Coming off a heart-stopping 31-30 overtime victory over Burnet a week ago, the Brownwood Lions look to continue building positive momentum in their push for the playoffs as they visit the Stephenville Yellow Jackets Friday night in the 84th Battle of 377.
Kickoff between the Lions (4-3, 1-1) and Yellow Jackets (7-1, 2-0) – who come in at No. 3 in Class 4A Division I in the latest Harris Ratings Weekly – is set for 7:30 p.m. at Tarleton Stadium.
The Lions enter the contest as three to four touchdown underdogs, but playing the role of spoiler is a challenge seventh-year head coach Sammy Burnett welcomes.
“No. 1 we have to faith – have faith in yourself, have faith in your teammates, have faith in your coaches,” Burnett said. “You have to go out and execute the game plan before you. The team that executes their game plan the best is the one that’s going to be victorious. I had an opportunity to watch the 2004 Boston Red Sox documentary where they overcame the New York Yankees and won the Wold Series and what I got from that is the chemistry, the family atmosphere, and the faith that they could come back from any situation. They found a way to get it done and it started with the belief and the chemistry of the team and I relayed that message to our kids.”
Through eight games, the Stephenville offense is generating 44 points and 438 yards – 252 passing and 186 rushing – per outing, led by its triplets of quarterback Ryan Gafford (123 of 175 for 1,824 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs), running back Sawyer Wilkerson (955 rushing yards, 13 TDs; 12-150, TD receiving), and receiver Tristan Gentry (54-1,074, 14 TDs).
“Wilkerson moved over from Comanche, he was a phenomenal back there and he’s a phenomenal back now,” Burnett said. “He’s a big kid, about 6-1, 205 pounds and he can run. We definitely have to contain him. Gafford is guy that just operates. He gets the ball where it needs to be and is a very confident young man, a move in from Andrews that’s been very effective the last couple of years. Gentry is a DI athlete going to Texas Tech and he’s special. He caught the screen last year, broke a couple of tackles and took it to the house to secure that game for them. We have to find a way to keep those guys in check, no doubt about it.”
Brownwood counters with a defense that yields 26 points and 348 yards – 188 on the ground and 160 through the air – with seven takeaways, and six of those occurred during its two-game win streak prior to the start of district.
Leading tacklers for the Lions this season include Brinson Martin (94 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Noah Gonzalez (83 tackles, 3 for loss), Wyatt Wolf (67 tackles, 1 FR), Robert Trowbridge (57 tackles, 1 for loss), Jack Field (44 tackles, 2 sacks), Devin Eanes (43 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INTs), Enrique Vazquez (39 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), Caven Webster (39 tackles, 1 INT), Ben Wilson (35 tackles, 2 for loss), Raven Prado (30 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR), Weston Wolf (29 tackles, 3 for loss), Julius Lara (27 tackles, 2 for loss) and Kenyan McDowell (22 tackles).
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets are yielding 22 points per game but have forced 13 takeaways – seven fumble recoveries and six interceptions.
Leading the charge are Jack Butchee (82 tackles, 6 for loss), Caleb Taylor (68 tackles, 2 for loss), CJ Spellmeier (43 tackles, 9 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Kutter Stone (35 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception), Cooper Rudd (35 tackles, 1 for loss), Briar Floyd (34 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), and Kolton Dearth (34 tackles, 16 for loss, 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries).
“The strength of Stephenville’s defense is their front seven,” Burnett said. “We’re going to have to get yards on the ground and be satisfied with 3 to 4 yards a carry, stay in front of the chains. We also have to be effective in the passing game to loosen them up and not let them load the box to stop the run. We have to be balanced in what we do with the run and pass.”
The Lions offense is coming off one of its more consistent outings from start to finish against Burnet, and Brownwood enters the contest averaging 25 points and 308 yards – 161 passing and 147 rushing – with just four giveaways.
Quarterback Judson Coalson (82 of 136 for 1,088 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 229 rushing yards, 3 TDs) continues to improve both as a passer and runner, while Carson Noe (28- 373, 3 TDs), Aaron Edmonds (20-230, 3 TDs) and Grant Gray (18-280, 3 TDs) are each coming off their season-high in terms of receptions in a game. JV call-up is Matthew Rodriguez is expected to make his first start in the backfield Friday after playing in his first varsity game a week ago.
On the injury front, Eanes suffered a broken toe against Burnet but will attempt to play through the injury.
Regarding what the Lions must do to come away with the victory Friday night, Burnett said, “Defensively we can’t give up the big play, make them earn everything they get. We want to try and control the clock and keep our defense off the field, they’ve been on the field too much lately. We have to play a perfect game, that includes not getting penalties, if we want to be successful. It’s going to come down to simple execution and winning more plays than they do.”
Brownwood counters with a defense that yields 26 points and 348 yards – 188 on the ground and 160 through the air – with seven takeaways, and six of those occurred during its two-game win streak prior to the start of district.
Leading tacklers for the Lions this season include Brinson Martin (94 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Noah Gonzalez (83 tackles, 3 for loss), Wyatt Wolf (67 tackles, 1 FR), Robert Trowbridge (57 tackles, 1 for loss), Jack Field (44 tackles, 2 sacks), Devin Eanes (43 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INTs), Enrique Vazquez (39 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), Caven Webster (39 tackles, 1 INT), Ben Wilson (35 tackles, 2 for loss), Raven Prado (30 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR), Weston Wolf (29 tackles, 3 for loss), Julius Lara (27 tackles, 2 for loss) and Kenyan McDowell (22 tackles).
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets are yielding 22 points per game but have forced 13 takeaways – seven fumble recoveries and six interceptions.
Leading the charge are Jack Butchee (82 tackles, 6 for loss), Caleb Taylor (68 tackles, 2 for loss), CJ Spellmeier (43 tackles, 9 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Kutter Stone (35 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception), Cooper Rudd (35 tackles, 1 for loss), Briar Floyd (34 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), and Kolton Dearth (34 tackles, 16 for loss, 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries).
“The strength of Stephenville’s defense is their front seven,” Burnett said. “We’re going to have to get yards on the ground and be satisfied with 3 to 4 yards a carry, stay in front of the chains. We also have to be effective in the passing game to loosen them up and not let them load the box to stop the run. We have to be balanced in what we do with the run and pass.”
The Lions offense is coming off one of its more consistent outings from start to finish against Burnet, and Brownwood enters the contest averaging 25 points and 308 yards – 161 passing and 147 rushing – with just four giveaways.
Quarterback Judson Coalson (82 of 136 for 1,088 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 229 rushing yards, 3 TDs) continues to improve both as a passer and runner, while Carson Noe (28- 373, 3 TDs), Aaron Edmonds (20-230, 3 TDs) and Grant Gray (18-280, 3 TDs) are each coming off their season-high in terms of receptions in a game. JV call-up is Matthew Rodriguez is expected to make his first start in the backfield Friday after playing in his first varsity game a week ago.
On the injury front, Eanes suffered a broken toe against Burnet but will attempt to play through the injury.
Regarding what the Lions must do to come away with the victory Friday night, Burnett said, “Defensively we can’t give up the big play, make them earn everything they get. We want to try and control the clock and keep our defense off the field, they’ve been on the field too much lately. We have to play a perfect game, that includes not getting penalties, if we want to be successful. It’s going to come down to simple execution and winning more plays than they do.”