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BANGS – A Bangs Dragons win over Hamilton Friday night, coupled with a Hamilton victory over Goldthwaite next week would have ensure first-year head coach Jason Cole’s squad of a playoff berth.
Instead, the Dragons need an upset of Coleman and major help from other teams within District 5-2A Division I to land a postseason berth after Friday’s 38-0 loss to Hamilton in the home finale.
Along with the Bangs (2-7, 1-3) win next week, the Dragons still need Goldthwaite (3-6, 1-3) to defeat Hamilton (5-4, 2-3) and San Saba (3-6, 2-3) to fall to No. 2 Tolar (8-1, 5-0) to create a four-way tie for fourth place between Bangs, Hamilton, Goldthwaite and San Saba. And Bangs still may find itself outside the playoffs if that scenario were to occur.
In Friday’s loss to Hamilton, the Dragons mustered just 86 yards of total offense – 53 rushing and 33 passing.
Quarterback Kenny Cole completed 5 of 11 passes for 33 yards with one interception, while rushing for a team-high 36 yards. Ethan Ethridge added 15 yards on the ground and caught a 4-yard pass. Brayden Gatlin caught two passes for 15 yards, Aden Jones hauled in a 13-yard reception, and Cason Tidwell caught a 1-yard pass.
Defensively, Tidwell logged a team-high 13 tackles for Bangs followed by 9 from Hunter Crowell, 6 each from Weston Scantling and Noah Pin, 4.5 for Jones, 3.5 from Ethan Hager, 3 and a fumble recovery from Quade Angel, 2.5 from Brody Newton, 2 each from Ethridge and Hunter Hudnall, 1.5 from Gatlin and Hunter Winters, and 1 tackle from Hunter Newton.
