Two Grayson County teams that appear to be heading in opposite directions meet Friday night in Howe.
The resurgent Howe Bulldogs host the struggling S&S Rams in a District 7-3A Division II matchup at 7 p.m. Friday at Bulldog Stadium. Howe (3-2, 1-0 in 7-3A DII) defeated Callisburg, 39-0, last week, while S&S (1-4, 0-1) was blanked by Bells, 49-0.
In the Bulldogs’ rout of Callisburg (0-5, 0-1), Rylan Strong accounted for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns. He caught five passes for 153 yards and two scores and ran 10 times for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Deacon Bender also had a big night, passing for 288 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 59 yards and two scores. Brodie Seller caught a 73-yard touchdown pass on his only reception of the night.
Howe also limited Callisburg to 83 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers.
In the Rams’ loss, they were limited to 68 yards of total offense. Quarterback Joe Orr led the offense with 34 rushing yards, while Eli Nortman had 11 tackles and Connor Roberts added nine to lead the defense.
S&S also played its first game of the season under interim head coach Gary Robinson. Head coach Dan Pike is on administrative leave.
BLUE RIDGE (2-3, 1-0) AT BELLS (3-2, 1-0)
One of these teams will remain in first place in the District 7-3A Division II standings Friday night when Bells hosts Blue Ridge at 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium. The Panthers ran past S&S, 49-0, Sept. 24, while the Tigers doubled up Valley View, 42-21.
In Bells’ win against S&S, the Panthers gained 354 yards on the ground and received touchdown runs from six different players. Je’Kobe Washington had a 58-yard scoring run on his only carry of the night, while fellow running backs Jaxon Brown (four carries, 67 yards, TD), Asa Curtis (seven carries, 53 yards, TD), Jace Weger (three carries, 39 yards, TD), Jacob Ballew (four carries, 34 yards, TD) and Jax Pitt (two carries, seven yards, TD) also scored.
The game marked the fourth time this season the Panthers did not complete a pass. Bells has attempted just seven passes in five games and has one completion this season.
Ryan Glenn also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The Panthers limited the Rams to 68 yards of total offense and recorded nine tackles for loss.
The Tigers are led offensively by quarterback Brody Needham (992 yards, 14 TDs passing), running back Michael Santillano (463 yards, two TDs rushing) and receivers Jonathan Cheatham (19 catches, 238 yards, five TDs), Andrew Lemberg (30 catches, 387 yards, four TDs) and Andrew Gaddis (eight catches, 202 yards, three TDs).
HONEY GROVE (4-1, 0-1) AT TOM BEAN (3-2, 1-0)
Tom Bean hosts Honey Grove in a District 9-2A Division I showdown at 7 p.m. Friday. The Tomcats soared past Bogata Rivercrest, 56-20, while the Warriors lost to Cooper, 63-21.
In Tom Bean’s win, quarterback Henry Cheek passed for 302 yards and three touchdowns. His top receivers were Cain Pearson (four catches, 90 yards, TD), Jacob Lind (four catches, 82 yards) and Paxton Parrish (seven catches, 59 yards, two TDs).
Tatum Hanson (20 carries, 154 yards, two TDs) and Slayton Farris (11 carries, 76 yards, three TDs) led the ground game, while Noah Gray (11 tackles) and Carter Mayo (eight tackles, four TFLs) led the defense.
Honey Grove has a more run-oriented attack behind A Woods (61 carries, 479 yards, six TDs) and T Bailey (41 carries, 460 yards, five TDs). B Wiggins (569 yards, six TDs passing), K Totty (16 catches, 248 yards, four TDs) and B Finney (19 catches, 246 yards, TD) lead the Warriors’ passing attack.
RIVERCREST (3-2, 0-1) AT WHITEWRIGHT (3-2, 0-1)
One team will pick up its first district win Friday when Whitewright hosts Rivercrest at 7 p.m. The Tigers suffered a heartbreaking 33-28 loss at Trenton last week, while the Rebels fell to Tom Bean, 56-20.
Five different players carried the football for Whitewright last week in Trenton — Drake Freeman (65 yards), Nick Ulmer (60 yards, TD), Peyton Smith (51 yards, TD), Austin Baio (26 yards, TD) and Xander Hall (22 yards, TD).
The Tigers enjoyed a 16-6 halftime lead before Trenton stormed back to seize a 27-16 advantage in the third quarter.
Whitewright scored twice in the fourth quarter to regain the lead, 28-27, before Trenton scored the winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. Trenton quarterback Nolan Yowell had four touchdown runs and threw for another score in the win.
GUNTER (3-1) AT DALLAS A+ ACADEMY (2-3)
Gunter and Dallas A+ Academy start District 5-3A Division I play a week earlier than their peers when they meet at 7 p.m. Friday at A+ Academy, 10327 Rylie Road in Dallas. The Tigers lost to Fort Worth All Saints, 25-9, while the Knights defeated UME Prep, 38-14.
In Gunter’s loss, quarterback Tristan Barton led the offense with 65 rushing yards and 99 passing yards. Ashton Pinkernell scored the Tigers’ only touchdown.
A+ Academy is led by quarterback Emmanuel Mendoza and wide receiver Cameron Cofield on offense. Linebackers Gabriel Colon, Jeremy Cross and Kameron Wells led the defense.
DENTON RYAN (3-1, 1-0) AT SHERMAN (1-4, 1-0)
Fresh off its first win of the season, Sherman hosts perennial powerhouse Denton Ryan in a District 3-5A Division I contest at 7 p.m. Friday. The Bearcats clipped Keller Fossil Ridge, 31-30, on a 30-yard field goal from Alvaro Paulin with 48 seconds remaining, while the Raiders ran past Denton, 33-7.
Following Paulin’s go-ahead kick, Isaiah Smith recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to seal the victory.
Sherman was led by Daniel Ramos (238 yards, three TDs passing), Brycen Taylor (seven catches, 93 yards, two TDs), Pierre Browhow (18 carries, 87 yards, TD), Christian Mackey (seven catches, 68 yards) and Anthony Coleman (11 carries, 63 yards; two catches, 27 yards, TD).
Prior to Ryan’s rout of crosstown rival Denton, the Raiders had lost two straight on the field to Mansfield Timberview, 35-30, and Lewisville, 49-17. However, the loss to Lewisville became a forfeit victory for Ryan after the Farmers were forced to forfeit their first three wins because of the use of an ineligible player.
FRISCO INDEPENDENCE (2-3, 0-3) AT DENISON (1-4, 0-3)
Denison will look to end a four-game losing streak when it hosts Independence at 7 p.m. Friday. The Yellowjackets suffered a 21-14 loss to Frisco Emerson last week, while the Knights fell to Anna, 70-14.
In the loss to Emerson, Gavin Mandrell scored both touchdowns for Denison — one on a 38-yard run and the other on a reception. He caught three passes for 25 yards and a score.
The Yellowjackets were also led by Paxton Neasbitt (122 yards, TD passing), Rashaun Dehorney (12 carries, 59 yards), and Jashaud Sims (five catches, 40 yards).
Independence is led by quarterback Jack O’Connor (917 yards, nine TDs passing) and receivers Tristan Wade (20 catches, 473 yards, six TDs) and Jeremy Thompson (21 catches, 307 yards, two TDs). Kylan Wade (42 carries, 277 yards, two TDs; 11 catches, 109 yards, TD) is the Knights’ top rushing threat.
TIOGA, BYE
The Tioga Bulldogs go into their Week 6 bye with a 3-2 record and three straight wins. The Bulldogs defeated Carrollton Prince of Peace, 45-6, last week.
In the victory, Camden Stephens completed 13-of-14 passes for 316 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff for a score.
Stephens’ top targets were Jaxson Hurst (four catches, 131 yards, three TDs), Quesyn Arrington (two catches, 106 yards, two TDs) and Jake David (five catches, 63 yards; two carries, 45 yards).
On the season, Stephens is 25-of-30 passing for 670 yards and nine touchdowns. Hurst (23 catches, 454 yards, seven TDs), Arrington (13 catches, 281 yards, five TDs) and David (22 catches, 258 yards, two TDs) are the top receivers.
The Bulldogs resume play Oct. 9 when they host Muenster in their District 6-2A Division I opener.
POTTSBORO, BYE
The Pottsboro Cardinals go into this week’s bye with a 4-1 record and four straight wins following a season-opening loss to Bells. The Cardinals are coming off a 72-14 rout of Bonham last week.
Brayden Sheffield passed for 298 yards and four touchdowns while running for 84 yards and two scores in the win.
Trae Pocza led the ground attack with 13 carries for 102 yards. Pottsboro also received big performances from Brody Burdette (10 carries, 81 yards, two TDs; 62-yard TD reception), Carlin Robison (two catches, 79 yards, TD), Evan Roebuck (three catches, 100 yards, two TDs) and Brady Wynn (two catches, 58 yards; two carries, seven yards, two TDs).
On the season, Sheffield has passed for 974 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 241 yards and four scores. Burdette (45 carries, 345 yards, seven TDs) is the leading rusher, while Robison (23 catches, 367 yards, six TDs), Roebuck (19 catches, 259 yards, three TDs) and Wynn (13 catches, 186 yards, TD) are the leading receivers.
Pottsboro opens District 5-3A Division I play at Pilot Point on Oct. 9.
VAN ALSTYNE, BYE
The Van Alstyne Panthers bounced back from their first loss of the season to defeat Quinlan Ford, 49-7, last week. The Panthers are 4-1 heading into this week’s bye.
In the win, Van Alstyne was led by quarterback Cason Howard (232 yards, three TDs passing; 92 yards, two TDs rushing), Cayden Benedict (98 yards rushing), Tim Moore (two catches, 89 yards, two TDs), Amyrion Taylor (80-yard TD reception) and Xavier Vidaurri (two TD runs).
The Panthers open District 6-4A Division II play at home against Lake Worth on Oct. 9.