This Week’s Football Previews for Week No. 8

Lot’s of excitement this past Friday as several area teams hosted homecoming games, and a few started their district schedule. Of course, there were lots of surprises as well. Let’s take a look at how games went, and where teams will play this coming Friday.

District 11-3A DI Cameron Yoe (0-1, 2-4) at Troy Trojans (0-1, 3-3) Trojan Stadium 7:30 p.m.

The Yoemen were looking to spoil the McGregor Bulldogs homecoming celebration, and came real close to doing so. The Yoe led late in the game before the Bulldogs rallied to preserve the win, 20-17. This was the district opener for both teams.

This week, Cameron Yoe takes on the Troy Trojans, who lost to Franklin, 68-27. Needless to say, that game was not a defensive struggle, so this gives the Yoemen plenty of hope that they can have their way against the Trojan D.

QB Jacoby Scott could have a big game through the air and on the ground against Troy’s defense, and De’marques Lopez-Pinchback should be able to add to his rushing totals in a big way.

For the Trojans, QB Hunter Fryman has thrown for 1,141 yards and 11 touchdowns,and junior Jayden Lucky leads the team in rushing with 115 carries for 788 yards and 15 TDs. Cameron’s D will have to key in on the duo and hold them to as little as possible if they look to come home with the win. This could be a game with big scoreboard numbers at the end.

District 14-2A DI Thorndale Bulldogs (0-1, 3-3) at San Saba Armadillos (1-0, 4-2) Rogan Field in San Saba 7 p.m.

Thorndale tried hard to get that district opening win, but the Mason Punchers a tight grip on the branding iron to record the shutout win, 18-0. This week, the Bulldogs will need all they can get with QB Case McDaniel, RBs Hayden Thigpen, and Cole Harkins to get the offense back in gear. If the win one week, lose the other trend continues, Thorndale is scheduled to win this week.

The closest games so far this season for the Armadillos were against Junction, losing 20-6, and Hamilton, winning 17-14. San Saba has been capable of scoring big in games, as is evident in last Friday’s 47-21 win over Johnson City. While the passing game lacks liftoff, San Saba’s rushing game digs in deep for the most part. With 916 yards on 98 carries and 12 touchdowns, Luke Tharp could cross the 1,000 yard mark this week. Defensively, the Bulldogs will have to find a way to get past Armadillos Jason Everett (58 tackles, 14 TFLs), and Tharp (50 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 fumble recoveries, 3 INTs), and a host of other defenders. Whether you look at it on paper, or witness it in person, it’s going to be one tough game between these two teams. Last season, Thorndale fell to the Armadillos, 36-28.

District 13-2A DI Moody Bearcats (1-0, 42) at Rosebud-Lott Cougars (1-0, 5-1) Cougar Stadium

The Cougars started off district play with a 49-0 shutout over the Riesel Indians. R-L led 14-0 after the first period of play, and 28-0 at halftime. The Cougars outscored the Indians 21-0 in the second half to secure the win. R-Ls defense was on fire Friday night, led by Kaleb Chaney and Colby Colbert with nine tackles each. Four other players recorded eight tackles (Orrin Pomykal, Labron Washington, Maleek Knox, and Justin Portillo. The Cougars had no classes on Monday, but Coach Brandon Hicks posted on Facebook that the team will practice that morning, encouraging his players to “Keep it rolling Cougars!”.

After two consecutive losses, Moody has a threegame win streak going, defeating Milano by 36, Cen-Tex SA by 57, and in their district opener against Bruceville-Eddy, the Bearcats held the Eagles to six points, while putting 34 on the scoreboard. Moody has already surpassed last season in wins, both overall and in district. Last year, the Bearcats were winless in 10 games. Players to watch for this Moody team are QB Lee Womack (733 yards passing, 8 TDs, 2 INTs), Dominic Eubanks (35 carries 288 yards, 2 TDs), and Hayden Stinson (15 catches 314 yards, 3 TDs). While the numbers aren’t as impressive as some teams are, the Bearcats make up for on defense. This could be a big test for the Cougars, but they can be just as stingy defensively after recording three big shutout wins, holding opponents to only 20 points in their five wins. In total, R-L is giving up just 6.8 points per game. Not bad. Not bad at all!

Bruceville-Eddy (0-1, 15) at Marlin Bulldogs (01, 0-6) Legion Stadium in Marlin 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs had the Crawford Pirates at the edge of the plank last Friday night. But a swashbuckling move ended up with tying the game up in regulation, and the lone touchdown in overtime to win it 27-21. Marlin led at the half, 21-7, giving hope to Bulldog fans that this could end up being the team’s first win of the season, and totally surprising both Crawford and the district. Unfortunately, it was not to be. So, Marlin heads into this Friday’s game with the Eagles, in hopes of picking up a win, and evening their district record to 1-1. I certainly got a kick out of the two game reporters describing how many fans were in attendance. The Bulldogs reporter on MaxPreps stated “at least 1,000”, while the Pirates reporter mentioned that there must have been “Hundreds!”

The Bulldogs will need to rely on defensive specialists Brysen Maxwell-Steele, Ivan Ricks, D’aire Johnson, and Jaden Ray to put a hold on the Eagles offense.

Bruceville-Eddy’s only win so far was against Meridian in Week One. Since then, the Eagles are averaging nine ppg. Defensively, B-E is giving up on average, 32 ppg. The Eagles are led by QB Robert Gail III (701 yards passing, seven TDs), Michaul Salinas (306 yds. Rushing, three TDs), and Ethan Dockstader (152 yards rec.). Both teams are pretty much even on both sides of the ball. It’ll come down to which team commits the fewest mistakes. Last season, the Bulldogs shutout the Eagles, 40-0.

District 13-2A DII Milano Eagles (2-2, 2-5) at Burton Panthers (4-0, 7-0) Panther Stadium in Burton 7:30 p.m.

While DCTF has already distributed wins for teams in this district, due to McDade and Snook ending their seasons a couple of weeks ago. But in reality, the Eagles are looking for their first physical win of the year. The bad news is, they’re going up against undefeated Burton. A team that is averaging 47 ppg. Milano will need to get going on offense for the most part, and the defense has to step up in a big way to shut down the Panther offense. However, that may be a bit tough as the Eagles have several players injured. Heck, this team has had to play without many of it’s starters nearly all season long, but Milano has gone down fighting to the end despite the setbacks, and despite dropping their district game with Granger last Friday, 59-0.

Burton is coming off a 42-23 win over Somerville last Friday. The Panthers are surprising a lot of folks this year, but the team did make the first round of the playoffs, and posted a winning record (6-5), so it should be no surprise since 15 starters made it back this season. Kaden Patterson takes the snaps under center. The junior QB can be a threat through the air, as well as on the ground basically leading the team on offense during their seven-game win streak. Milano will have their work cut out for them.

District 10-2A DII Frost Polar Bears (2-1, 5-1) at Chilton Pirates (3-0, 6-0)

After posting wins in their first two district games, it looked as if Frost was going to give Bremond and Chilton something to worry about. They still could, but the Polar Bears hit an iceberg of an Eagles offense last Friday night, as the up and coming Goldthwaite squad shut them out, 42-0. Chilton pushed the Hubbard Jaguars overboard last Friday, picking up another shutout victory, 70-0. This made it shutout No. 5 for the Pirates. Mark that five shutouts in a row, giving up 12 points to Hearne during their win in Week One. Chilton is another surprise team this season, after posting a 3-7 record last year. Coach Bennie Huitt has this team sailing briskly ahead, led by the athletic Marneko Thomas, Jr. The junior QB (through the first five games) had 659 yards rushing and 13 TDs. Teammate X’Zavion Taylor this Pirate team in touchdowns scored with 14, along with 384 yards rushing. This is a fun team to watch. The offense is keeping the oars going full blast, and the defense has to be one of the best in Class 2A, giving up less than three ppg. If the Pirates get another shutout this week, it might be a new record for the program, if it isn’t already.

For Frost, they are led by QB Edwin Alvarado, RBs Fabian Abundis and J.C. Woods, defenders Jordan Anderson, and newcomer Russull Foy. The Polar Bears will for the most part, try to put an end to Chilton’s shutout streak.

District 16-1A/Six-Man DII Buckholts Badgers (2-4) at Prairie Lea Indians (14) Indian Field 7:30 p.m.

Buckholts needed this bye from last Friday to get some players healed up and ready for their game with the Indians. Badger stats has Blade Duarte and Joseph Hansen-Blum splitting time at QB, and Miguel Hernandez taking charge of the run game. Duarte – only a freshman – leads the team in tackles with 46 through six games, while teammates Johandy Ventura and Braxton Reese have reached the 40 mark in tackles.

The Indians posted an 83 record and were bi-district finalists in 2024. Last season had great significance for Prairie Lea as they broke their long playoff drought of 80 years, and won their first district championship with a 3-0 mark. However, the Indians have only appeared in the playoffs five times. But this season hasn’t been kind to Prairie Lea as they’ve only been able to win one game thus far, and that was a one-point win over Round Rock Christian. This is going to be a battle to the end for each team.