EARLY – The Early Longhorns opened the 2021 football season with a convincing victory over the rival Bangs Dragons, 48-12, Friday night at Longhorn Stadium.

Early (1-0) finished with 479 yards of total offense – 288 passing and 191 rushing – while allowing Bangs (0-1) just 261 yards – 193 on the ground and 68 through the air – and creating a pair of takeaways. The Longhorns did not commit a turnover.

Quarterback Jaxyn Price completed 16 of 19 passes for 220 yards with five touchdowns for Early, while Tucker Hale added a 68-yard scoring toss on his only attempt.

Cedric Morelan finished with a pair of scoring grabs totaling 45 yards for Early, while John-Stewart Gordon caught three passes for 97 yards and scored once. Tre Beam pulled down three receptions for 51 yards and reached the end zone, Caleb McCullough grabbed two passes covering 32 yards and scored, and Ki Houston hauled in a 15-yard touchdown. Jeremy Brown led Early with five catches for 48 yards, but didn’t cross the goal line.

On the ground, Beam led the way with 100 yards followed by 56 yards and a touchdown from Michael Morales, 25 yards from Riley Hill, and 10 yards from Kaleb Ozuna.

For Bangs, Guy Powell rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown, while Kade Minshew connected on 11 of 17 passes for 68 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Damien Santillanes caught a team-high four passes for 30 yards and scored.

Braxton Melling added two grabs for 29 yards for the Dragons, Powell caught two passes covering 11 yards and Minshew tacked on 28 yards rushing.

Next week, Early ventures to Tolar (1-0) – a 48-0 winner over Post Friday night – while Bangs plays hosts to Florence (0-1), which dropped a 14-13 decision to Johnson City to start it campaign.