District 7-3A-Division II play begins Friday night for six of its seven members.
Two of its Grayson County members – Bells and S&S – start league play against each other. The Rams host the Panthers at 7 p.m. Friday in Sadler.
Bells (2-2) goes into the contest on a winning note after rushing for more than 550 yards in a 62-49 barnburner against Farmersville. S&S (1-3) looks to win for the first time in three games after suffering a 37-19 setback against Trenton last week.
Both teams like to run the football. The Rams are led by Eli Nortman, who has 656 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, while the Panthers have four players with 200 yards or more rushing.
Bells’ rushing stable features Westin Hicks (406 yards, 4 TDs), Jaxon Brown (272 yards, 3 TDs), Asa Curtis (246 yards, 3 TDs), Je’Darius Washington (202 yards, 2 TDs) and quarterback Jax Pitt (81 yards, TD). The Panthers have thrown the football just six times this season and have three games where all of their yards came on the ground.
Joe Orr (258 yards, 5 TDs rushing; 261 yards, TD passing) is the signal caller for S&S. Uriah Mannis (10 catches, 134 yards) is the Rams’ top receiver.
HOWE (2-2) VS. CALLISBURG (0-4)
Howe and Callisburg also open 7-3A-DII play Friday when the teams meet in Gainesville at 7 p.m. Friday. The Bulldogs are coming off a 31-21 win against Emory Rains, while the Wildcats lost their fourth in a row last week in a 33-12 defeat against Pottsboro.
Riken Cross (14 catches, 400 yards, 6 TDs receiving; 196 yards, 2 TDs rushing) and Rylan Strong (419 yards, 5 TDs rushing; 8 catches, 172 yards, 3 TDs receiving; 3-of-3, 165 yards, 3 TDs passing) are the offensive leaders for Howe. Deacon Bender (677 yards, 9 TDS passing) leads the Bulldogs in passing.
POTTSBORO (3-1) AT BONHAM (2-2)
Pottsboro has one last nondistrict test when it travels to Bonham Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Warrior Stadium. The Cardinals have won three in a row, including a 33-12 win against Callisburg, while the Warriors defeated Venus, 28-16.
Brayden Sheffield (676 yards, 9 TDs passing; 160 yards, 2 TDs rushing) leads the Pottsboro offense. Brody Burdette (269 yards, 5 TDs) leads the Cardinals in rushing, while Corbin (21 catches, 289 yards, 5 TDs) is the top receiver.
FW ALL SAINTS (3-2) AT GUNTER (3-0)
Fort Worth All Saints Academy visits Gunter at 7 p.m. Friday. The Tigers defeated Sulphur (Oklahoma), 29-17, last week, while the Saints lost a 30-28 heartbreaker to Lovejoy.
In Gunter’s win, Ashton Pinkernell ran for 86 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Tristan Barton ran for 67 yards and three scores. Barton also threw for 121 yards with Cole Bolt (6 catches, 59 yards) leading the Tigers in receiving.
VAN ALSTYNE (3-1) AT QUINLAN FORD (3-1)
Two teams who suffered their first losses of the season last week and are both named the Panthers will square off when Van Alstyne visits Quinlan Ford at 7 p.m. Friday in Quinlan. VA suffered a 36-24 setback at the hands of Sunnyvale, while Ford lost to Caddo Mills, 28-21.
In the loss to Sunnyvale, VA was led by Cason Howard (166 yards, TD passing; 66 yards, TD rushing). Tim Moore (7 catches, 110 yards, TD) led in receiving and Hudson Taylor returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score.
TIOGA (2-2) AT CARROLLTON PRINCE OF PEACE (0-5)
Tioga seeks its third win in a row when the Bulldogs visit Prince of Peace at 7 p.m. Friday. Tioga pounded Tom Bean, 60-20, last Friday, while the Eagles lost to McKinney Christian, 65-14.
In the Bulldogs’ rout of Tom Bean, Camden Stephens completed 12-of-16 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns in his season debut. He also ran seven times for 129 yards and two scores.
Jaxson Hurst (4 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TDs) and Kyson Kirkland (3 catches, 111 yards, TD) led in receiving, while Quesyn Arrington caught a 44-yard touchdown pass on his only reception of the evening. Jake David (6 carries, 71 yards, TD) contributed to the running game and Maddox Hurst returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown.
TOM BEAN (2-2) AT BOGATA RIVERCREST (3-1)
Both Tom Bean and Rivercrest will look to bounce back from losses the Rebels host the Tomcats at 7 p.m. Friday in Bogata in the 9-3A-DI opener for both teams. Tom Bean is coming off a 60-20 loss to Tioga, while Rivercrest suffered its first loss of the season, 22-14, to Prairieland.
The Tomcats trailed Tioga, 60-0, at halftime before closing out the game with 20 unanswered points. Henry Cheek (207 yards, 3 TDs passing), Tatum Hanson (2 catches, 54 yards, 2 TDs) and Cain Pearson (4 catches, 53 yards, TD) led the way for Tom Bean.
DENISON (1-3, 0-2) AT FRISCO EMERSON (3-1, 1-1)
Denison looks for its first league win when it visits Emerson at 7 p.m. Friday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco in 4-5A-DII play. The Yellowjackets are coming off a 40-27 loss to Frisco Panther Creek, while the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season, 42-21, against Anna.
In the loss to Panther Creek, Rashaun Dehorney (24 carries, 193 yards, 2 TDs) and Paxton Neasbitt (83 yards, TD passing; 3 carries, 9 yards, TD) led the way for Denison. Christian Ramos caught a touchdown pass from Neasbitt.
SHERMAN (0-4) AT KELLER FOSSIL RIDGE (0-4)
Both Sherman and Fossil Ridge look for their first win of the season in the 3-5A-DI opener for both teams at 7 p.m. Friday in Keller. The Bearcats saw a 20-7 halftime lead squander in a 28-20 loss to The Colony, while the Panthers lost to Birdville, 49-14, last Friday.
In the loss to The Colony, Daniel Ramos (286 yards, 2 TDs passing) led the way for Sherman. Trae Reason (7 catches, 123 yards, TD) and Brycen Taylor (8 catches, 75 yards) led in receiving.