Kickoff between the Dragons (4-0) – which made their first playoff appearance last year since 2014 – and Eagles (1-4) is slated for 7 p.m. Friday at Eagle Stadium.
Due to a COVID-19 situation on Sept. 18 and their pre-district bye last week, the Dragons have played just one game – a 39-15 home win over Hawley – in the last 27 days leading up the district opener. Because of Bangs’ performance in the win over Hawley, Dragons third-year head coach Kyle Maxfield isn’t as concerned about the recent lack of live action.
“Since we played the week before and really executed on both sides of the ball and the kicking game, it makes your uneasiness a little less,” Maxfield said. “At the same time we’re anxious to get back on the field, pick up where we left off and hopefully don’t show any signs of rust.”
After playing in an eight-team district the last two seasons, Bangs is back in a six-team league for the next two seasons, and the importance of starting district with a victory isn’t lost on Maxfield – especially with the threat of COVID-19 cancellations lingering.
“It’s huge especially with the circumstances with COVID,” Maxfield said. “We had one district game canceled this week – Brady vs. Ballinger – so you have to make the most of every opportunity when you step out on the field. I know it’s a different year, 2020 is still crazy to us so we’re taking it one day at a time and hopefully we have got over the hump with COVID and hopefully this is the last cancellation we see in the district.”
Regarding the Brady-Ballinger game, Maxfield said Brady will receive a -8 in a points tiebreaker situation for a forfeit, opposed to the max -17 that could take place with an on-the-field loss.
Bangs enters Friday’s district opener averaging 41 points and 447 yards – 291 rushing and 156 passing – per outing.
Quarterback Ethan Cortez has completed 26 of 38 passes for 622 yards with six touchdowns while rushing for 315 yards – second-most on the team – and four more scores. Ethan Sanchez anchors the ground game with 714 yards and 11 touchdowns while Damien Santillanes has chipped in 126 yards and a touchdown and Guy Powell – in limited action due to an injury – has contributed 87 yards.
Regarding Powell’s injury, Maxfield said, “He practiced a little earlier in the week and was a little sore, but I think that’s just getting used to being back on that ankle. We’re not 100 percent healthy but we’re getting into the low to mid 90s on the health meter.”
The Dragons’ receiving corps features Brayton Wedeman (11-279, 3 TDs), Trevor Bowers (4-130, TD), Sanchez (3-134, 2 TDs), Santillanes (3-12), Powell (2-34), and Logan Massey (2-33).
“Offensively, we just need to execute, don’t shoot ourselves in the foot, maintain blocks, move the chains and don’t have any drive-stopping penalties or turnovers. That’s the big keys,” Maxfield said of the offensive goals against Grape Creek.
Defensively, Bangs is surrendering just 8 points and 249 yards – 134 rushing and 115 passing – per contest.
Standouts include Sanchez (42 tackles, 1 INT, 2 FRs), Santillanes (35.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR), Wedeman (23 tackles, 1 INT), Charlie Smith (19.5 tackles, 2 for loss), Logan Bishop (18.5 tackles, 1 for loss), Wyatt Lykins (14 tackles, 1 for loss), Bowers (13.5 tackles, 1 for loss), and Trey Ivey (12.5 tackles).
“Defensively we will have to play good technique and be disciplined because they do some funky stuff on offense that you just don’t see, and they’ve gotten better as it as they season has gone on. It’s a new system for them,” Maxfield said.
Grape Creek, which also had a bye last week, is coming off a 36-0 loss at Early in which the Eagles mustered just 82 yards of total offense. The Eagles have also fallen to Coleman (24-8), Stanton (8-0) and Christoval (23-18). The lone win for the Eagles came against San Angelo TLCA (42-12).
In Grape Creek’s win, the Eagles generated 563 total yards, including 474 rushing, and overcame five turnovers by forcing four. Grape Creek trailed at one point 12-6 and the game was even at 12 at halftime, but the Eagles scored the final 36 points of the contest.
Grape Creek’s Jorge Rodriguez carried the ball 16 times for 106 yards and three touchdowns in the game and also tallied eight tackles, including five for loss with three sacks.
“Coach (Tanner) Thiel has gone a good job there,” Maxfield said. “They play really well at home. It’s a new season for them just like it is for us and whatever you’ve done in the preseason really doesn’t matter. We like where we’re at right now but everybody’s record is 0-0. It’s a new season and we’ve got to stay focused, make a good road trip to Grape Creek, treat it like a business trip, take care of business and try to get to 1-0 in district.
“Grape Creek will get physical with you on defense and on offense they run an offense you just don’t see, it’s almost like the single wing back in the old days where you never know where the ball is going. We worked on that the end of last week and the beginning of this week, and we still have some work to do because it’s a tricky offense you just don’t see very often.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 37-point favorite.
Bangs Dragons 2020 Football Stats
Through 4 Games (4-0)
TEAM OFFENSE
41.0 points per game (164)
446.8 yards per game (1,787)
291.3 rushing yards per game (1,165)
155.5 passing yards per game (622)
PASSING
‒ Ethan Cortez
26 of 38 for 622 yards, 6 TDs
RUSHING
‒ Ethan Sanchez
714 yards on 59 carries, 11 TDs
‒ Ethan Cortez
315 yards on 35 carries, 4 TDs
‒ Damien Santillanes
126 yards on 12 carries, 1 TD
‒ Guy Powell
87 yards on 16 carries
‒ Harley Keely
31 yards on 7 carries
‒ Tait Bowers
5 yards on 1 carry
‒ Team
–15 yards on 1 carry
RECEIVING
‒ Brayton Wedeman
11 catches for 279 yards, 3 TDs
‒ Trevor Bowers
4 catches for 130 yards, 1 TD
‒ Ethan Sanchez
3 catches for 134 yards, 2 TDs
‒ Damien Santillanes
3 catches for 12 yards
‒ Guy Powell
2 catches for 34 yards
‒ Logan Massey
2 catches for 33 yards
TEAM DEFENSE
8.5 points per game (34)
249.3 yards per game (997)
134.5 rushing yards per game (538)
114.8 passing yards per game (459)
TACKLES
‒ Ethan Sanchez
42 tackles, 1 INT, 2 FRs
‒ Damian Santillanes
35.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR
‒ Brayton Wedeman
23 tackles, 1 INT
‒ Charlie Smith
19.5 tackles, 2 for loss
‒ Logan Bishop
18.5 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Wyatt Lykins
14 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Trevor Bowers
13.5 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Trey Ivey
12.5 tackles
‒ Braden Montgomery
9 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Evan Belez
8.5 tackles, 2 INTs
‒ Donovan Ruiz
7 tackles, 1 for loss
‒ Logan Massey
6 tackles
‒ Ethan Cortez
5.5 tackles
‒ Guy Powell
4.5 tackles, 1 INT
‒ Harley Keely
4 tackles
‒ Trevor Lorah
3.5 tackles
‒ Tait Bowers
2.5 tackles
‒ Harley Keely
2 tackles
‒ Jackson Light
2 tackles
‒ Jesse Sterling
2 tackles
‒ Dakota Baker
1.5 tackles
‒ Luke Duncan
1.5 tackles
‒ Austin Tilley
1 tackle
‒ Jackson Light
1 tackle
‒ Braxton Melling
.5 tackle, 1 FR