Early faces must-win situation for playoff chances as slumping Eastland visits

October 31, 2024 at 7:15 am Derrick Stuckly

Weston Barton (9) and the Longhorns (1-7, 0-3) will attempt to halt a seven-game skid and earn their first district victory in Friday’s home finale {Photo courtesy of Mike Jones}

EARLY – The season has reached its do-or-die point for both the Early Longhorns and Eastland Mavericks, who are attempting to keep their playoff hopes alive Friday night as both teams seek their first District 5-3A Division II victory of the season.

Kickoff between Early (1-7, 0-3) and Eastland (3-5, 0-3) is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Longhorn Stadium.

“Our kids know it’s a must-win this week, the next two are must-wins so they can get in,” said Early first-year head coach Randall Case. “They’ve done a good job of staying focused and keeping their minds right, and that’s their sole focus this week. We’re going to go out and give it all we’ve got and the cards will fall where they fall. I expect our kids to play really hard and go win a playoff spot.”

Eastland is in the midst of a four-game skid, dropping the first two to Hawley (22-21) and Clifton (14-13) by one point each, followed by defeats at the hands of Brady (47-7) and Dublin (35-28).

“They’ve had some injuries that have altered what they want to do, and the way they do things, but they’re still a good football team,” Case said of the Mavericks. “They’ve got some kids that are getting healthy and coming back and we’re going to have to come out and play a full four quarters.”

Out of the wing-T offense, Eastland has rushed for 89 percent of its total yardage on the season. Leading ground gainers are Cayden Alford, Eddie Medina, Cason Browning, and Isaac Castro. Kye Herrington has served as quarterback with Samuel Cruz being the leading receiver.

Defensive standouts for the Mavericks include Alford, Medina, Browning, Brenden Foust, Cameron Wilson, and Ben Bird.

“They keep the ball from you,” Case said. “They run the wing-T and keep the ball from you and wait until the last second to get to the line and snap it really fast. We’re going to have to make sure we’re aligned correctly in a hurry and make sure we can stop their long drives. We have to do that so we can maximize our opportunities on offense.”

The Longhorns are coming off their seventh straight defeat, 42-15, at the hands of Brady this past Friday.

Early surrendered 428 total yards, with 328 coming on the ground, and was plagued by three more turnovers.

“Our kids played hard, but they have a good bunch of kids over there in Brady, they’re really big up front,” Case said. “We were able to keep it close going into the half and they were able to lean on us just a little too much and we weren’t able to withstand a few good drives they put together. But the turnovers are going to hurt whether it’s one or however many. They change the trajectory of the game and we have to do a better job of taking care of the football.”

The Longhorns head into Friday’s contest averaging 20 points and 324 yards – 157 rushing and 167 passing – with 16 turnovers.

Running back Cameron Love has sparked the offense the last two weeks as he has now totaled 605 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Weston Barton has completed 108 of 201 passes for 1,337 yards with 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while leading receivers continue to be Andrew Reedy (61-850, 7 TDs) and Ben Bleth (26-340, 2 TDs).

On defense, the Longhorns yield 41 points and 419 yards – 278 on the ground and 141 through the air – with 15 takeaways.

Leading the charge are Kaeden Byrd (125 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack), Mario Vazquez (86 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 fumble recoveries), Ben Morris (44 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack), Brayden Schafer (39 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Rhett Williams (39 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Will Speck (36 tackles, 2 for loss), Barton (32 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery), Angel Marquez (30 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Reedy (26 tackles, 1 INT), Bleth (24 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Brandon Walker (24 tackles, 4 for loss) and Brennen Rasor (22 tackles, 1 fumble recovery).

As for what it will take for Early to come away with the win Friday night, Case said, “Offensively we have to do a much better job of taking care of the football, something we haven’t done the last few weeks. We have to take advantage of the opportunities we get when we do get them. Defensively we have to tackle better. Even if we do tackle well the previous week, I’m always going to say we need to tackle better. If we can get aligned correctly and tackle well I think we’re going to be OK.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 10-point underdog.

***

Early Longhorns 2024 Football Season Stats

Through 8 Games (1-7, 0-3)

TEAM OFFENSE

20.3 points per game (162)

324.6 yards per game (2,597)

157.5 rushing yards per game (1,260)

167.1 passing yards per game (1,337)

PASSING

* Weston Barton

108 of 201 for 1,337 yards, 10 TDs, 13 INTs

RUSHING

* Cameron Love

605 yards on 79 carries, 5 TDs

* Weston Barton

218 yards on 40 carries

* Ben Morris

176 yards on 49 carries, TD

* Andrew Reedy

134 yards on 26 carries, 6 TDs

* Brandon Walker

127 yards on 23 carries, TD

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

61 catches, 850 yards, 7 TDs

* Ben Bleth

26 catches, 340 yards, 2 TDs

* Jaxson Stockman

6 catches, 73 yards, TD

* Brayden Moya

6 catches for 53 yards

* Angel Marquez

3 catches for 17 yards

* Cameron Love

2 catches for 4 yards

* Da’Corrain McBride

2 catches, 1 yard

* Ben Morris

1 catch, -3 yards

###

TEAM DEFENSE

41.5 points per game (332)

418.7 yards per game (3,350)

277.6 rushing yards per game (2,221)

141.1 passing yards per game (1,129)

TACKLES

* Kaeden Byrd

125 tackles, 6 for loss, 1 sack

* Mario Vazquez

86 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 fumble recoveries

* Ben Morris

44 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack

* Brayden Schafer

39 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 fumble recovery

* Rhett Williams

39 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries

* Will Speck

36 tackles, 2 for loss

* Weston Barton

32 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery

* Angel Marquez

30 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Andrew Reedy

26 tackles, 1 INT

* Ben Bleth

24 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Brandon Walker

24 tackles, 4 for loss

* Brennen Rasor

22 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Da’Corrain McBride

17 tackles

* Rhett Smith

17 tackles

* Aaron Mendoza

7 tackles

* Cameron Love

5 tackles

* Eli Pallette

4 tackles

* Brayden Moya

3 tackles

* Jaxson Stockman

3 tackles

* Jack Nowell

3 tackles

* Ethan Moseley

2 tackles

* Riley Barton

1 tackle

* Logan Jackson

1 fumble recovery

###

TURNOVER MARGIN (-1)

* Early: 16 (3 fumbles, 13 interceptions)

* Opponents: 15 (11 fumbles, 4 interceptions)