UPDATED AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STATISTICS (including scoring, tackles and interceptions)

CLASS 6A

(Through Week 9)

TEAM STATISTICS

Offense

Yards gained total/per game

Belton 2,996/428.0 (1,610 rushing, 1,386 passing)

Temple 3,201/400.1 (1,603 rushing, 1,598 passing)

Defense

Yards allowed total/per game

Temple 2,397/299.6 (1,199 rushing, 1,198 passing)

Belton 2,274/324.9 (1,093 rushing, 1,181 passing)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

OFFENSE

Rushing

(carries, yards, touchdowns)

Samari Howard, Temple 169 969 13

Maurice Reed, Belton 184 948 8

Ruben Jimenez, Belton 92 532 9

Humberto Arizmendi, Temple 74 361 0

Bryce Langrum, Temple 13 117 1

Jalen Robinson, Temple 16 103 1

Mikal Harrison-Pilot, Temple 14 59 1

Kanyn Utley, Belton 4 41 0

Thomas McVade, Temple 10 37 0

Wriley Madden, Belton 12 35 1

Javier Luna, Belton 10 28 0

Aaron Wagaman, Temple 2 19 0

Lennox Underwood Jr., Belton 5 11 0

Mike Davis, Belton 5 10 0

Luke Allen, Temple 1 8 0

Scott Gurnett, Belton 2 4 0

Bryan “Itty” Henry, Belton 2 2 0

Will Hayes, Belton 1 1 0

Seth Morgan, Belton 5 1 0

Ritchie Willess, Belton 2 -3 0

Xander Kelm, Temple 1 -9 0

Passing

(Completions-attempts-interceptions, yards, touchdowns)

Humberto Arizmendi, Temple 110-177-6 1,525 21

Ruben Jimenez, Belton 82-141-5 1,297 11

Wriley Madden, Belton 12-24-2 89 0

Mikal Harrison-Pilot, Temple 1-8-0 73 1

Samari Howard, Temple 0-1-0 0 0

Receiving

(receptions, yards, touchdowns)

Bryan “Itty” Henry, Belton 30 503 4

Kanyn Utley, Belton 30 399 2

Mikal Harrison-Pilot, Temple 31 389 5

AJ McDuffy, Temple 24 388 7

Luke Allen, Temple 21 265 3

Samari Howard, Temple 19 252 4

Tr'Darius Taylor, Temple 12 207 2

Maurice Reed, Belton 15 199 1

Seth Morgan, Belton 12 196 1

Jonah Walker, Temple 1 73 1

Keagan Wolfe, Belton 3 35 1

Scott Gurnett, Belton 1 33 1

Ke'Andre Smith, Temple 2 23 0

Wriley Madden, Belton 2 17 1

Dylan Hinkle, Temple 1 10 0

Jay Bonnett, Belton 1 4 0

SCORING

(touchdowns/2-point conversions/

field goals/extra points)

Samari Howard, Temple 110 points (17/4/0/0)

Maurice Reed, Belton 60 points (10/0/0/0)

Ruben Jimenez, Belton 54 points (9/0/0/0)

Aaron Wagaman, Temple 51 points (0/2/6/29)

AJ McDuffy, Temple 42 points (7/0/0/0)

Mikal Harrison-Pilot, Temple 36 points (6/0/0/0)

Zach White, Belton 27 points (0/0/2/21)

Bryan “Itty” Henry, Belton 24 points (4/0/0/0)

Luke Allen, Temple 18 points (3/0/0/0)

Tr'Darius Taylor, Temple 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Wriley Madden, Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Kanyn Utley, Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Bryce Langrum, Temple 6 points (1/0/0/0)

O'Tarian Peoples, Temple 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Jalen Robinson, Temple 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Jonah Walker, Temple 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Scott Gurnett, Belton 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Seth Morgan, Belton 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Joe Sniffin, Belton 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Keagan Wolfe, Belton 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Jack Tabat, Belton 2 points (0/1/0/0)

DEFENSE

Tackles

(minimum 15)

Taurean York, Temple 64

Joe Sniffin, Belton 52

Eric Shorter, Temple 47

Aaron Bain, Belton 45

Jayven Taylor, Temple 41

Malik Jackson, Belton 32

Marshall Grays, Temple 31

Faylin Lee, Temple 31

Keon Williams, Temple 30

Sam Ramirez, Belton 30

Jaden Jackson, Temple 29

Cody Little, Temple 29

Tommy Torres, Temple 28

Trent West, Belton 27

Charles Williams III, Belton 26

Bradley Thompson Jr., Belton 24

Edrick Holcombe, Belton 23

Amiere Steward, Belton 23

Braxton Haynes, Belton 21

O'Tarian Peoples, Temple 19

Jack Tabat, Belton 18

Carlton Mack, Temple 17

Johnny Donoso, Temple 15

Interceptions

Aaron Bain, Belton 2

Trent West, Belton 2

Marshall Grays, Temple 1

Faylin Lee, Temple 1

O'Tarian Peoples, Temple 1

Joe Sniffin, Belton 1

CLASS 4A AND UNDER

(Through area round of playoffs)

TEAM STATISTICS

Offense

Yards gained total/per game

Lampasas 4,776/477.6 (2,758 rushing, 2,018 passing)

Salado 4,522/411.1 (4,169 rushing, 353 passing)

Rockdale 4,323/393.0 (2,467 rushing, 1,856 passing)

Lake Belton 3,904/390.4 (2,682 rushing, 1,222 passing)

Holland 4,469/372.4 (3,550 rushing, 919 passing)

Troy 3,712/371.2 (3,184 rushing, 528 passing)

Rogers 4,389/365.8 (3,584 rushing, 845 passing)

Academy 3,699/336.3 (1,151 rushing, 2,548 passing)

Gatesville 2,909/323.2 (1,433 rushing, 1,476 passing)

Bruceville-Eddy 2,563/320.4 (1,539 rushing, 1,024 passing)

Cameron Yoe 2,846/316.2 (1,279 rushing, 1,567 passing)

Rosebud-Lott 2,758/306.4 (1,327 rushing, 1,431 passing)

Defense

Yards allowed total/per game

Holland 2,407/200.6 (1,290 rushing, 1,117 passing)

Lake Belton 2,235/223.5 (766 rushing, 1,469 passing)

Salado 2,734/248.5 (1,988 rushing, 746 passing)

Rockdale 3,537/321.5 (2,356 rushing, 1,181 passing)

Academy 3,563/323.9 (2,345 rushing, 1,218 passing)

Cameron Yoe 3,065/340.6 (1,918 rushing, 1,147 passing)

Rogers 4,329/360.8 (2,976 rushing, 1,353 passing)

Troy 4,005/400.5 (2,591 rushing, 1,414 passing)

Gatesville 3,807/423.0 (2,382 rushing, 1,425 passing)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

OFFENSE

Rushing

(carries, yards, touchdowns)

Zach Hrbacek, Troy 300 2,265 35

Noah Mescher, Salado 175 1,484 20

Cam'ron Valdez, Rockdale 171 1,406 19

Christian Riley, Rogers 124 1,179 7

Jack Jerome, Lampasas 180 1,159 14

Reid Vincent, Salado 106 1,159 10

Ace Whitehead, Lampasas 112 950 15

Ayden Tomasek, Holland 117 851 12

Tristan Robin, Lake Belton 85 769 10

Jason Delong, Gatesville 123 691 5

Micah Hudson, Lake Belton 41 655 6

Trapper Ensor, Bruceville-Eddy 102 641 12

Wrook Brown, Salado 63 613 12

Hunter Martin, Troy 89 581 6

John Hill, Rogers 86 572 8

Josh Evans, Holland 50 570 6

Connor Crews, Lake Belton 86 570 12

Caden Strickland, Salado 72 564 9

Kobe Mitchell, Rockdale 117 560 11

Riley Dolgener, Rogers 110 555 6

Jamarquis Johnson, Rosebud-Lott 78 526 4

Hunter Diaz, Bruceville-Eddy 93 478 4

Jerry Cephus, Academy 120 465 0

RJ Cook, Rogers 55 442 7

Keshon Johnson, Cameron Yoe 89 410 4

Phaibian Bynaum, Cameron Yoe 69 399 7

Karsen Gomez, Holland 64 358 6

Ethan Mann, Holland 55 354 2

Blaze Wooley, Holland 53 346 3

Christian Watkins, Rogers 28 333 7

Darion Franklin, Academy 91 318 7

JC Chaney, Holland 56 310 2

Case Brister, Lampasas 37 299 6

Caleb Evans, Holland 23 284 4

Brandon Bell, Lake Belton 31 270 2

Pablo Rubio, Bruceville-Eddy 59 260 3

Pharrell Hemphill, Cameron Yoe 28 257 3

Breon Lewis, Rosebud-Lott 24 255 3

Wesley Brown, Gatesville 43 229 3

Daniel Hardin, Lake Belton 41 225 2

KeSean Raven, Rockdale 21 210 5

Javier Hernandez, Holland 30 179 5

Joseph Whitehead, Lampasas 23 177 0

Hayden Mooney, Gatesville 33 171 2

Alex Vargas, Rogers 23 163 1

Luke Mullins, Gatesville 48 155 2

Zane Zeinert, Cameron Yoe 72 140 1

Moses Fox, Rosebud-Lott 27 128 0

Dawson Haney, Holland 16 123 0

Steve Jackson, Troy 33 119 1

Xavier LeBlanc, Academy 28 118 1

Jordan Landrum, Rosebud-Lott 12 114 0

John Paul Reyna, Rosebud-Lott 22 110 0

Carlos Saucedo, Rosebud-Lott 8 103 0

Xavier Hernandez, Troy 17 102 2

Chad Pate, Bruceville-Eddy 20 101 0

Ethan Moreno, Lampasas 19 101 0

Hutton Haire, Salado 27 101 3

Drew Bird, Salado 9 100 1

Ivan Lopez, Rogers 17 94 0

Trenton Flanagan, Academy 29 81 0

Davioun Scott, Rockdale 14 79 0

Jeremiah Quinones, Rogers 11 77 2

Zane Clark, Academy 14 75 0

Brady Bearden, Troy 16 75 1

Easton Hammond, Lake Belton 9 72 1

Isaiah Navejas, Gatesville 22 69 0

Jace Robinson, Rockdale 4 66 0

Ayden Keating, Salado 21 66 1

Jaylin McWilliams, Academy 1 63 1

Brayan Campos, Rogers 10 60 2

Peyton Underwood, Lampasas 7 58 2

Greg Washington, Salado 3 58 0

Bryson Taylor, Holland 6 57 1

Jaydon Leza, Lake Belton 4 54 0

Drayton Castaneda, Rockdale 18 53 0

Ethan Botts, Holland 22 50 1

Joshua Whisenhunt, Holland 8 49 1

Colby Coker, Rosebud-Lott 10 47 0

Ashtyn Culley, Gatesville 12 41 0

Robert Owens, Rockdale 9 35 0

Logan Hare, Rogers 6 35 1

Bryce Govan, Rockdale 9 33 0

Kollin Mraz, Academy 5 31 0

Nicholas Boaz, Bruceville-Eddy 9 31 0

Stephen Buhl, Rosebud-Lott 6 31 1

Colby Tolbert, Bruceville-Eddy 1 28 0

Ashton Morris, Holland 8 28 0

Ryan Muniz, Cameron Yoe 7 27 0

Kadin Workman, Troy 4 26 0

Jace Carr, Troy 24 23 3

Bradyn Culley, Gatesville 5 21 0

Keyshawn Baptiste, Lake Belton 3 21 0

Za'Korien Spikes, Cameron Yoe 6 18 0

Ty Legg, Lake Belton 1 17 0

Joseph Vargas, Rogers 4 16 0

Ian Duffy, Cameron Yoe 2 13 0

Cedric Mitchell, Rockdale 4 13 0

Seth Reavis, Salado 2 12 0

Cade White, Lampasas 1 11 0

Daud Khan, Lake Belton 3 10 0

Selman Bridges, Lake Belton 1 9 0

Trevor Smith, Gatesville 1 8 0

Dominick Rangel, Cameron Yoe 2 7 0

Jaidyn Sanchez, Cameron Yoe 1 7 0

Carson Brizendine, Gatesville 3 7 1

Cayci Patterson, Rosebud-Lott 1 6 0

Kofi Stoglin, Salado 2 6 2

Jashaun Manghane, Lake Belton 2 5 0

Easton Fulton, Rosebud-Lott 2 5 1

Carter Janisch, Gatesville 1 4 0

Connor Bartz, Lake Belton 1 3 0

Michael Murray Jr., Lampasas 1 3 0

Daniel Rodriguez, Rosebud-Lott 1 2 0

Gavyn Keyser, Salado 2 2 1

Ryan McBurney, Salado 1 2 0

Fabian Salomon, Cameron Yoe 3 1 0

Camden Galindo, Gatesville 1 1 0

Alex Lawton, Academy 2 0 0

Landen Greene, Cameron Yoe 1 0 0

Jesse Martinez, Cameron Yoe 1 0 0

Isaiah Koonce, Lake Belton 1 -1 0

Jase Schmidt, Troy 1 -5 0

Passing

(Completions-attempts-interceptions, yards, touchdowns)

Ace Whitehead, Lampasas 124-188-3 1,981 29

Jerry Cephus, Academy 139-238-8 1,877 23

Kobe Mitchell, Rockdale 105-180-9 1,739 23

Luke Mullins, Gatesville 104-176-7 1,436 15

Zane Zeinert, Cameron Yoe 84-180-9 1,371 16

Connor Crews, Lake Belton 76-142-7 1,182 17

Trapper Ensor, Bruceville-Eddy 78-156-11 984 6

Jamarquis Johnson, Rosebud-Lott 62-94-5 905 5

Riley Dolgener, Rogers 58-126-6 845 2

Ayden Tomasek, Holland 46-104-6 785 8

Kollin Mraz, Academy 39-59-2 634 8

Jace Carr, Troy 40-71-4 528 1

John Paul Reyna, Rosebud-Lott 20-35-2 490 7

Hutton Haire, Salado 15-33-0 353 6

Ryan Muniz, Cameron Yoe 12-23-2 196 1

Ethan Botts, Holland 5-13-2 106 1

Jace Robinson, Rockdale 3-7-0 81 1

Easton Hammond, Lake Belton 6-7-0 40 1

Robert Owens, Rockdale 7-8-0 36 0

Breon Lewis, Rosebud-Lott 1-1-0 36 1

Pablo Rubio, Bruceville-Eddy 1-1-0 32 1

Ethan Moreno, Lampasas 1-1-0 26 0

Zane Clark, Academy 1-1-0 22 1

Parker Allman, Gatesville 1-1-0 22 1

Ashton Morris, Holland 1-1-0 19 0

Wesley Brown, Gatesville 2-6-0 18 0

Alex Lawton, Academy 1-2-0 15 0

Peyton Underwood, Lampasas 2-3-0 11 0

Desi Cantu, Holland 1-4-2 9 0

Levi LaFavers, Bruceville-Eddy 1-1-0 8 1

Landen Greene, Cameron Yoe 0-1-0 0 0

Cedric Mitchell, Rockdale 0-3-1 0 0

Christian Riley, Rogers 0-1-0 0 0

Receiving

(receptions, yards, touchdowns)

Jaylin McWilliams, Academy 48 848 11

Michael Murray Jr., Lampasas 41 833 15

Za'Korien Spikes, Cameron Yoe 37 732 8

KeSean Raven, Rockdale 43 675 13

Anthony Dansby, Rockdale 36 665 6

Lane Haviland, Lampasas 35 579 7

Jordan Landrum, Rosebud-Lott 25 539 5

Ethan Moreno, Lampasas 37 479 5

Darion Franklin, Academy 39 471 4

Carson Brizendine, Gatesville 30 466 4

Micah Hudson, Lake Belton 22 466 6

Jayden Simmons, Academy 26 434 4

Breon Lewis, Rosebud-Lott 29 417 8

Ashton Morris, Holland 18 406 4

Kollin Mraz, Academy 31 366 9

Levi LaFavers, Bruceville-Eddy 33 349 0

Logan Edwards, Gatesville 20 298 7

Christian Riley, Rogers 11 294 3

Pharrell Hemphill, Cameron Yoe 12 292 3

Trevor Smith, Gatesville 18 276 3

Josh Evans, Holland 18 248 2

Caleb Pate, Bruceville-Eddy 15 242 0

Parker Allman, Gatesville 22 239 2

Hagen Land, Rockdale 14 237 2

Scout Brazeal, Academy 18 224 1

Jacob Glasgow, Rogers 19 222 1

Colby Tolbert, Bruceville-Eddy 11 201 3

Jaidyn Sanchez, Cameron Yoe 15 196 2

Kason Goolsby, Cameron Yoe 20 190 1

Ben Hutka, Rogers 17 188 1

Connor Bartz, Lake Belton 15 185 2

Javeon Wilcox, Lake Belton 6 178 3

Pablo Rubio, Bruceville-Eddy 13 169 2

Cole Ralston, Holland 4 145 0

Phaibian Bynaum, Cameron Yoe 6 139 2

Caden Strickland, Salado 6 145 2

Cam'ron Valdez, Rockdale 9 130 0

Brian Adams, Gatesville 10 125 0

Jase Schmidt, Troy 10 125 0

Hunter Martin, Troy 13 119 0

Kole Maedgen, Salado 3 113 1

Connor Vybiral, Lake Belton 12 110 1

Kadin Workman, Troy 7 105 0

Jamarquis Johnson, Rosebud-Lott 5 101 1

Zach Hrbacek, Troy 4 95 1

Steven Buhl, Rosebud-Lott 6 86 1

Giovanni Walker, Lake Belton 6 84 1

Trenton Flanagan, Academy 4 81 1

Jacob Smith, Troy 6 76 0

Jaydon Leza, Lake Belton 5 66 2

Alex Lawton, Academy 2 61 1

Selman Bridges, Lake Belton 6 61 2

Wrook Brown, Salado 4 62 2

Carter Johnson, Lampasas 5 59 1

Jason Delong, Gatesville 5 50 0

Cade White, Lampasas 3 47 1

Kobe Mitchell, Rockdale 1 46 0

Joshua Carter, Lampasas 2 43 0

Christian Watkins, Rogers 1 41 1

Jack Jerome, Lampasas 2 38 0

Alex Vargas, Rogers 2 36 1

John Paul Reyna, Rosebud-Lott 3 35 0

Karsen Gomez, Holland 4 34 1

Reid Vincent, Salado 2 33 1

Trapper Ensor, Bruceville-Eddy 1 32 1

Michael Rusk, Bruceville-Eddy 6 31 0

Blaze Wooley, Holland 4 31 0

Julian Lashbrook, Rogers 2 31 0

Davioun Scott, Rockdale 4 29 0

Klay Pursche, Holland 1 28 1

Ace Whitehead, Lampasas 1 26 0

Daud Khan, Lake Belton 2 23 1

Jordan Werner, Rogers 4 22 0

Ethan Mann, Holland 1 20 1

Ben Hogg, Troy 1 18 0

Brandon Bell, Lake Belton 1 16 0

Cole Stewart, Academy 1 13 0

Xavier LeBlanc, Academy 1 12 0

Keshon Johnson, Cameron Yoe 4 12 1

Tristan Robin, Lake Belton 2 12 0

Colton Funderburk, Troy 1 11 0

Logan Hare, Rogers 1 10 0

Quintrell Lockett, Academy 4 14 1

Tyler Burnett, Academy 4 10 0

Thiele Alvarado, Gatesville 1 7 0

Keyshawn Baptiste, Lake Belton 1 7 0

Cody Hinson, Lampasas 1 7 0

Colby Coker, Rosebud-Lott 1 6 0

Tanner Rambeau, Academy 1 5 0

Randy Flores, Cameron Yoe 1 4 0

Caleb Evans, Holland 1 4 0

Christian Briggs, Rockdale 1 4 0

Nolan Brashear, Cameron Yoe 1 2 0

Moses Fox, Rosebud-Lott 1 -1 0

Robert Owens, Rockdale 1 -2 0

SCORING

(touchdowns/2-point conversions/

field goals/extra points)

Zach Hrbacek, Troy 232 points (37/5/0/0)

Ace Whitehead, Lampasas 161 points (15/0/3/62)

Wrook Brown, Salado 140 points (14/0/1/53)

Christian Riley, Rogers 120 points (20/0/0/0)

Cam'ron Valdez, Rockdale 114 points (19/0/0/0)

Noah Mescher, Salado 120 points (20/0/0/0)

KeSean Raven, Rockdale 108 points (18/0/0/0)

Micah Hudson, Lake Belton 96 points (16/0/0/0)

Breon Lewis, Rosebud-Lott 93 points (14/0/1/6)

Jaylin McWilliams, Academy 90 points (15/0/0/0)

Michael Murray Jr., Lampasas 90 points (15/0/0/0)

Jack Jerome, Lampasas 84 points (14/0/0/0)

Darion Franklin, Academy 78 points (13/0/0/0)

Trapper Ensor, Bruceville-Eddy 78 points (13/0/0/0)

Ayden Tomasek, Holland 78 points (13/0/0/0)

Cole Jackson, Lake Belton 78 points (0/0/9/51)

Connor Crews, Lake Belton 72 points (12/0/0/0)

Tristan Robin, Lake Belton 72 points (12/0/0/0)

Kobe Mitchell, Rockdale 66 points (11/0/0/0)

Caden Strickland, Salado 66 points (11/0/0/0)

Reid Vincent, Salado 66 points (11/0/0/0)

Hagen Land, Rockdale 57 points (2/2/0/41)

Kollin Mraz, Academy 56 points (9/1/0/0)

Phaibian Bynaum, Cameron Yoe 54 points (9/0/0/0)

Jordan Landrum, Rosebud-Lott 54 points (9/0/0/0)

Case Brister, Lampasas 50 points (8/1/0/0)

Za'Korien Spikes, Cameron Yoe 48 points (8/0/0/0)

Josh Evans, Holland 48 points (8/0/0/0)

RJ Cook, Rogers 48 points (8/0/0/0)

John Hill, Rogers 48 points (8/0/0/0)

Julian Lashbrook, Rogers 48 points (0/0/3/39)

Christian Watkins, Rogers 48 points (8/0/0/0)

Jesse Martinez, Cameron Yoe 47 points (0/0/7/26)

Karsen Gomez, Holland 44 points (7/1/0/0)

Lane Haviland, Lampasas 44 points (7/1/0/0)

Anthony Dansby, Rockdale 44 points (7/1/0/0)

Riley Dolgener, Rogers 44 points (6/4/0/0)

Logan Edwards, Gatesville 42 points (7/0/0/0)

Hunter Martin, Troy 42 points (7/0/0/0)

Pharrell Hemphill, Cameron Yoe 36 points (6/0/0/0)

Luis Macias, Gatesville 36 points (0/0/5/21)

Javier Hernandez, Holland 34 points (5/2/0/0)

Colby Tolbert, Bruceville-Eddy 31 points (3/1/0/11)

Pablo Rubio, Bruceville-Eddy 30 points (5/0/0/0)

Keshon Johnson, Cameron Yoe 30 points (5/0/0/0)

Jason Delong, Gatesville 30 points (5/0/0/0)

Carson Brizendine, Gatesville 30 points (5/0/0/0)

Ethan Moreno, Lampasas 30 points (5/0/0/0)

Jamarquis Johnson, Rosebud-Lott 30 points (5/0/0/0)

Tyler McKissick, Troy 26 points (0/0/0/26)

Jayden Simmons, Academy 24 points (4/0/0/0)

Hunter Diaz, Bruceville-Eddy 24 points (4/0/0/0)

Ashton Morris, Holland 24 points (4/0/0/0)

Jace Carr, Troy 22 points (3/2/0/0)

Wesley Brown, Gatesville 18 points (3/0/0/0)

Trevor Smith, Gatesville 18 points (3/0/0/0)

Ethan Mann, Holland 18 points (3/0/0/0)

Blaze Wooley, Holland 18 points (3/0/0/0)

Alex Vargas, Rogers 18 points (3/0/0/0)

Hutton Haire, Salado 18 points (3/0/0/0)

Dylan Egger, Academy 17 points (0/0/0/17)

Jose Arzola, Holland 16 points (0/0/2/10)

JC Chaney, Holland 16 points (2/1/0/2)

Jaidyn Sanchez, Cameron Yoe 14 points (2/1/0/0)

Parker Allman, Gatesville 14 points (2/1/0/0)

Luke Mullins, Gatesville 14 points (2/1/0/0)

Ethan Botts, Holland 14 points (2/1/0/0)

Connor Bartz, Lake Belton 14 points (2/1/0/0)

Hayden Mooney, Gatesville 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Brandon Bell, Lake Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Selman Bridges, Lake Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Daniel Hardin, Lake Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Jaydon Leza, Lake Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Connor Vybiral, Lake Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Javeon Wilcox, Lake Belton 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Peyton Underwood, Lampasas 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Cedric Mitchell, Rockdale 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Brayan Campos, Rogers 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Jeremiah Quinones, Rogers 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Steven Buhl, Rosebud-Lott 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Kofi Stoglin, Salado 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Xavier Hernandez, Troy 12 points (2/0/0/0)

Lucas Sanderson, Academy 9 points (0/0/1/6)

Blake Bundy, Academy 7 points (0/0/1/4)

Scout Brazeal, Academy 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Trenton Flanagan, Academy 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Alex Lawton, Academy 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Xavier LeBlanc, Academy 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Quintrell Lockett, Academy 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Kason Goolsby, Cameron Yoe 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Zane Zeinert, Cameron Yoe 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Klay Pursche, Holland 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Bryson Taylor, Holland 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Joshua Whisenhunt, Holland 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Easton Hammond, Lake Belton 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Daud Khan, Lake Belton 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Giovanni Walker, Lake Belton 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Joshua Carter, Lampasas 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Carter Johnson, Lampasas 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Cade White, Lampasas 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Enrique Rivera, Rockdale 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Logan Hare, Rogers 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Ben Hutka, Rogers 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Easton Fulton, Rosebud-Lott 6 points (1/0/0/0)

John Paul Reyna, Rosebud-Lott 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Ayden Keating, Salado 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Gavyn Keyser, Salado 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Drew Bird, Salado 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Nolan Williams, Salado 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Brady Bearden, Troy 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Steve Jackson, Troy 6 points (1/0/0/0)

Josh McKissick, Troy 6 points (0/0/0/6)

Joseph Whitehead, Lampasas 4 points (0/0/1/1)

Tyler Burnett, Academy 3 points (0/1/0/0)

Christian Briggs, Rockdale 2 points (0/1/0/0)

Peyton Miller, Salado 2 points (0/1/0/0)

DEFENSE

Tackles

(minimum 20)

Zach Bates, Gatesville 153

Case Brister, Lampasas 149

Fabian Salomon, Cameron Yoe 118

Hayden Mooney, Gatesville 115

Colton Barbo, Cameron Yoe 110

Keagan Richardson, Lampasas 108

Lane Ward, Academy 102

Daxton Brookreson, Lampasas 101

Javeon Wilcox, Lake Belton 92

Darion Franklin, Academy 90

JC Chaney, Holland 89

Wrook Brown, Salado 86

Colby Tolbert, Bruceville-Eddy 85

Scout Brazeal, Academy 83

Cameron Fouts, Bruceville-Eddy 82

Kofi Stoglin, Salado 81

Lawson Mooney, Gatesville 79

Kadin Workman, Troy 79

Davioun Scott, Rockdale 76

Josh Huckabee, Salado 74

Ty Mayberry, Rockdale 73

Wyatt Gardner, Academy 71

Cade White, Lampasas 68

Chase Mayfield, Rockdale 68

John Hill, Rogers 68

Lucas Morvant, Salado 68

Thiele Alvarado, Gatesville 67

Ty Legg, Lake Belton 67

Armando Reyes, Cameron Yoe 66

Connor Brennan, Lake Belton 66

Jacob Baker, Gatesville 65

Wesley Brown, Gatesville 64

Ryan Smiley, Gatesville 64

Brady Bearden, Troy 64

Eduardo Gil, Cameron Yoe 63

Ian McKinney, Lampasas 63

Ashtyn Culley, Gatesville 61

Ayden Tomasek, Holland 61

Cade Pantaleon, Rockdale 61

Peyton Miller, Salado 61

Christian Briggs, Rockdale 60

Hunter Martin, Troy 58

LaTrell Jenkins, Salado 57

Matthew Sibley, Troy 57

Joshua Carter, Lampasas 56

KeSean Raven, Rockdale 56

Greg Washington, Salado 56

Tyler Lambert, Academy 55

Landen Greene, Cameron Yoe 52

Rocky Parker, Lake Belton 52

Tanner Rambeau, Academy 51

Cayden Mata, Gatesville 51

Eric Sarmiento, Gatesville 49

Chris Martinez, Bruceville-Eddy 48

Cooper Sutton, Gatesville 45

Anthony Dansby, Rockdale 44

Aevyn Sarinana, Gatesville 43

Evan Roland, Lake Belton 43

Ben Hutka, Rogers 43

Korey Gibson, Troy 43

Bruce Onchweri, Lake Belton 42

Bruce Mayfield, Rockdale 42

Hunter Carter, Bruceville-Eddy 41

Randy Flores, Cameron Yoe 41

Drayton Castaneda, Rockdale 41

Caden Womack, Troy 41

Jacob Macias, Academy 40

Enrique Rivera, Rockdale 40

Ty Sebek, Rogers 40

Colton Cargill, Holland 39.5

Jerry Cephus, Academy 38

Jayce Jones, Rogers 37

Clayton Baggerly, Holland 36.5

Julian Lashbrook, Rogers 36

Alex Lawton, Academy 35

Sosa Sokimi, Lampasas 35

Pharrell Hemphill, Cameron Yoe 34

Banner Allman, Gatesville 33

Manuel Herrera, Lake Belton 33

Hunter Diaz, Bruceville-Eddy 32

Bryce Owens, Bruceville-Eddy 32

Jaidyn Sanchez, Cameron Yoe 32

Connelly White, Lampasas 32

Kollin Mraz, Academy 31

Ethan Mann, Holland 31

Gavin Aguilar, Rockdale 31

Christian Riley, Rogers 31

Kory Walker, Salado 31

Michael Rusk, Bruceville-Eddy 30

Ethan Rendon, Holland 30

Isaiah Koonce, Lake Belton 30

Elijah Sunderman, Troy 30

Clayton Lawson, Academy 29

Dominick Deleon, Lake Belton 29

Steve Jackson, Troy 29

Kason Goolsby, Cameron Yoe 28

Tristan Robin, Lake Belton 28

Anthony Harris, Lampasas 28

Gavin Bennett, Rogers 28

John Tomasek, Academy 27

Iverson Braziel, Cameron Yoe 27

Si Sheets, Gatesville 27

Kyle Dalton, Lake Belton 27

Ryan Poe, Salado 26

Seth Reavis, Salado 26

Joel Ramos, Troy 26

Gavin Miller, Bruceville-Eddy 25

Trenton Nix, Cameron Yoe 25

Braydon Sumners, Salado 25

Davin Brazzle, Lake Belton 24

Caleb Pate, Bruceville-Eddy 23

Joshua Whisenhunt, Holland 23

Chris Rance, Lake Belton 23

Joseph Whitehead, Lampasas 23

Brandon Bell, Lake Belton 22

Adam Walden, Lake Belton 21

Keshawn McElwain, Lampasas 21

Steven De La Mora, Troy 21

Cooper Shackelford, Academy 20

Interceptions

Jaylin McWilliams, Academy 8

Jordan Landrum, Rosebud-Lott 8

Ayden Tomasek, Holland 7

Kollin Mraz, Academy 6

Jacob Baker, Gatesville 4

KeSean Raven, Rockdale 4

Christian Riley, Rogers 4

Davin Brazzle, Lake Belton 3

Daxton Brookreson, Lampasas 3

Steve Jackson, Troy 3

Scout Brazeal, Academy 2

Jaidyn Sanchez, Cameron Yoe 2

Za'Korien Spikes, Cameron Yoe 2

Ryan Smiley, Gatesville 2

Karsen Gomez, Holland 2

Klay Pursche, Holland 2

Javeon Wilcox, Lake Belton 2

Cade White, Lampasas 2

Connelly White, Lampasas 2

Anthony Dansby, Rockdale 2

Davioun Scott, Rockdale 2

Breon Lewis, Rosebud-Lott 2

Darion Franklin, Academy 1

Wyatt Gardner, Academy 1

Levi LaFevers, Bruceville-Eddy 1

Pablo Rubio, Bruceville-Eddy 1

Iverson Braziel, Cameron Yoe 1

Eduardo Gil, Cameron Yoe 1

Pharrell Hemphill, Cameron Yoe 1

Banner Allman, Gatesville 1

Parker Allman, Gatesville 1

Aevyn Sarinana, Gatesville 1

Ethan Botts, Holland 1

Ashton Morris, Holland 1

Joshua Whisenhunt, Holland 1

Ty Legg, Lake Belton 1

Bruce Onchweri, Lake Belton 1

Case Brister, Lampasas 1

Hagen Land, Rockdale 1

Kobe Mitchell, Rockdale 1

Robert Owens, Rockdale 1

Gavin Bennett, Rogers 1

RJ Cook, Rogers 1

Logan Hare, Rogers 1

Ty Sebek, Rogers 1

Tyler Shelton, Rogers 1

Jordan Werner, Rogers 1

Moses Fox, Rosebud-Lott 1

Wrook Brown, Salado 1

Josh Huckabee, Salado 1

LaTrell Jenkins, Salado 1

Peyton Miller, Salado 1

Kofi Stoglin, Salado 1

Nolan Williams, Salado 1

#Temple #TempleWildcats #TempleFootball #TempleHighSchool #Belton #BeltonTigers #BeltonFootball #BeltonHighSchool #LakeBelton #LakeBeltonBroncos #LakeBeltonFootball #LakeBeltonHighSchool #Academy #AcademyBumblebees #BrucevilleEddy #CameronYoe #CameronYoeYoemen #Gatesville #GatesvilleHornets #Holland #HollandHornets #Rockdale #RockdaleTigers #Rogers #RogersEagles #RosebudLott #RosebudLottCougars #Salado #SaladoEagles #Troy #TroyTrojans #TXHSFB #Football2020 #TempleBeltonSports

BASEBALL: Temple College players Gonzales, Medrano, Stephenson sign with NCAA Division I programs

NEXT-LEVEL STUFF: Temple College baseball players Andruw Gonzales (left), Seth Stephenson and Nathan Medrano signed with NCAA Division I programs last Thursday. Gonzales, a freshman catcher from Elgin, signed with McNeese State of Louisiana. Stephenson, a speedy, switch-hitting freshman shortstop from Buda Hays, signed with Tennessee. Medrano, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Gilroy, California, who transferred to Temple after two seasons at St. Edward's in Austin, signed with the Houston Cougars. (Temple College photo/Special to TempleBeltonSports.com)

By GREG WILLE

TempleBeltonSports.com

gwille2@hot.rr.com

Temple College baseball players Andruw Gonzales, Nathan Medrano and Seth Stephenson signed national letters of intent with NCAA Division I programs last Thursday.

Catcher Gonzales signed with McNeese State, right-handed pitcher Medrano made his commitment to Houston official and shortstop Stephenson finalized his pledge to Tennessee.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Gonzales batted .452 with one home run, five doubles and nine runs batted in and scored 12 runs in 14 games played during the 2020 season, in which the Leopards had a 12-12 record before the NJCAA canceled the remainder of the season in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gonzales, an Elgin graduate who still has freshman eligibility for TC's upcoming 2021 season, will join McNeese State's Lake Charles, Louisiana-based Cowboys, who compete in the Southland Conference.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Medrano, from Gilroy, California, is in his first semester at Temple College after playing the 2019 and 2020 seasons for NCAA Division II St. Edward's University in Austin. As a freshman Medrano had a 4-4 record with a 3.11 earned-run average and 56 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings and also batted .303 in 33 at-bats for the Hilltoppers, whose coaching staff includes former TC standout David Wood.

In the shortened 2020 season, he was 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. He'll be a sophomore for the Leopards in 2021 before he transfers to join Houston's Cougars, who compete in the American Athletic Conference.

By signing with the Tennessee Volunteers of the Southeastern Conference, the speedy Stephenson, a 5-9, 155-pound product of Buda Hays, gives Temple one of its most high-profile Division I signings in recent history.

The switch-hitting shortstop was off to a stellar start as a freshman last spring, batting .318 with six triples, three doubles and seven RBI while scoring 24 runs and stealing eight bases in 23 games before the season stopped. He'll still be a freshman for Temple in the 2021 season.

The Leopards of longtime head coach Craig McMurtry are slated to begin their spring season Jan. 30 with a doubleheader against St. Edward's in Austin. Temple's home opener at Danny Scott Sports Complex is scheduled for Feb. 12, a single game against Navarro. TC will begin its 32-game Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference schedule March 10 at Weatherford before those teams play again in Temple on March 13.

#TempleCollege #TempleCollegeLeopards #TC #TempleCollegeBaseball #TCbaseball #TCLeopards #AndruwGonzales #NathanMedrano #SethStephenson #JUCObaseball #TempleBeltonSports

SALADO SURVIVAL: No. 6 Eagles stave off Bellville for 28-23 win, get No. 1 Carthage in regional semi

SENIOR MOMENT: Salado senior Wrook Brown ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns, played free safety and kicked four extra points to help the sixth-ranked Eagles defeat Bellville 28-23 in a Class 4A Division II area-round playoff game Friday night at Mary Hardin-Baylor's Crusader Stadium in Belton. Fellow senior backs Noah Mescher (149 rushing yards) and Reid Vincent (94 yards) had one TD run each for Salado (11-1), which advanced to battle No. 1 Carthage (10-0) in a Region III semifinal next Friday night in Porter. Carthage's Bulldogs went 16-0 last year in winning the 4A Division I state championship. (Photo by Greg Wille, TempleBeltonSports.com)

By GREG WILLE

TempleBeltonSports.com

gwille2@hot.rr.com

BELTON – When Salado senior Wrook Brown stretched the football across the goal line for a 6-yard touchdown rush and a 28-10 lead with 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter, it seemed that his sixth-ranked Eagles were on the verge of putting familiar playoff opponent Bellville away in Friday night's Class 4A Division II area-round showdown.

However, the stubborn Brahmas made sure that Salado – which never scored again in the teams' third postseason matchup in five years – couldn't relax until the scoreboard clock at Mary Hardin-Baylor's Crusader Stadium showed 0:00.

Back-to-back touchdown passes by Bellville's Jake Lischka sliced Salado's advantage to 28-23 midway through the fourth, and the Brahmas had one final possession to try to drive for the winning TD. But from Bellville's 39-yard line, Salado senior end Ryan Poe swarmed Lischka with intense pressure and forced an errant pass as time expired, allowing the Eagles to escape with a hard-fought 28-23 victory and earn a shot against top-ranked Carthage in a Region III semifinal next Friday.

“Ever since we got out there in August, we've had a real serious mindset about it and we know what we're here to do,” said Brown, Salado's versatile standout who rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns, played sharp defense at free safety and kicked four extra points. “We haven't lost momentum. It's playoff football and we're excited every week to go out there.”

Complementing Brown's performance in Salado's customary Slot-T offensive attack, fullback Noah Mescher rushed for a game-high 149 yards with a 5-yard touchdown and fellow senior Reid Vincent ran for 94 yards with a 56-yard TD sprint at tailback. The Eagles rushed for 349 yards and passed for 1.

After surviving the stiff test from Bellville (9-2), District 9-4A Division II champion Salado (11-1) will challenge one of the state's most successful programs in Carthage (10-0) at 5:30 p.m. next Friday at New Caney ISD's Randall Reed Stadium in Porter.

The Bulldogs won last year's 4A Division I state championship – they dropped to 4A Division II in the University Interscholastic League's offseason reclassification and realignment – and have won 26 consecutive games, the latest one Friday's 49-0 thrashing of Silsbee.

“Here's the thing you look forward to: practicing during Thanksgiving. Any time you're practicing during Thanksgiving, you've got a shot at it,” Salado fifth-year head coach Alan Haire said after improving to 2-1 in playoff duels against Bellville and Brahmas 10th-year head coach Grady Rowe, his close friend who was Troy's head coach from 2004-10.

“One thing we've always talked about here is measuring ourselves against the best. I think we're as prepared as we're going to be. We've seen it. We're going to enjoy this one tonight, but we all know who Carthage is.”

Said Poe, a third-year varsity defensive end whose Eagles were eliminated in the second round last year by eventual 4A D-II state champion Texarkana Pleasant Grove: “We're always looking for a challenge. We're a family, like we're blood brothers.”

COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH: Salado senior defensive end Ryan Poe pressured Bellville quarterback Jake Lischka on the final play to force an incomplete pass that preserved the sixth-ranked Eagles' 28-23 victory over the Brahmas in a Class 4A Division II area-round playoff duel Friday night at Mary Hardin-Baylor's Crusader Stadium in Belton. Poe helped Salado's hard-hitting defense hold Bellville running back Richard Reese without a touchdown after the dynamic junior entered with 1,736 rushing yards and 26 TDs. (Photo by Greg Wille, TempleBeltonSports.com)

Bellville running back Richard Reese entered the area-round duel with 1,726 rushing yards (averaging more than 10 per carry) and 26 touchdowns in the Brahmas' brand of the Slot-T. The dynamic junior gained 135 yards on 22 rushes against Salado, but the Eagles' defenders prevented Reese from reaching the end zone.

During a season in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected so many teams and games, Salado played Bellville without starting sophomore halfback Caden Strickland, who along with a few other Eagles players is in quarantine because of contact tracing, Haire said. That meant a significant increase in playing time on offense for the elusive Brown, and the battle-tested Eagles kept pushing hard to fulfill their mission of earning at least one more big game.

“From summer workouts to the (COVID-19-related) restrictions to two-a-days, our theme all year has been 'get to.' We just hoped to get to that next game. I think that's what got us by. We didn't look at the end result. It was just, 'Can we get to Friday?'” said Haire, whose Eagles are into the third round for the first time since 2017, when they defeated Bellville 13-10 in overtime to reach the 4A Division II Region III final before losing 14-0 to West Orange-Stark.

Haire and Rowe have known each other since 2004, and they often competed with each other in district play as the head coaches at Lago Vista and Troy, respectively. Rowe and Bellville knocked Salado out of the playoffs in Haire's debut season in 2016, but Haire's Eagles ousted the Brahmas in 2017 and again this year in the programs' rubber match.

And frankly, regardless of the result, they'd rather not play each other when someone's season must end.

“I think of Coach Rowe and his family so much, and it just is uncomfortable playing each other. I don't like it, and I told him that after the game,” Haire said. “I hate it for him and his kids, because I respect him and I know what they're about and what he teaches. You just wish you never played. I hope you print that, because I think the world of him.”

For Rowe, who's steered the Brahmas to a 91-35 record and 10 straight playoff berths, the feeling was mutual as his teary-eyed players consoled each other nearby.

“Coach Haire and his staff do such a good job. He and I have known each other for 17 years now, and we've battled each other for a long time,” Rowe said. “We're good friends and we talk during the week. We hate playing each other, but it's something we do.”

Although Bellville trailed 28-10 with 4 minutes left in the third period, Rowe said he knew his Brahmas had the grit and ability to come back within them. They've played inspired football throughout the season after senior tight end and linebacker Zach Hood died in a single-vehicle accident prior to this season.

“Well, our guys have faced bigger adversity in life with the passing of Zach Hood before the season started. So we've faced bigger adversity than that," Rowe said of the 18-point deficit. "Our kids continue to fight and play for him and his memory. It's no surprise that they fought back the way they did.”

After clinching its outright district crown Oct. 30 with a 66-0 romp over Robinson, Salado ended the regular season with an open date and then got another one when COVID-19 cases prevented bi-district foe Rusk from playing last Friday, handing the Eagles a playoff win by forfeit.

After three weeks in between games, well-rested Salado got off to a quick start against Bellville. Brown ran for 17 yards and gained 4 on fourth-and-3 from the Brahmas' 9-yard line before Mescher blasted through the middle for a 5-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 4:41 gone.

Bellville then displayed the strength of its Slot-T with a 79-yard, 5-minute drive that was capped by Robert Briggs' 31-yard TD dash for a 7-7 deadlock with 2½ minutes left in the first.

Salado struck again on its second possession, with junior quarterback Hutton Haire surging ahead for 3 yards on fourth-and-1 from his 41 before Vincent went up the gut and sprinted for a 56-yard touchdown on the second quarter's first play, giving the Eagles a 14-7 advantage.

Bellville marched to the Salado 8 on its ensuing drive, but the Eagles' defense stiffened and the Brahmas settled for Benito Florencio's 25-yard field goal midway through the second for a 14-10 score that held up through halftime.

Salado's hard-hitting defense set the tone 2 minutes into the second half when seniors LaTrell Jenkins, Peyton Miller and Greg Washington combined to pummel Reese for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the Bellville 41, and the turnover on downs gave the Eagles a big spark.

Brown ran for 17 yards and Haire pushed for 5 before Brown took a handoff to the left side and used a block from senior guard K.C. Perkins to crash inside the pylon for a 10-yard touchdown and a 21-10 Salado lead 4:15 into the third quarter.

A strong defensive series gave the ball back to the Eagles, and Mescher charged for 43 yards to the 10 before Brown ran off left tackle, cut back inside and fought though multiple defenders to extend the ball across the goal line for a 6-yard TD that had Salado in total control at 28-10 with 4:09 left in the third.

“It's a game of momentum,” Brown said. “We gained some momentum and kept the ball rolling, and when the offense gets going it fuels the defense.”

Said Alan Haire: “I felt like our offensive line was getting to their linebackers, getting to the second level and maintaining their blocks. Noah Mescher, Wrook Brown and Reid Vincent were warriors. That's who we are.”

Rowe described the difficulty his defense had trying to contain Salado's relentless Slot-T ground game.

“They popped a couple (of long plays) on us, and they're a physical football team,” he said. “Their backs do such a great job of staying behind their blockers and almost hiding in there and then cutting upfield. They don't try to bounce things and get greedy. They get upfield quick.”

However, Salado's major momentum soon evaporated on Bellville's ensuing possession. Kyle Peschel got open behind the secondary to catch Lischka's pass for a 33-yard touchdown, trimming the Brahmas' deficit to 28-17 with 28 seconds remaining in the third.

Alan Haire made several bold down-and-distance decisions with Salado's offense, including Brown's 6-yard dive on fourth-and-2 from the Eagles' 45 early in the fourth. Salado eventually punted, but that first down allowed the Eagles to take more than 3 minutes off the clock.

Lischka's 28-yard pass to Briggs and a 15-yard penalty on Salado for unsportsmanlike conduct helped Bellville move into Eagles territory, then Trevon Green jumped above his defender to catch Lischka's 26-yard touchdown pass and cut Salado's lead to 28-23 with 5:49 remaining. The Brahmas' 2-point pass fell incomplete.

“They've got a good passing game and can stretch your defense. They're a tough matchup,” Alan Haire said of Bellville. “Mental execution on our part got us. We did some things to ourselves that caused that anxiety. We've got to clean that up. Our hardest opponent is ourselves. What we're going to do Monday is try to overcome ourselves and just go to work. Let's just get better.”

Facing fourth-and-2 at its 36 with 3:50 remaining, Salado again went for the first down and got it on Mescher's 7-yard blast off right tackle, helping the Eagles drain another 2½ minutes.

“We didn't want to give them the ball back, and we wanted to maintain the clock,” Alan Haire said. “Those things are practiced. We get four downs, the last time I checked.”

After a holding penalty negated Vincent's 37-yard touchdown sprint, Bellville's resurgent defense forced a punt and the Brahmas began their final drive at their 21 with 1:27 remaining.

“We started doing some things a little different (on defense), but we stayed basically in a goal-line, big-boy package,” Rowe said. “And then we started tackling a little better, which was a big key.”

Said Brown: “(Bellville) did a good job crashing in all night, really.”

Out of timeouts and needing to drive 79 yards for a go-ahead touchdown, Bellville couldn't crack Salado's defense in crunch time. Kofi Stoglin smothered Lischka's second-down pass, and fellow senior linebacker Lucas Morvant stopped Lischka for a 1-yard gain to the Brahmas' 39. Then on fourth down in the closing seconds, Poe grabbed Lischka and dragged him down as time expired, causing the junior's disrupted pass to fall to the turf a few yards away before the relieved Eagles celebrated their victory.

Said Brown: "Our defense is always itching and everyone wants to be the one to make the play."

Now it's on to perennial heavyweight Carthage in next Friday's Region III semifinal, and Salado believes the experience it gained from last year's 42-14 second-round loss to powerful Pleasant Grove – plus its competitive 21-7 home defeat in early September against two-time defending 3A Division I state champion Grandview (11-0) – will boost the seasoned Eagles in their quest to knock off the mighty Bulldogs.

“We're looking forward to it. It's a similar situation as last year, but we're not the same team and (the opponent is) a different team, so it's a new situation,” Brown said. “We were fairly young last year, but we've got a lot of experience this year and that can play in our favor.”

CLASS 4A DIVISION II AREA ROUND

No. 6 SALADO 28, BELLVILLE 23

Salado 7 7 14 0 – 28

Bellville 7 3 7 6 – 23

First quarter

Salado – Noah Mescher 5 run (Wrook Brown kick), 7:19.

Bellville – Robert Briggs 31 run (Benito Florencio kick), 2:27.

Second quarter

Salado – Reid Vincent 56 run (Brown kick), 11:51.

Bellville – Florencio 25 field goal, 5:52.

Third quarter

Salado – Brown 10 run (Brown kick), 7:42.

Salado – Brown 6 run (Brown kick), 4:09.

Bellville – Kyle Peschel 33 pass from Jake Lischka (Florencio kick), 0:28.

Fourth quarter

Bellville – Trevon Green 26 pass from Lischka (pass failed), 5:49.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Salado 17; Bellville 15.

Rushes-yards: Salado 52-349; Bellville 39-223.

Passing yards: Salado 1; Bellville 112.

Completions-attempts-interceptions: Salado 1-2-0; Bellville 7-14-0.

Offensive plays-total yards: Salado 54-350; Bellville 53-335.

Punts-average: Salado 3-22.3; Bellville 2-28.5.

Fumbles-lost: Salado 0; Bellville 1-0.

Penalties-yards: Salado 9-70; Bellville 3-30.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Salado: Mescher 24-149, Vincent 8-94, Brown 16-93, Hutton Haire 4-13; Bellville: Richard Reese 22-135, Briggs 8-49, Lischka 6-22, Peschel 3-17.

Passing – Salado: Haire 1-2-0-1; Bellville: Lischka 7-14-0-112.

Receiving – Salado: Brown 1-1; Bellville: Peschel 3-45, Briggs 1-28, Green 1-26, Brandt Okonski 2-13.

#Salado #SaladoEagles #SaladoFootball #SaladoHighSchool #Bellville #TXHSFB #TXHSFBplayoffs #Football2020 #TempleBeltonSports