Friday Football Previews for Week 6
We’re at the midway mark for the 2025 high school football season, and Week 5 was a blast!
Last Friday night in District 11-3ADI, the Rockdale Tigers held on to spoil the Groesbeck Goats homecoming, 54-35, as both offenses showed some explosiveness.
Rockdale readies themselves next week for district play with a 3-2 record. The Poor McGregor Bulldogs can’t seem to catch a break - I mean a win - as the Fairfield Eagles flew high and mighty last Friday night to scoop up a 61-14 victory. McGregor falls to 0-5 on the season.
The Franklin Lions went to school last Friday night.
That’s because they played the Legacy School of Sport Sciences. The Lions barely escaped the gridiron classroom, beating LSSS by one, 49-48, to even their season record at 2-2.
Little River Academy showed the Whitney Wildcats that they, too, could pile up points on the scoreboard, beating the ‘Cats by the score of 49-30. Academy is now 2-3 on the season. The Trojans of Troy - Helen took the night off so the boys could play football - took on Maypearl and grabbed a onepoint win, 46-45, from the Panthers to improve to 3-2.
Last, but not least, the Yoemen of Cameron Yoe didn’t let the Mexia Blackcats but a curse on their homecoming festivities. In a sometimes close game, the Yoe kept the ship steady into port, beating Mexia 42-32, for their second win of the year.
All teams from District 11-3 A DI will be off this Friday night. District play starts October 10th.
In District 13-2A DI, Rosebud-Lott Cougars, Crawford Pirates, and the Moody Bearcats find themselves with above .500 records as district play is set to start on October 10th. Many teams across the state, including this district, are slated to take this Friday night off to recoup and get ready for the second half of the season.
Last Friday night, R-L shutout Normangee, 28-0. Runningback Zaylon Wells led the Cougar offense with 188 yards rushing and a touchdown, QB Pryce Rabroker threw for 143 yards and two TDs. Kaiden Johnson (4-821), and Daniel Rincon (3-301) were the top receivers in the win. Bo McGinnniss (44-8, 2 TFLs), and LaBron Washington (1-6-7) led the Cougars defensively.
Crawford improved to 4-1 after hanging on to beat Holland, 21-13. Bruceville-Eddy fell to 1-4 after their loss to Jewitt-Leon, 42-14; the Riesel Indians also dropped to 1-4 after being shutout, 35-0, by Brazos Christian, and the Marlin Bulldogs put up a good fight, but the West Trojans got the best of them, 630. All teams have a bye for this Friday night.
So heres the low-down for District 14-2A DI. Four teams are all tied with 3-2 records. What does this mean? One theory is that it might serve as a momentum booster as district play begins next week, October 10th. Actually, that’s my only theory. Coaches will just tell you, “we’re all 0-0 now” - in case you don’t know, that’s reference to this is the second half of the season and the remaining games make, or break, teams whether or not they make the post-season. Last weekend, San Saba Armadillos (Speaking of, as I shut the door this morning to go to my car, the resident armadillo was dragging his belongings (salvaged materials) to another location I assume. I was startled to say the least. I mean, I wasn’t really expecting to see that!) defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs, 17-14, to move to 3-2; the Harper Longhorns also moved to 3-2 on the season after grounding the Eldorado Eagles, 47-20; the Thomdale Bulldogs bounced back to take a 26-23 win over Hempstead. The Bulldogs trailed at the half, 16-6, and moved to within three at the close of the third quarter, before adding the winning touchdown in the fourth. QB Case McDaniel led Thomdale’s offense with 106 yards passing and two TDs, while Kohl Palmer caught one pass for 62 yards that resulted in a touchdown, leading the Bulldog receivers. Hayden Thigpen was the top rusher with 11 carries for 43 yards; and Johnson City put a thrashing on Thrall, 41-18, rounding out the top four teams in the district tied with 3-2 records.
As the late radio personally, Paul Harvey, would say...
And NOW, the rest of the story. Mason punched out Christoval, 35-0. The teams will take a much needed rest break this week, as they get ready for district play.
Now we move onward to what has turned out to be one of the strangest districts in Class 2A. This district (13-2ADII) has not one, but two teams that have cancelled their remaining games for the 2025 season.
McDade announced their decision to cancel about a week ago, due to the low number of players they have on the varsity team, and for their safety. Snook made their announcement prior to last Friday night. Basically, for the same reasons. Snook will finish their JV schedule, as will McDade... I think.
Week 5 showed undefeated Burton picking up the forfeit win from McDade. Granger put a beating on the Bartlett Bulldogs, 77-31, and Iola crash landed the Milano Eagles, 53-6, as district play began for these teams.
Teams playing this Friday from District 13-2A DII shows the Iola Bulldogs (2-2, 1-0) at the Somerville Yeguas (3-1,1-0), at 7 p.m. at Yeguas Field in Somerville.
The Burton Panthers (40, 1-0) travel to Bartlett’s Bulldog Stadium, to face the Bulldogs in a 7 p.m. start.
Granger gets the forfeit win from Snook this week.
The Lions will get to rest as they get ready to take on Milano in Week 7. Milano is also off this Friday night.
In District 10-2A DII, the Chilton Pirates remained undefeated after picking up a district opening win last Friday night over the Goldthwaite Eagles, 14-0;Bremond defeated Mart, 28-20; Frost shutout Wortham 24-0, as these three teams remain undefeated overall and in district. Elsewhere around the district, Meridian slipped by the Hubbard Jaguars, 10-6.
District 10-2A Dll Chilton Pirates (4-0,1-0) at Mart Panthers (1-3,0-1) Featherston Field in Mart 7 p.m.
Last Friday’s win was the lowest point total for this Chilton offense. In their defense - keyword “DEFENSE” - they were playing an always tough to beat Goldthwaite team. Speaking of defense, this was the Pirates third straight shutout victory! The only points this Pirate defense has given up is when they beat Heame 32-12 in Week 1. Marneko Thomas, Jr. led the Chilton in their win against Goldthwaite with 14 carries for 177 yards and a TD. Thomas, Jr. and X’Zavion Taylor (16-84-0) were the key components in the Pirates 264-yard rushing attack.
Chilton has already surpassed last seasons win total of three.
Mart is having a lackluster season. Something they’re not used to experiencing. The last losing season the Panthers had dates back to the 2002 season, when they went 3-7. Since then, including last season, Mart is (253-47-0) with five state titles. Mart could be that team with a splinter in their paw, waiting for the right team to take it out. In other words, this Panther squad could break-out at any moment. Mart has used two quarterbacks this season, senior Alijha Johnson, and sophomore Ayden Lauderdale. RunningbacksAh’maad Scott (Sr.) and sophomore Quinn Preston lead the team in rushing. Scott with 285 yards, and Preston with 303 yards and eight TDs. The Panthers have three players with over 125 yards receiving, Octavious Gillaspy, Damian Davis, and Zack Medlock. Cornelius Gillaspy is the defensive leader with 28 total tackles. Last season, the Panthers beat Chilton, 30-7.
In other games for this Friday night, Frost Polar Bears are at Meridian Yellowjackets, Hubbard travels to Goldthwaite, and Bremond is at Wortham.
Looking at District 16lA/Six-Man,
the Cherokee Indians shutout Sidney, 460, to remain undefeated at 50. Buckholts fell to Morgan, 70-20, and Calvert got by Highlands, 68-64. Pawnee Indians had an open date.
Evant Elks (1-3) District 14-1A/Six-Man Dll at Buckholts Badgers (2-3) District 16-1A/Six-Man Dll Jim Hauk Field in Buckholts 7 p.m.
Evant lost their last two games before their open date last Friday. The Elks only win this season came against Waco Christian. The Elks finished as a bi-district finalist last season and have nine starters back. Key players to watch will be C Cash Standford, RB Edgar Dominguez, FB Cristian Morales, and TE/DL Cooper Standford.
Buckholts looks to even their season record this week, after dropping their last two games. The Badgers played Morgan last Friday night, that saw the Eagles taking a 70-20 win. Buckholts has had their share of injuries, and have utilized as much of their bench in these games. Joseph Hansen-Blum led the Badgers offense in the game with 44 yards passing and one touchdown. Johandy Ventura finished with two catches for 44 yards and a TD. Blade Duarte scored on a 45-yard kickoff return in the loss. Braxton Reese made a fumble recovery on defense, and Ely Reese, and Enrique Ventura had one blocked field goal each. Coach Robert Smith will have his team ready Friday night, as the black and orange look to knock off the Elks. Plus, they want to avenge last year’s 72-24 loss to Evant.
In other games, Cherokee will be on the road against the No. 8 ranked Benjamin Mustangs; Calvert travels to Bryan to play the St. Joseph Eagles; and Pawnee is scheduled to be on the road against Victoria Home School Cobras on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Marlin Bulldogs defensive lineman Brysen Maxwell-Steele (55) gets ready to plow through the West Trojans offensive line, during Friday night’s away game in West. The Bulldogs played hard, but fell to the Trojans in the end.
Photo courtesy of Guy Clemmons