After the wildness that ensued at Gordon Wood Stadium in Week 1, the Brownwood Lions look to build on their momentum as they hit the road for their first test away from friendly confines, as the Midland Greenwood Rangers await at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Lions (1-0) are coming off a 58-55 opening-victory over Lampasas in which they trailed by 14 points four minutes into the game, then by 10 points again in the fourth quarter before a field goal on the final snap of the game led to the win.

Greenwood (0-1) was on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of offensive fireworks, falling to Lubbock Estacado by a 16-7 count.

In Greenwood’s opener, the Rangers trailed 10-0 at the half and did not score until 6:35 remained in the game when Zane Ogle recovered a fumble in the end zone.

As a team, Greenwood mustered just 171 yards – 104 passing and 67 rushing. Quarterback Ty Flowers completed 15 of 23 passes as leading receivers were Tatum Pierce (4-36), Rance Purser (5-30), Cade Carrell (3-23), Caden Grubbs (2-3), Ogle (1-8), and Rolando Rodriguez (1-4). On the ground, Aaron Fikes led the charge with 66 yards.

“Offensively, the Flowers kid at quarterback is a tall kid that can sling it,” said Lions fourth-year head coach Sammy Burnett. “They’re getting in some tight end stuff, yet they’re getting in some 2-x2s and 3x1s and they’re in the gun to feature some of his tools because he’s a kid that can throw the football around.

“With the run game, they like to toss the ball, run the cut back, run the sweep, run the lead, run the counters, they love to pull and kick, they love to pull and seal. They’re a block down, kick out kind of team. Their lineman come off the ball hard, like Salado does, that’s what they’re ingrained to do. But we’re going to have to go out there and play our game and do what we do.”

Brownwood will be looking to improve upon a defensive effort that featured seven touchdowns and two field goals allowed, along with 613 yards – 358 through the air with seven touchdowns and 255 on the ground. However, the Lions shut down Lampasas on four of its final five possessions – including forcing the Badgers’ only turnover of the game – to set the stage for the comeback.

Defensive standouts included Dryden Anderson (12 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks), Quentin Thompson (11 tackles), Noah Barron (9 tackles), Jordan Leach (8 tackles, 1 FR), Jaylan Brown (8 tackles, 2.5 for loss), Case Markham (6 tackles), Owen Huntsinger (6 tackles), Azariah Dillard (6 tackles, 0.5 for loss), Christian Chambers (4 tackles), Brandon Holland (4 tackles, 0.5 sacks), and Quinten McCarty (3 tackles, 0.5 for loss).

On the offensive side of the ball, behind the front five of Slayde Espinoza, Brandon Still, Ethan Pesina, Alex Reyna and Damian Sanchez, the Lions’ new uptempo offensive attack churned out 579 yards of total offense – 388 rushing and 191 passing.

Konlyn Anderson rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries, while quarterback Chance Jones completed 10 of 20 passes for 191 yards and two scoring tosses and also rushing for 49 yards and two scores. Leading receivers were Jason Jackson (4-96, TD), Elias Huerta-Doud (4-44), Thad Hinds (1-29, TD), and Brayden Daub (1-22), while Brown chipped in 53 yards on the ground.

The Lions also have a weapon in kicker Junior Martinez, who nailed all seven PAT attempts as well as three field goals from 25, 28 and 21 yards – the last winning the game.

Defensively, the Rangers surrendered 372 yards – 223 on the ground and 149 through the air – two touchdowns, and a field goal to Estacado last week. Greenwood, however, forced three Estacado turnovers.

“Their defensive line is good,” Burnett said. “They run a 4-2-5 which is different than that we saw last week, we saw an odd front, so our kids have been working on an even front. Their linebackers play well, they understand what they’re doing defensively. Schematically they understand how to play their schemes and do a good job of that.”

As for any concerns of an emotional letdown following last week’s win, Burnett stated he has been pleased with the focus the Lions have displayed in practice this week.

“The kids have had a great week of work, I feel like we’ve matured,” Burnett said. “There wasn’t any dragging. We got out there and got after it and I feel like we’ve gotten better.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Brownwood is a 7-point favorite.

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Brownwood Lions Football 2021 Season Stats
Through 1 Game (1-0)

TEAM OFFENSE
58 points per game
579 yards per game
388 rushing yards per game
191 passing yards per game

PASSING

‒ Chance Jones
10 of 20 for 191 yards, 2 TDs

RUSHING
‒ Konlyn Anderson
286 yards on 35 carries, 3 TDs

‒ Jaylan Brown
53 yards on 9 carries

‒ Chance Jones
49 yards on 7 carries, 2 TDs

RECEIVING
‒ Jason Jackson
4 catches for 96 yards, TD

‒ Elias Huerta-Doud
4 catches for 44 yards

‒ Thad Hinds
1 catch for 29 yards, TD

‒ Brayden Daub
1 catch for 22 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE
55 points per game
613 yards per game
255 rushing yards per game
358 passing yards per game

TACKLES
‒ Dryden Anderson
12 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks

‒ Quentin Thompson
11 tackles

‒ Noah Barron
9 tackles

‒ Jordan Leach
8 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Jaylan Brown
8 tackles, 2.5 for loss

‒ Case Markham
6 tackles

‒ Owen Huntsinger
6 tackles

‒ Azariah Dillard
6 tackles, 0.5 for loss

‒ Christian Chambers
4 tackles

‒ Brandon Holland

4 tackles, 0.5 sacks

‒ Quinten McCarty
3 tackles, 0.5 for loss

‒ Zaiden Lopez
2 tackles

‒ Cole Miller
2 tackles

‒ Taylor Bessent
1 tackle
‒ Brayden Daub
1 tackle

‒ Uriah King
1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN: (-2)
Brownwood 3 — 3 fumbles
Opponents 1 — 1 fumble