Week 2 Rewind
Thoughts on the first full week of football in the Big Country, presented by Abilene Pediatric Dental Associates.
Photo: Skyler Blanton
OFF THE TOP
Abilene High claimed a third straight Crosstown Showdown 42-33 over Cooper, but hats off to the Cougars for sticking around in this one. There were several times it seemed that the Eagles were about to blow them out, but Cooper came up several opportunistic plays (which, honestly, were also Eagle mistakes. Especially on special teams) to stay in it. Cooper looked sharp in the passing game before Austin Cummins left due to injury and their receiving corps is pretty special. The Eagles looked like a track team with pads on when they had the ball again, and the Brayden Henry to Ryland Bradford combo is going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses all season.
Photo: JR Poblano/JMP Productions
Wylie hit the field for the first time and squeaked out a 29-28 home win over 5A Lubbock Monterey. The Bulldogs drove the field for a go-ahead field goal in the final minutes, then dodged a bullet when the Plainsmen had a bad nap on a potential game winning field goal on the final play of the game.
Photo: Brownwoodnews.com
Brownwood toughed out a 17-7 win at Wall in a game that really was a lose-lose for the Lions. Win it? Well, you’re supposed to. Lose it? My, my, how embarrassing. The Lions got the job done behind a great effort on the ground from Trey Mosely in his Brownwood debut and a fantastic effort on defense.
Eastland won a battle of unbeaten teams over Clyde 35-14 to move to 2-0. The Bulldog offense put 43 points on the board against Cisco, but the Mavericks stopped them again and again to earn a big win early in the season.
Photo: Snyder Tiger Athletics
Congrats to Anthony Gonzales for earning his first victory as head coach at Snyder. The Tigers rallied past Lake View 40-34, going ahead in the final minute on an Aedyn Claxton to Daenin Smith touchdown pass from 19-yards out.
Sweetwater rallied on the road as well, taking down former district foe Greenwood 29-25. The Mustangs trailed 19-8 at the break but put together a great second half to earn their first victory of the season.
Photo: Jim Ned Athletics
Jim Ned earned victory number one for Johnathon McClure in a 42-12 beatdown of Lubbock Trinity Christian. The Indians looked much better on offense than they did against Estacado, while still playing excellent defense to earn the win.
Stamford stayed perfect, winning at De Leon 44-20 in a battle of very good squads Friday night. The Bulldogs limited a Bearcat team that had scored 79 the week before to 20 and turned in a pretty good offensive effort of their own.
Anson trailed Archer City 14-0 early before scoring the next 44 to win big on the road 50-28. The Tigers move to 2-0 and are looking great early in the season.
Photo: Scott Burkhalter Photography
Hawley kept Albany winless in a 21-0 shutout victory at Hardin-Simmons. The Lions played much better than they did against Stamford, but could not get the offense going against a stingy Bearcat defense.
Photo: Julia Vega/@lionslifefootball
Chalk up career head coaching victory number one for Colton Buzzard as his Bangs Dragons got past Merkel at home 20-14.
After going 0-10 last season, the Ballinger Bearcats are now 2-0 in 2024 after shutting out Christoval 21-0.
A battle of unbeatens turned out to be not much of a battle at all as Munday moved to 2-0 with a 41-6 victory at Winters. The Moguls are yet another area team that is now 2-0 after going winless in 2023. They have more than doubled the amount of points they scored the entire year a year ago in just two games in 2024.
Photo: Gary Ford
Hamlin pulled off a bit of an upset at Seymour, sneaking past the Panthers 21-20. The Pipers slowed down the dangerous Brayden Loyd to even their record at 1-1.
Death, taxes, and Westbrook getting better between weeks one and two. The Wildcats fell big to Jayton in week one, but returned home to take down #3 Jonesboro in dominating fashion, 68-36, to even their record at 1-1.
Photo: May Tiger Teams
May earned a very big win over 1A D2 #3 Oglesby at home Friday night, taking care of the Tigers 66-45. May looks like they are the real deal in their first season under head coach James Ball.
Jayton looks like an absolute force this season. The Jaybirds got a 50-0 mercy rule win over #4 Klondike to move to 2-0, outscoring two state-ranked teams by a combined 116-16 so far this season.
Benjamin got to play after an open week one and took it to state-ranked Follett 81-48. After Gunter lost Friday, the Mustangs now have the longest winning streak in the state of Texas at 30 in a row.
Photo: Michael Leal/Texas 1A Fan
Woodson took down 1A D1 Ranger 68-8 to move to 2-0. The Cowboys have been impressive through two weeks this season.
Loraine’s Mark Weaver, Blanket’s Jalen Helms, Sidney’s James Rucker and Highland’s Bryson Oliver also joined the list of coaches earning their first wins for their new team this season. For Rucker and Helms, it was coaching victory number one overall.
Baird is the only area six-man team that has pitched two shutouts in two games. The Bears rolled past Founder’s Fine Arts Academy 69-0 to move to 2-0.
Top-ranked Gordon was unstoppable yet again, leading Valley 30-0 midway through the first quarter on their way to a 68-6 win to move to 2-0. The Longhorns look just about untouchable in 1A Division I.
Photo: Michael Leal/Texas 1A Fan
I made the double-header trip to Gordon and Strawn Saturday and saw the Longhorns light up the Patriots for about five minutes of game-time (it was already 30-0) before heading to see the Greyhounds battle the Knox City Greyhounds. Knox City used a big second half to overtime a halftime deficit and move to 2-0 on the season. It was my first time at either stadium and it was great to see such great crowds on a Saturday afternoon. I still need to edit my Knox City/Strawn photos and should have them up later Monday.
FINAL SCORES
Lubbock High 31, Big Spring 20
Bluff Dale 32, Brookesmith 20
Lometa 72, Blum 34
Patton Springs 44, Rotan JV 26
Cherokee 51, Leakey 6
Photo: Dency McClure/Texas 1A Fan
Sidney 26, Eden 25
Mullin 47, Panther Creek 0
Abilene High 42, Cooper 33
Wylie 29, Monterey 28
Brownwood 17, Wall 7
Stephenville 59, Everman 21
Lampasas 49, Salado 30
Snyder 40, Lake View 34
Seminole 14, Shallowater 10
Fort Stockton 44, Alpine 18
Canyon 32, Andrews 16
Levelland 23, Pecos 12
Randall 43, Monahans 14
Sweetwater 29, Greenwood 25
Jim Ned 42, Trinity Christian 12
Eastland 35, Clyde 14
Childress 35, Breckenridge 7
Hamilton 41, Early 21
Tolar 23, Teague 21
Comanche 34, Llano 21
Reagan County 38, Grape Creek 20
Cisco 62, TLCA San Angelo 8
Hawley 21, Albany 0
Stamford 44, De Leon 20
Anson 50, Archer City 28
Bangs 20, Merkel 14
Clifton 33, Coleman 12
Mason 47, Brady 19
Millsap 42, Dublin 13
Goldthwaite 62, Center Point 6
Ballinger 21, Christoval 0
Coahoma 48, Roscoe 14
McCamey 40, Colorado City 24
Hamlin 21, Seymour 20
Munday 41, Winters 6
Haskell 25, Quanah 19
Miles 55, Sterling City 20
Hico 25, Moody 23
Cross Plains 64, TLCA Abilene 8
Hermleigh 36, Water Valley 28
Westbrook 68, Jonesboro 36
Baird 69, Founder's Fine Arts Academy 0
May 66, Oglesby 45
Jayton 50, Klondike 0
Rising Star 20, Lingleville 0
Loraine 52, Paint Rock 6
Richland Springs 62, Bryan St. Joseph 15
Woodson 68, Ranger 8
Zephyr 56, Blackwell 8
Motley County 46, Roby 0
Paint Creek 52, Moran 24
Nazareth 32, Borden County 22
Bronte 28, Rule 18
Rochelle 83, Menard 34
Perrin-Whitt 57, Weatherford Christian 12
Newcastle 60, Crowell 14
Benjamin 81, Follett 48
Abilene Christian 58, Midland Trinity 54
Blanket 60, Cranfills Gap 0
Spur 30, Ira 26
Veribest 78, Santa Anna 0
Wilson 44, Trent 16
Harrold 39, Throckmorton 33
Gustine 70, Buckholts 20
Lohn 60, Lueders-Avoca 0
Southland 48, Aspermont 47
Gordon 68, Valley 6
Knox City 75, Strawn 54
Highland 62, Nueces Canyon 14
THE UNDEFEATED - WEEK 2
Our group of undefeated Big Country teams has been trimmed to 22 after two weeks of action, while 25 teams still qualify in the Big Country...And Beyond.
The biggest tests for BCB coverage area unbeatens this week are Abilene High at Odessa Permian Thursday, Benjamin hosting 1A D1 power Borden County, Brownwood playing host to state-ranked Glen Rose, Cross Plains visiting unbeaten Hico, Eastland taking on Comanche, and May hosting undefeated Rochelle.
HONOR ROLL
The best individual performances of Week 2
11-MAN
Brayden Henry, Abilene High: 15-19, 216 yds, 2 td, 1 int passing; 144 yds, 3 td rushing
Ryland Bradford, Abilene High: 5 rec, 106 yds, 1 td
Demotric Sanchez, Abilene High: 9 tkl
Jayden Starks, Abilene High: 6 tkl, 1.5 sacks
Will Barrett, Albany: 12 tkl
Coy Flowers, Albany: 9 tkl, 1 sack
Branson Beal, Albany: 77 yds rushing; 2 rec, 26 yds; 3 tkl
Corey Layne, Anson: 12-18, 134 yds, 3 td, 1 int passing; 81 yds, 1 td rushing; 10 tkl, 1 tfl
Dezi Delgado, Anson: 178 yds, 2 td rushing; 1 rec, 5 yds
Ethan Lozano, Anson: 1 rec, 71 yds, 1 td; 13 tkl, 1 tfl
Cade Strube, Ballinger: 8-10, 100 yds, 2 td passing; 65 yds, 1 td rushing; 7 tkl
Aiden Pena, Ballinger: 183 yds rushing
Aden Jones, Bangs: 103 yds, 1 td rushing
Hunter Crowell, Bangs: 9 tkl
Joseph Juneau, Breckenridge: 11 tkl, 1 sack
Xavier Rodriguez, Breckenridge: 5 tkl, 2 sacks
Trey Mosley, Brownwood: 223 yds, 2 td rushing
Brinson Martin, Brownwood: 11 tkl
Julius Proffitt, Cisco: 6-7, 84 yds, 3 td; 37 yds, 1 td rushing
Dillon Silva, Cisco: 111 yds, 1 td rushing
Laike Kennedy, Cisco: 1 rec, 36 yds, 1 td
Blaine Bouldin, Coleman: 103 yds, 1 td rushing; 9 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 ff
Brooks Clippinger, Coleman: 9 tkl, 1 fr
Paul Salas, Coleman: 11 tkl
Cayden Davis, Comanche: 14-25, 169 yds passing; 159 yds, 2 td rushing
Manuel Ortiz, Comanche: 5 rec, 94 yds
Austin Cummins, Cooper: 16-28, 183 yds, 3 td, 1 int passing; 43 yds rushing
Zavian Alexander, Cooper: 6 rec, 98 yds, 2 td; 3 tkl
Dycin Davis, Cooper: 8 tkl, 4 tfl, 1 sack
Tyler Mackey, Cross Plains: 111 yds, 2 td rushing; 4 rec, 102 yds, 1 td
Kade Purvis, Cross Plains: 12-18, 191 yds, 3 td passing
Colt Sanderson, Cross Plains: 8 tkl
Heston Jobe, De Leon: 21-31, 343 yds, 2 td, 1 int passing; 73 yds rushing
Lane Couch, De Leon: 81 yds, 1 td rushing; 5 rec, 63 yds
Max Jones, De Leon: 6 rec, 183 yds, 2 td
Andrew Reedy, Early: 9 rec, 119 yds; 36 yds, 2 td rushing
Kaedyn Byrd, Early: 11 tkl
Mario Vazquez, Early: 10 tkl, 1 fr
Weston Barton, Early: 16-30, 208 yds, 1 td, 1 int; 48 yds rushing; 9 tkl
Cayden Alford, Eastland: 102 yds, 1 td rushing
Kye Herrington, Eastland: 5-5, 119 yds, 1 td; 12 yds, 1 td rushing
Gary Wiedebusch, Goldthwaite: 162 yds, 2 td rushing
Max Storm, Goldthwaite: 150 yds, 2 td rushing
Kyson McGee, Hamlin: 10 tkl, 2 tfl, 10 QB pressures, 1 sack, 1 ff
Husdon Smith, Hamlin: 172 yds, 2 td rushing
Luke White, Hamlin: 20 tkl, 1 pbu, 1 ff
Haegen Pinkerton, Haskell: 7-9, 118 yds, 1 td passing; 153 yds 3 td rushing
Keagan Ables, Hawley: 22-30, 314 yds, 1 td, 1 int; 67 yds rushing; 4 tkl
Kenny Cole, Hawley: 7 rec, 120 yds, 1 td; 8 tkl, 1 int
Eli Daniel, Hawley: 10 tkl
Aiden Ellis, Jim Ned: 100 yds rushing; 4 tkl, 1 fr
Gray Beasley, Jim Ned: 8-12, 165 yds, 3 td passing; 35 yds, 1 td rushing
Carter Lange, Jim Ned: 12 tkl, 4 tfl
Trey Hicks, Jim Ned: 8 tkl, 5 tfl, 1 ff
Bronson Lloyd, Merkel: 17-29, 148 yds, 2 td passing; 7 yds rushing
CJ Walcott, Merkel: 8 rec, 120 yds; 11 tkl
Easton Malone, Merkel: 9 tkl, 1 ff
Liam Yancy, Miles: 17-20, 321 yds, 6 td, 1 int passing
Tevin Meade, Miles: 192 yds, 2 td rushing
Cooper Ellison, Miles: 9 rec, 217 yds, 3 td
Lane Godfrey, Miles: 10 tkl, 1 tfl
Carson Breedlove, Munday: 6 tkl, 4 tfl, 4 sacks, 1 ff, 1 fr, 1 defensive td
Kiyryn Wilson, Munday: 106 yds, 2 td rushing; 28 yd punt return td; 10 tkl, 2 tfl
Ivan McCann, Roscoe: 111 yds rushing
Eleazar Aguayo, Roscoe: 7 rec, 62 yds, 2 td; 1 int
Aedyn Claxton, Snyder: 209 yds, 3 td passing
Daenin Smith, Snyder: 155 yds, 2 td rushing; 1 rec, 19 yds, 1 td
Kaston Vega, Stamford: 88 yds, 2 td rushing; 18 tkl, 2 tfl
Christian Duran, Stamford: 8-17, 221 yds, 2 td, 1 int passing; 76 yds, 2 td rushing
Drew Faulks, Stamford: 4 rec, 106 yds, 2 td
Alek Hernandez, Stamford: 15 tkl, 1 int
Korda Moore, Sweetwater: 114 yds, 2 td rushing; 13 tkl, 1 tfl
Blayne Bohall, Sweetwater: 9 tkl, 2 sacks
Bear Meng, Wylie: 23-34, 277 yds, 2 td; 14 yds, 1 td rushing
Gage Heighten, Wylie: 9 rec, 131 yds, 2 td
Hayden Wright, Wylie: 64 yds, 1 td rushing; int
6-MAN
Cody Means, Baird: 2-3, 26 yds, 2 td passing; 35 yds, 1 td rushing; 35-yd punt return for td; 1 tkl, 1 pbu
Jake Gerngross, Baird: 1 tkl, 2 fr, 1 rushing td, 1 rec td
Skyler Denning, Baird: 1 kickoff return for td; 1 int return for td, 1 fr
Keegan Hayes, Benjamin: 210 yds, 6 td rushing; 300 yds, 5 td passing; 12 tkl, 1 ff, 1 int
Tallon Hayes, Benjamin: 19 tkl, 1 fr; 7 rec, 79 yds, 2 td; 26 yds, 1 td rushing
Cameron Aultman, Blanket: 70 yds, 1 td rushing
Kannon Kensing, Blanket: 3 rec, 92 yds, 3 td; 22 yds, 1 td rushing
Dallas Shumaker, Blanket: 4-5, 98 yds, 4 td passing
Adyn Ribble, Brookesmith: 129 yds, 2 td; 14 tkl
Vegas Gilliam, Brookesmith: 9 tkl, 2 int
Devin Keith, Brookesmith: 11 tkl
Stryker Reed, Gordon: 113 yds, 2 td rushing
Ry Reed, Gordon: 90 yds, 2 td rushing
Blake Bankhead, Highland: 94 yds, 4 td rushing; 4-5, 73 yds passing; 4.5 tkl
Rhyder Glass, Highland: 42 yds, 2 td rushing; 1.5 tkl, 1 int
Jaxton Fullwood, Highland: 3 rec, 75 yds, 1 td
Jeren Pena, Ira: 110 yds, 3 td rushing; 20 yds passing; 1 rec, 0 yds; 9.5 tkl
CJ Collier, Ira: 5-9, 104 yds, 1 td passing; 67 yds rushing; 1 rec, 20 yds; 3.5 tkl
Bode Ham, Jayton: 85 yds, 1 td rushing; 47 yds, 1 td rec; 6 tkl, 1 fumble return for td
Sean Stanaland, Jayton: 6-7, 97 yds, 4 td
Griff Reel, Jayton: 12 tkl, 3 sacks, 1 ff
Cameron Hernandez, Knox City: 112 yds, 4 td rushing
Blake Abila, Knox City: 7 rec, 131 yds, 1 td; 10 yds, 1 td rushing
Zander Abila, Knox City: 163 yds, 2 td rushing; 10-12, 107 yds, 2 td passing
Matthew Bolen, Loraine: 146 yds, 3 td rushing; 66 yds, 1 td passing; 12.5 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1 ff, 1 fr returned for td
Johnathan Lujan, Loraine: 10 tkl, 3 tfl; 2 rec, 66 yds, 1 td; 53 yds rushing
Ben Harrell, May: 239 yds, 3 td rushing; 4-12, 119 yds, 3 td, 1 int passing; 18 tkl
Kaden Watkins, May: 4 rec, 107 yds, 2 td; 9 tkl
Kobey Morris, May: 12 tkl; 22 yds rushing
Lane Goodson, May: 12 tkl, 22 yds rushing
Mikey Scheriger, May: 11 tkl
Ellis Hise, Moran: 130 yds, 3 td rushing; 4-6, 26 yds passing; 16 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 sack
Zaykk Sandefer, Moran: 20 tkl, 1 ff
Marcus Gonzales, Paint Creek: 237 yds, 4 td rushing; 20 yds, 1 td passing; 2 rec, 25 yds
Andrew Nunez, Paint Creek: 124 yds, 2 td rushing; 42 yds passing; 1 rec, 8 yds
Manning Miller, Rising Star: 138 yds rushing; 3-5, 30 yds, 2 td passing
Emerson Helmuth, Rising Star: 10 tkl, 1 tfl
Frankie Olivera, Rule: 98 yds rushing; 63 yds, 2 td passing; 17 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 int
Kyleik Mason, Rule: 4 rec, 69 yds 2 td; 18 yds rushing
Lehman Lindeque, Sidney: 106 yds, 1 td rushing; 44 yds, 1 td passing; 3 rec, 56 yds; 8 tkl
Michael Barcenas, Strawn: 264 yds, 2 td rushing; 8 rec, 81 yds, 3 td
Keagen Hollis, Trent: 122 yds, 2 td rushing; 6 tkl, 1 fr
Case Custer, Westbrook: 235 yds, 3 td rushing; 5.5 tkl
Grayson Jeffrey, Westbrook: 6-6, 100 yds, 3 td passing; 60 yds, 3 td rushing; 7 tkl
Britton Bellah, Woodson: 178 yds, 2 td rushing; 10 tkl, 1 fr
Jace Munoz, Woodson: 91 yds, 2 td rushing; 1 rec, 4 yds; 5 tkl, 1 fr
Wyatt Stevens, Zephyr: 6-7, 153 yds, 3 td passing; 13 yds rushing; 8 tkl, 1 sack, 2 tfl
Chayden Woodcock, Zephyr: 58 yds, 3 td rushing; 5 tkl, 1 int
Wyatt Frank, Zephyr: 2 rec, 60 yds, 2 td
Trapper Schoenhals, Zephyr: 2 rec, 50 yds, 2 td; 7 tkl
DISTRICT STANDINGS
NEXT WEEK
Abilene at Permian - Thursday
San Angelo Central at Cooper
Wylie at Coronado - Thursday
Glen Rose at Brownwood
Lubbock at Snyder
Breckenridge at Cisco
Shallowater at Clyde
Comanche at Eastland
Jim Ned at Wall
Seminole at Sweetwater
Ballinger at TLCA San Angelo
Merkel at Hawley
Brady at Ozona
Dublin at Anson
Junction at Early
Millsap at Tolar
Tahoka at Colorado City
Lubbock Christian at Stamford
TLCA Abilene at Haskell
Bangs at Grape Creek
Coleman at Mason
Valley Mills at De Leon
Munday at Chico
Seymour at Albany
Cross Plains at Hico
Crosbyton at Hamlin
Miles vs Johnson City
Winters at Sterling City
Knox City at Abilene Christian
Gold-Burg at Newcastle
Loraine at Hermleigh
Baird at Highland
Robert Lee at Ira
Roby at Blackwell
Rule at Rotan
Westbrook at Rankin
Gordon at Strawn
Zephyr at Gorman
Santa Anna at Ranger
Rochelle at May
Veribest at Bronte
Olfen at Three Way
Trent at Priddy
Borden County at Benjamin
Aspermont at Spur
Jayton vs Valley
Chillicothe at Lueders-Avoca
Paint Creek at Lohn
Brookesmith at Moran
Throckmorton at Bryson
Guthrie at Woodson
Evant at Blanket
Perrin-Whitt at Rising Star
Gustine at Paint Rock
Stephenville Faith at Sidney
Panther Creek at Water Valley
Richland Springs at Nueces Canyon
Hardin-Simmons at Curry College
Howard Payne at SW Assemblies of God
Lyon at McMurry
Cisco College - Open
COLLEGE ROUNDUP
ACU 38, West Georgia 24
ACU played its home opener in front a good crowd and beat West Georgia 38-24. West Georgia is new to FCS football and to the United Athletic Conference this season.
The Wildcats led 14-3 at the half and saw the Wolves get as close as 24-17 in the fourth before pulling away for the win.
Quarterback Maverick McIvor was spectacular once again, throwing for 297 yards and three touhdowns in the win.
Next: ACU (1-1, 1-0) at Northern Colorado (0-2) - Saturday, 3 p.m.
Photo: Scott Burkhalter Photography
Hardin-Simmons 38, Howard Payne 6
The Cowboys took care of the Yellow Jackets in the combination season and American Southwest Conference opener for both teams.
After a Howard Payne score to make it a 7-6 game, the Cowboys scored the final 31 points and kept the Jackets off the board.
Next:
HSU (1-0, 1-0) at Curry College (Massachusetts) - Saturday, 11 a.m.
HPU (0-1, 0-1) at Nelson University (Formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God) - Saturday, 6 p.m.
Cowboys Swat Yellow Jackets In Season Opener
Korrodi collects 15 tackles in Yellow Jackets 38-6 loss to Hardin-Simmons
Southwestern 24, McMurry 20
The Pirates pulled off a bit of an upset in the season opener, beating the War Hawks at home in the season opener for both squads.
The loss ended a four-game winning streak for McMurry.
Next: Lyon College (1-0) at McMurry (0-1) - Saturday, 6 p.m.
Photo: Cisco Wrangler Express
Coffeyville (KS) 37, Cisco College 19
The Wranglers fell to Coffeyville in the first game of the Charlie Rizzio era.
Cisco gave up 24 points in the first quarter and could not recover.
Next: Open week, vs Trinity Valley on 9/21
