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The Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Class 4A Division I No. 8 Brownwood Lions can secure no worse than a share of a second consecutive District 2-4A Division I championship with a victory Thursday night at Lowrey Field in Lubbock, but the improved Estacado Matadors stand in the way.

Kickoff between the Lions (7-1, 2-0) and Matadors (6-1, 1-0) – who earlier this season also made an appearance in the 4A Division I Top 10 – is slated for 7 p.m.

“We’re about as healthy as we’ve been, and we had three good days of practice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Lions sixth-year head coach Sammy Burnett. “The hay’s in the barn, it’s time to load up on the bus tomorrow and get after it. It’s a business trip for us. We have a destination in mind and that’s a district championship and they’re in the way of that. We take that very serious and we’re going to play hard for four quarters.”

Burnett has compared the Matadors to Waco Connally, as Estacado has scored at least 34 points in every game and is averaging 51 points and 483 yards per game—318 rushing and 165 passing. Connally possessed similar offensive numbers prior to the Lions’ 31-28 victory at Gordon Wood Stadium on Sept. 22.

The Estacado offense is led by quarterback DJ Johnson, who has completed 67 of 132 passes for 1,152 yards with 14 touchdowns and just one interception, while rushing for 203 yards and three more scores.

The ground game is anchored by Bobby Ross (1,173 yards, 17 TDs; 168 yards per game) and varsity newcomer James Bozeman (598 yards, 8 TDs; 85 yards per game), while primary receiving threats are Devoryea Boyd (23-319, 6 TDs), Cedric Ross (22-444, 5 TDs), and Dee’Ondric Green (7-137) – all of which played in last year’s contest.

“The Ross kid is a capable, powerful big back,” Burnett said. “He’s only a junior but he’s 6-3, 215 pounds and once he gets going north and south he’s good. We have to keep him lateral, don’t get that steam going and let him get downhill. For us it’s going to come down to physicality and how physical we are going to be up front. We have to control our gaps, not get washed down and control our gaps properly. They’ve got some beef up front, but we’re going to try and beat them with speed.”

Brownwood’s defense surrenders just 17 points and 293 yards – 167 passing and 126 rushing – per game, with eight takeaways.

Leading the charge are Sam Kallman (92 tackles, 7 for loss, 6 sacks), Steve Ramirez (79 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT), Noah Gonzalez (77 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), Jake Jetton (76 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT), Zakk Zabecki (53 tackles, 3 for loss), Wolf (39 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks), McCarty (30 tackles, 1 for loss, 3 sacks), Hayden Noe (30 tackles, 1 INT), Robert Trowbridge (29 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), and Jordyn Nickerson (29 tackles).

The Matador defense allows 24 yards per game with 14 sacks and seven takeaways – four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Leading tackles for the Matadors include inside linebackers Kei’sean Harris (78 tackles, 7 for loss, 6 sacks) and Nate Orta (67 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions), outside linebacker Mehki Williams (50 tackles, 5 for loss), defensive tackle, Isaiah Belgara (44 tackles, 4 for loss), free safety Donivan Torrez (39 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery), and defensive lineman Jamar Shaw (33 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery).

Two teams – West Plains and Midland Greenwood – scored 51 points against Estacado. The other five opponents averaged 13 points per game. In Estacado’s only loss to 4A Division II West Plains (7-1), the Matadors led West Plains 21-15 at halftime, but were outscored 36-13 in second half. Estacado gave up 575 yards – 353 passing and three touchdowns and 222 rushing and three more scores. Estacado allowed a 300-yard passer, a 200-yard rusher and a 150-yard receiver in the contest.

“Offensively, we have to pound the rock,” Burnett said. “We have to get in their face, run right at them, make them load the box and when they go press man, one or zero coverage, we have to advantage with some shots.”

Behind the blocking of Quinten McCarty, Cole Miller, Davis Le, Aidan Packheiser and Logan Knight, the Lions – coming off season-highs of 66 points and 655 total yards – are averaging 41 points and 426 yards – 238 rushing and 188 passing – per outing, with eight turnovers.

Quarterback Ike Hall has completed 74 of 134 passes for 1,275 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions while also rushing for a team-best 889 yards and 12 more scores. Other weapons out of the backfield include Levi Pearson (356 rushing yards, 3 TDs), Jaylan Brown (309 rushing yards, 6 TDs), Xavier Zepeda (162 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Logan McKibben (117 rushing yards, 2 TDs).

As for the third phase of the game, Burnett said, “Special teams wise, field position is going to be huge. We have to own the field position game and set it up with our special teams, maybe with a big return from us and keeping them from having big returns.”

The Lions won last year’s meeting 52-14 at Gordon Wood Stadium, but the quarterback Johnson missed the game.

Brownwood limited the Matadors to 259 yards – 148 rushing and 111 passing. Bobby Ross rushed for 144 yards but 73 came on one touchdown carry. Boyd was held to three catches for 50 yards, Cedric Ross had a 29-yard reception and Green caught a 12-pass.

Meanwhile, the Lions jumped out to a 24-0 lead and finished with 502 yards of total offense, including 371 on the ground.

“We really got after them early last year and took away their will to win,” Burnett said. “If we play to our full potential again, those results will happen.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Brownwood is a 7-point favorite. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football lists the Lions as 3-point favorites.

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Brownwood Lions 2023 Football Season Stats

Through 8 Games (7-1, 2-0)

TEAM OFFENSE

41.4 points per game (331)

425.7 yards per game (3,405)

237.8 rushing yards per game (1,902)

187.9 passing yards per game (1,503)

57.7 completion percentage (90 of 156)

PASSING

* Ike Hall

74 of 134 for 1,275 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs

* Braeden Stacks

16 of 22 for 228 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT

RUSHING

* Ike Hall

889 yards on 81 carries, 12 TDs

* Levi Pearson

356 yards on 79 carries, 3 TDs

* Jaylan Brown

309 yards on 57 carries, 6 TDs

* Xavier Zepeda

162 yards on 13 carries, 2 TDs

* Logan McKibben

117 yards on 15 carries, 2 TDs

* Braeden Stacks

78 yards on 11 carries, TD

* Case Burnett

27 yards on 7 carries

* Noah Gonzalez

8 yards on 1 carry, TD

* Aaron Edmonds

-2 yards on 1 carry

* TEAM

-22 yards on 3 carries

RECEIVING

* Carson Noe

27 catches, 344 yards, 3 TDs

* Aaron Edmonds

18 catches, 261 yards, 2 TDs

* Morsello Hooker

10 catches, 238 yards, 5 TDs

* Levi Pearson

9 catches, 123 yards, TD

* Hayden Noe

6 catches, 133 yards, TD

* Stone Ratliff

7 catches for 169 yards, TD

* Weston Wolf

6 catches, 109 yards, TD

* Xavier Zepeda

3 catches, 32 yards

* Ike Hall

2 catches, 61 yards, TD

* Jordyn Nickerson

1 catch, 17 yards

* Jaylan Brown

1 catch, 11 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

16.8 points per game (134)

293.3 yards per game (2,347)

126.2 rushing yards per game (1,010)

167.1 passing yards per game (1,337)

60.3 opponents completion percentage (111 of 184)

TACKLES

* Sam Kallman

92 tackles, 7 for loss, 6 sacks

* Steve Ramirez

79 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT

* Noah Gonzalez

77 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks

* Jake Jetton

76 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT

* Zakk Zabecki

53 tackles, 3 for loss

* Weston Wolf

39 tackles, 5 for loss, 3 sacks

* Quinten McCarty

30 tackles, 1 for loss, 3 sacks

* Hayden Noe

30 tackles, 1 INT

* Robert Trowbridge

29 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Jordyn Nickerson

29 tackles

* Julius Lara

24 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 for loss

* Jaylan Brown

24 tackles, 1 for loss

* Kenyan McDowell

23 tackles, 1 INT

* Cole Miller

23 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Morsello Hooker

21 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs

* Gray Stewardson

17 tackles, 1 sack

* Ricky Vasquez

13 tackles

* Isaiah Rosas

12 tackles, 1 sack

* Jamariea Harlmon

7 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Xavier Zepeda

6 tackles

* Tyler Beal

5 tackles

* Yovani Figueroa

3 tackles

* Ross Strasner

2 tackles

* Colton McMillian

2 tackles

* Case Burnett

2 tackles

* Davis Le

1 tackle

* Logan McKibben

1 tackle

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KICKING

* Junior Martinez

7 of 9 FGs – long of 52, missed from 44, 40

44 of 44 PATs

65 points

22 punts, 841 yards, 38.2 average – long of 52; 2 inside opponents’ 5

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-2)

* Brownwood: 9 (4 fumbles, 5 interceptions)

* Opponents: 7 (1 fumble, 6 interceptions)

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PENALTIES

* Brownwood: 43 for 403 yards (5.4 for 50.4 per game)

* Opponents: 47 for 357 yards (5.9 for 44.6 per game)