Big Country Game of the Week: Abilene High hopes to end Amarillo Tascosa's dominance

Abilene High hasn’t had much luck against Amarillo Tascosa the last few years — losing five consecutive games against the Rebels, including a 36-14 decision last year in a District 2-5A Division I game in Amarillo.

The Eagles, though, might be poised to end that drought come Friday’s league game at Shotwell Stadium.

AHS (3-2, 1-0), coming off a 59-14 victory over Lubbock Monterey in the district opener, is clicking on both sides of the ball.

Dylan Slack has grown into the role as a starting quarterback, and he’s got plenty of talented receivers in Ryland Bradford, Jackson Howle and Brelon Badon, among others.

Then there’s Brayden Henry, a jack-of-all trades sophomore who can lineup at quarterback, running back and receiver. He’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

The AHS defense, led by LB Bryce Neves and DB Beckham Paul, is solid and disruptive as always — forcing four turnovers in last week’s win.

More: High School Football Abilene High football starts fast in 59-14 rout of Monterey to open district play

More: High School football Dominating night: Amarillo High snaps rivalry skid against Tascosa with impressive game

Struggling Rebels

Tascosa (1-4, 0-1), meanwhile, isn’t playing like a team that went 10-2 last year, including a 6-0 run in winning the district title.

Amarillo High blasted the Rebels 42-6 last week in the league opener. It’s Tascosa’s fourth straight loss, and the Rebels vaunted flexbone offense has produced 26 points the last three games after getting shelled 63-34 against Midland Legacy in Week 2.

The Rebels will have to play a near perfect game against Abilene High, and that’s asking a lot against an Eagles team that’s explosive on both sides of the ball.

The pick: Abilene High 30, Amarillo Tascosa 17

Stephenville at Brownwood

7:30 p.m. Friday

There was a time when this wasn’t much of a rivalry — at least as far as Brownwood was concerned.

The Lions had won seven state titles and dominated the series — posting a 39-10-2 record against Stephenville from 1937-1987, including 24 straight wins in the series from 1964-1987.

That all changed in the 1990s, when the Yellow Jackets became a state powerhouse.

Stephenville, which has won six state titles since 1993, the last in 2021, is 22-8 against the Lions since 1990 — including three straight wins and five of the last six.

Lions roaring

Ike Hall and company are making the folks in Brownwood think of the heyday of Lions’ football. Brownwood (5-0), ranked No. 7 in Class 4A Division I, has big wins over Abilene Wylie (35-21) and Waco Connally (31-28).

Hall (39-78-2−788 yards 6 TDs passing, 56-550 8 TDs rushing) seems to will the Lions to victory, and they proved they can win without him, too, in beating Burnet 24-10 on Sept. 9 with back-up QB Braeden Stacks running the show.

Carson Noe (18-202 TD), Aaron Edmonds (11-169 TD) and Morsello Hooker (5-175 4 TDs) are the leading receivers, while Jaylan Brown (54-297 5 TDs) makes for a nice 1-2 punch in the run game with Hall.

LB Sam Kallman (67 tackles, six for loss, three sacks), LB Steve Ramirez (58 tackles, one interception) and DB Jake Jetton (56 tackles, one fumble recovery, one interception) lead the defense.

Jackets’ sting

Stephenville, ranked No. 9 in 4A D-I, has tough losses against No. 4 5A D-II Midlothian Heritage 31-28 in Week 1 and Abilene Wylie 41-32 in Week 4. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a big 21-20 win over Wichita Falls Rider on the road last week.

QB Ryan Gafford (75-138-4—1,315 yards, 14 TDs) has plenty of weapons around him in RB Tate Maruska (113-561 3 TDs rushing) and receivers Tristian Gentry (37-748 8 TDs) and Noah Bullion (17-349 4 TDs). Gentry, a junior who has committed to Texas Tech, is especially dangerous averaging 20.2 yards a catch.

LB Hudson Butchee (67 tackles) and DB Hyson Foreman (46 tackles, two interceptions, fumble recovery) lead the Jackets' defense.

Stephenville has won the last three meetings 42-21 (2022), 63-7 (2021) and 59-34 (2020). Brownwood won 38-22 in 2019.

Both teams can score in a hurry, so buckle up at Gordon Wood Stadium in what should be a fun one. Don't be surprised if the game is decided by Brownwood kicker Junior Martinez, who has converted 5-of-6 field goals with a long of 52.

The pick: Brownwood 45, Stephenville 42

More: High School Football Stephenville escapes with a 21-20 win over Rider after a missed extra point

BEST SIX-MAN GAME

May at Oglesby

7:30 p.m. Friday

Ordinarily, all eyes would be on Loraine’s game at Benjamin in a rematch of last year’s Class 1A D-II state title game — a game Benjamin won 68-20.

But Loraine is 0-5, while No. 1 1A D-II Benjamin (5-0) is steamrolling opponents once again with two-time state MVP Grayson Ridgon leading the charge.

No. 9 1A D-I May, a state runner-up in 2021 and 2022, is lurking once again. Other than a 64-14 loss to No. 2 1A D-I Knox City, May (4-1) has found a way to win — edging Fort Worth THESA 55-54 last week.

No. 2 1A D-II Oglesby (5-0) has outscored opponents 260-51 — and that’s after a 38-19 win at Waco Methodist Children’s Home last week.

May has played a much tougher schedule, and that should pay dividends in a battle between two state-ranked Tiger programs.

The pick: May 55, Oglesby 48

Big Country Power Rankings

Class 3A/4A

1. Brownwood (5-0) – Beat Waco Connally 31-28; Up next: Stephenville

2. Clyde (5-0) – Beat Sweetwater 41-7; Up next; at Vernon (Oct. 6)

3. Stephenville (3-2) – Beat Wichita Falls Rider 21-20; Up next: at Brownwood

4. Jim Ned (4-1) – Lost to Eastland 21-19; Up next: Bowie (Oct. 6)

5. Merkel (4-1) – Beat Coahoma 34-27; Up next: at Dublin (Oct. 6)

Class 2A

1. Albany (5-0) – Beat Comanche 31-13; Up next: Miles (Oct. 6)

2. Stamford (4-0) – Beat Winters 63-0; Up next: Olney

3. Coleman (3-1) – Beat Goldthwaite 46-33; Up next: San Saba

4. Hawley (3-2) – Beat Anson 45-0; Up next: at Colorado City (Oct. 6)

5. Roscoe (3-1) – Lost to New Home 22-15; Up next: Junction

Class 1A

1. Benjamin (5-0) – Beat Roby 77-12; Up next: Loraine

2. Gordon (4-0) – Bye; Up next: Santa Anna

3. Knox City (5-0) – Beat Crowell 51-6; Up next: at Saint Jo

4. Jayton (5-0) – Beat Silverton 46-0; Up next: at Spur

5. Westbrook (4-1) – Beat Garden City 60-8; Up next: Highland (Oct. 6)

WEEK 6 SCHEDULE

Thursday's Games

CLASS 1A

Priddy at Lohn, 7 p.m.

Gustine at Oglesby JV, 7:30 p.m.

Friday's Games

CLASS 5A

*Amarillo Tascosa at Abilene High, 7 p.m.

CLASS 4A

Lubbock Estacado at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.

Seminole at Big Spring, 7 p.m.

Stephenville at Brownwood, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A

*Colorado City at Anson, 7 p.m.

*Goldthwaite at De Leon, 7 p.m.

Junction at Roscoe, 7 p.m.

*Olney at Stamford, 7 p.m.

*Petrolia at Haskell, 7 p.m.

*San Saba at Coleman, 7 p.m.

*Winters at Cisco, 7 p.m.

CLASS 1A

Aspermont at Newcastle, 7:30 p.m.

Baird at Ranger, 7:30 p.m.

Blackwell at Panther Creek, 7:30 p.m.

Brookesmith at Zephyr, 7:30 p.m.

Chillicothe at Paint Creek, 7:30 p.m.

Evant at Blanket, 7:30 p.m.

Guthrie at Rule, 7:30 p.m.

Jayton at Spur, 7:30 p.m.

Knox City at Saint Jo, 7:30 p.m.

Kopperl at Mullin, 7:30 p.m.

Loraine at Benjamin, 7:30 p.m.

Olfen at Trent, 7:30 p.m.

May at Oglesby, 7:30 p.m.

Moran at Rochelle, 7:30 p.m.

*Midland Christian at Abilene Christian High, 7:30 p.m.

Robert Lee at Bronte, 7:30 p.m.

Rotan at Lueders-Avoca, 7:30 p.m.

Santa Anna at Gordon, 7:30 p.m.

Sidney at Strawn, 7:30 p.m.

Throckmorton at Hermleigh, 7:30 p.m.

Woodson at Rising Star, 7:30 p.m.

INTERCLASS

Snyder at Holliday, 7 p.m.

*District game

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene High, Amarillo Tascosa battle in district football game Friday