Early (6-4, 4-1) needed a Brady (5-5, 3-2) upset of Wall (9-1, 5-0) Friday night to create a three-way tie for the district championship and possibly give the Longhorns a crack at the top playoff seed, but the Hawks – who edged Early, 10-7, last week – rolled to a 54-10 victory over the Bulldogs.
Against San Angelo TLCA (4-6, 2-3), Early compiled 507 yards of total offense – 259 through the air and 248 on the ground – and averaged 11.2 yards per snap as the Longhorns led 41-7 after one quarter and 55-7 at halftime.
Quarterback Jaxyn Price completed 11 of 24 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns, while Griffin Cheslock contributed 139 yards rushing and two scores on just five carries.
Leading receivers were Reece Middleton with three catches for 50 yards; Jeremy Brown with two for 65 yards and a touchdown; John-Stewart Gordon with a pair for 61 yards and a trip to the end zone; Ki Houston with a 38-yard scoring reception; and Cedrick Morelan with a 33-yard touchdown grab.
Kaleb Ozuna added 37 rushing yards and a touchdown, Dillon Miller ran for 29 yards and scored once, Justin Pierce tacked on an 18-yard touchdown run and a 5-yard completion, and Morelan scored on a 9-yard carry.
Next week, the Longhorns will begin their third consecutive postseason run against District 1 third seed Odessa Compass Academy (4-6) in bi-district playoff action tentatively set for Sweetwater either Thursday or Friday night.
