BANGS – After a week layoff due to a COVID outbreak within the team, the Bangs Dragons return to the field at 7 p.m. Friday seeking their first victory of the season against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Bangs (0-2) opened its season with losses to Early (48-12) and Florence (48-12) while last week’s game against Winters was cancelled. Meanwhile, Hamilton (2-1) owns wins over Hico (30-0) and Moody (46-7) with a loss to Riesel (28-12).

As for how the Dragons spent last week, fourth-year head coach Kyle Maxfield said, “We’ve been limited but I think we made the best out of a bad situation that we could. Half of our varsity kids were out, it wasn’t always the same kids, but we never knew who was going to be able to show up. We went back to some fundamentals with the guys we had because we couldn’t do a lot of group or teamwork drills. We did a lot of one-on-one and individual work.”

The Dragons and Bulldogs didn’t play last season as Hamilton was forced to cancelled the game due to COVID concerns. That, and a Hamilton shift in offensive philosophy, has lead to a level of unfamiliarity between the opponents not often seen in a second-year non-district matchup.

“It’s weird because in the second year you know them a little better than you did in the first, but this is a new experience for us,” Maxfield said. “They’ve changed their plan on offense, they’ve gone to the Wing T. Their defensive plan is similar.”

In the win over Hico, Hamilton piled up 347 yards on the ground while the Bulldogs rushed for 446 of their 509 total yards in the win over Moody.

“Their type of offense can be very ball controlled, they try and keep the ball away from you, but at the same time in the Wing T they can have some explosive plays,” Maxfield said. “We have our hands full. Being more aggressive and being better tacklers on defense will be key for us.”

Bangs enters the contest having allowed 46.5 points and 429 yards – 232.5 rushing and 196.5 passing – on average.

Defensive standouts thus far include Azreal Escobedo (12.5 tackles), Damien Santillanes (10.5 tackles), Guy Powell (9 tackles), Hunter Bernal (8 tackles), David Herrera (8 tackles), Ethan Ethridge (8 tackles, 1 for loss), Keygan Pitts (6 tackles), Nate Stoffer (5.5 tackles), Ian Cortez (4.5 tackles, 1 for loss), Warren Theriaque (4 tackles, 2 for loss), Zack Ferguson (4 tackles), Guy Funk (3.5 tackles, 1 INT), Noah Pin (3.5 tackles, 1 for loss), and Hunter Newton (3.5 tackles).

On the offensive end, the Dragons are producing 13 points and 264 yards – 166 on the ground and 98 through the air – with six turnovers.

Kade Minshew has completed 20 of 30 passes for 172 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions, while Powell has tossed a 24-yard touchdown. Leading receivers include Santillanes (8-41), Powell (4-26), Ferguson (2-67), Braxton Melling (2-29), and Funk (2-24, TD).

“I want to see us play faster and be more physical, that’s what we’ve really been preaching,” Maxfield said of the offense. “I want us to be able to sustain some drives, and just be more consistent on offense. We showed signs of being productive on offense at times. But that comes with lots of reps, and lots of snaps on Fridays and hopefully we can continue to improve in both those areas.”

On the health front, Maxfield said the Dragons could have everyone on the varsity suited up by Friday night, but not all players will have participated in the week of practice.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 1-point underdog.

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Bangs Dragons 2021 Football Stats

Through 2 Game (0-2)

TEAM OFFENSE
13.0 points per game (26)
264.0 yards per game (528)

166.0 rushing yards per game (332)
98.0 passing yards per game (196)

PASSING
‒ Kade Minshew
20 of 30 for 172 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs

‒ Guy Powell
1 of 1 for 24 yards, 1 TD

RUSHING

‒ Guy Powell
272 yards on 45 carries, 2 TDs

‒ Kade Minshew

33 yards on 15 carries

‒ Damien Santillanes
14 yards on 6 carries

‒ Ian Cortez

7 yards on 2 carries

‒ Zack Ferguson

6 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING
‒ Damien Santillanes
8 catches for 41 yards

‒ Guy Powell
4 catches for 26 yards

‒ Zack Ferguson
2 catches for 67 yards

‒ Braxton Melling
2 catches for 29 yards

‒ Guy Funk
2 catches for 24 yards, TD

‒ Nate Stoffer
1 catch for 7 yards

‒ Ethan Ethridge
1 catch for 2 yards

‒ Keygan Pitts
1 catch for 0 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

46.5 points per game (93)

429.0 yards per game (858)
232.5 rushing yards per game (465)
196.5 passing yards per game (393)

TACKLES

‒ Azreal Escobedo
12.5 tackles

‒ Damien Santillanes
10.5 tackles

‒ Guy Powell
9 tackles

‒ Hunter Bernal
8 tackles

‒ David Herrera
8 tackles

‒ Ethan Ethridge
8 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Keygan Pitts
6 tackles

‒ Nate Stoffer
5.5 tackles

‒ Ian Cortez
4.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Warren Theriaque
4 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Zack Ferguson
4 tackles

‒ Guy Funk
3.5 tackles, 1 INT

‒ Noah Pin
3.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Hunter Newton
3.5 tackles

‒ Caedmon Tidwell
2.5 tackles

‒ Donovan Ruiz
2.5 tackles

‒ Isaiah Seratto
2.5 tackles

‒ Skylar Minshew
2.5 tackles

‒ Sergio Lopez
2 tackles

‒ Brody Newton
1 tackle

‒ Braxton Melling
1 tackle

‒ Cody Carpenter
0.5 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN: (-5)
Bangs 6 — 4 INTs, 2 FRs

Opponents 1 — 1 INT