The Brownwood Lions let an opportunity to remain undefeated slip through their fingers last week at Midland Greenwood, but head coach Sammy Burnett’s squad will attempt regroup and pull off their second upset of the season as they venture to China Spring to battle the Class 4A Division II No. 5 Cougars at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Following a 58-55 home win over Lampasas, the Lions dropped a 21-20 decision to Greenwood last week in which Brownwood (1-1) yielded the final 15 points of the game, and suffered from several self-inflicted wounds – two second-half turnovers, 12 penalties for 112 yards, and two possessions in the end zone resulting in no points, among others.
Burnett has been pleased with the work the Lions have put in during practice this week as they attempt to learn from last Friday’s mistakes.
“We’ve had three good days of practice, the kids are working hard, and I think we’re gelling together better as a team,” Burnett said Wednesday. “I said before there are some things internally we’re trying to work on and our kids have responded to our coaches and to the senior leadership we have. We had an opportunity for our four senior captains to step up this week and learn how to lead. We had a lot of conversations with them and with their teammates and I think all in all it was great. To our kids’ credit they are maturing and responding to that.”
China Spring (2-0), among the elite teams in 4A Division II according to Harris Ratings Weekly, has started its season with victories over Addison Trinity Christian (49-15) and Lorena (21-13). Along with their 35 points per game, the Cougars are averaging 318.5 yards – 278.5 rushing and 40 passing – per outing.
The Cougars are led by quarterback Major Bowden, a former Brownwood Lion, who has rushed for a team-best 335 yards while completing 10 of 23 passes for 77 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Other standouts include Kyle Barton with 163 yards on the ground, along with receivers Sebastian Trevino (3-45) and Tre Hafford (4-28).
“Offensively they have a good offensive line, they have some good receivers, but they’re led by Major Bowden,” Burnett said. “Major’s done a great job, he’s a hard working kid and the team goes as Major goes. Our goal is to try and stop Major and see if we can put some pressure on him and do some things to make them uncomfortable.”
In last week’s 21-13 win over Lorena, the Cougars jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead as Bowden rushed for 145 yards and he also tossed a 12-yard touchdown to Barton. Dawson Exline added a 3-yard touchdown run, while Jaylen Trotter returned a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown.
China Spring forced three Lorena turnovers – Jacob Mott and Tristan Exline intercepted passes as well – while yielding 211 total yards with touchdown passes of 31 and 80 yards to the Leopards.
“They have a lot of returners from last year and they play really hard and really fast, they fly to the football,” Burnett said of the China Spring defense, which has not allowed more than two touchdowns in a game. “They’ve got a lot going for them and they have a lot of confidence coming off last year’s semifinal run where they got beat by Carthage, who won the state championship.”
The Lions counter with an offense that is averaging 39 points and 459 yards – 291 on the ground and 168 through the air – per outing. After racking up 579 yards and 58 points in the opener, Brownwood sputtered at times last week, finishing with 339 yards and just two offensive touchdowns.
Behind a front five of Ethan Pesina, Slayde Espinoza, Damian Sanchez, Brandon Still and Alex Reyna, quarterback Chance Jones has completed 22 of 50 passes for 336 yards with three touchdowns. Leading receivers include Jason Jackson (8-137, TD), Elias Huerta-Doud (8-128 yards, TD) and Thad Hinds (4-43, TD).
Konlyn Anderson anchors the ground game with 411 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries – an average of almost 7 yards per tote – while Jones has chipped in 94 yards and two scores and Jaylan Brown has contributed 77 yards.
Defensively, the Lions surrender 38 points and 464 yards – 241 rushing and 223 rushing – per game. After being shredded for 613 yards and 55 points against Lampasas, Brownwood pitched a shutout in the first half against Greenwood, giving up just one first down and 56 yards. By night’s end, however, Greenwood picked up 315 yards behind 199 second-half rushing yards and tallied three touchdowns.
Standouts defensively for the Lions include Dryden Anderson (20 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks), Noah Barron (18 tackles), Brown (17 tackles, 2.5 for loss), Jordan Leach (16 tackles, 0.5, 1 FR), Case Markham (15 tackles), Quentin Thompson (15 tackles), Owen Huntsinger (12 tackles), Zaiden Lopez (8 tackles), Quinten McCarty (7 tackles, 2.5 for loss), Brandon Holland (6 tackles, 0.5 sacks), Azariah Dillard (6 tackles, 0.5 for loss), and Cole Miller (5 tackles, 0.5 for loss, 1 INT).
Health-wise, no Lions are expected to miss Friday’s game due to injury.
“We’re finishing the week well practice-wise and preparation-wise,” Burnett said. “I think we have an outstanding game plan for them, we just need to go out there and execute in all three phases of the game. We have to play with great passion, play physical and let the chips fall where they may, and I think our kids are preparing to do that.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Brownwood is an 18-point underdog.
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Brownwood Lions Football 2021 Season Stats
Through 2 Games (1-1)
TEAM OFFENSE
39.0 points per game (78)
459.0 yards per game (918)
291.0 rushing yards per game (582)
168.0 passing yards per game (336)
PASSING
‒ Chance Jones
22 of 50 for 336 yards, 3 TDs
RUSHING
‒ Konlyn Anderson
411 yards on 60 carries, 4 TDs
‒ Chance Jones
94 yards on 17 carries, 2 TDs
‒ Jaylan Brown
77 yards on 12 carries
RECEIVING
‒ Jason Jackson
8 catches for 137 yards, TD
‒ Elias Huerta-Doud
8 catches for 128 yards, TD
‒ Thad Hinds
4 catches for 43 yards, TD
‒ Brayden Daub
1 catch for 22 yards
‒ Konlyn Anderson
1 catch for 6 yards
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TEAM DEFENSE
38.0 points per game (76)
464.0 yards per game (928)
241.0 rushing yards per game (482)
223.0 passing yards per game (446)
TACKLES
‒ Dryden Anderson
20 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks
‒ Noah Barron
18 tackles
‒ Jaylan Brown
17 tackles, 2.5 for loss
‒ Jordan Leach
16 tackles, 0.5, 1 FR
‒ Case Markham
15 tackles
‒ Quentin Thompson
15 tackles
‒ Owen Huntsinger
12 tackles
‒ Zaiden Lopez
8 tackles
‒ Quinten McCarty
7 tackles, 2.5 for loss
‒ Brandon Holland
6 tackles, 0.5 sacks
‒ Azariah Dillard
6 tackles, 0.5 for loss
‒ Cole Miller
5 tackles, 0.5 for loss, 1 INT
‒ Christian Chambers
4 tackles
‒ Brayden Daub
2 tackles
‒ Taylor Bessent
1 tackle
‒ Uriah King
1 tackle
‒ Elias Huerta-Doud
1 tackle, 1 FR
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TURNOVER MARGIN: (-2)
Brownwood 5 — 5 fumbles
Opponents 3 — 2 fumbles, 1 INT