BANGS – Reaching the postseason is no longer a possibility for the Bangs Dragons heading into the regular season finale, but spoiling the Brady Bulldogs’ hopes for a potential share of the District 2-3A Division II championship would serve as a boost heading into the offseason.

Bangs (1-7, 1-3) visits Brady (5-3, 3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday to close out its 2021 campaign.

“It would be a huge feat for these guys with everything they’ve gone through this year,” Bangs fourth-year head coach Kyle Maxfield said of potentially closing the season with a win. “We just want to finish on a high note. Brady’s got a good ball club but we’ve had a good week of practice so far considering the playoff picture is out of sight. Our young kids are still hungry to give it their best and that’s what we aim to do. There’s no replacing the experience they’ve gained this year, they just need to keep up that work ethic that they’ve had all year long and keep building on that as we go into the offseason.”

Bangs, fresh off a 46-3 loss to Ballinger, comes into the game averaging 17 points and 289 yards – 226 rushing and 53 passing – per game, but has turned the ball over 19 times.

Guy Powell has been the biggest offensive spark with 1,301 rushing yards and nine touchdowns to go along with nine catches for 38 yards and another score. Kade Minshew (30 of 64 for 303 yards, 4 TDs, 6 INTs) and Skylar Minshew (17 of 30 for 176 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs) have shared time at quarterback, while leading receivers include Zack Ferguson (9-218, 3 TDs), Damien Santillanes (8-45), Nate Stoffer (6-48), Keygan Pitts (4-62), and Guy Funk (3-29, TD).

Defensively, the Dragons surrender 43 points and 379 yards – 253 rushing and 126 passing – per game, with six takeaways.

Standouts include Stoffer (63.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack), Powell (56 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack), Pitts (39 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks), Ethan Ethridge (32 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sacks, 1 INT), Ian Cortez (20 tackles, 3 for loss), Funk (16 tackles, 1 INT), Hunter Newton (15.5 tackles), Hunter Bernal (15 tackles), Azreal Escobedo (13.5 tackles), Noah Pin (13 tackles, 3 for loss), Ferguson (12.5 tackles, 1 INT), and David Herrera (12.5 tackles, 1 for loss).

“Offensively we moved the ball on Ballinger, we just shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers and untimely penalties,” Maxfield said. “Defensively, Brady has a pretty strong running attack and we’ve got to find a way to get to those guys before they get going. Once their backs get going they’re hard to bring down.”

In Brady’s 49-6 win over Ingram Moore last week, the Bulldogs – who average 33 points and allow 23 per outing – finished with 540 yards of total offense – 300 passing and 240 rushing – with one turnover, while allowing 306 yards – 211 through the air and 95 on the ground – with one takeaway.

Hayden Baronet completed 11 of 14 passes for 300 yards with three scoring tosses while rushing for a team-high 108 yards and three more scores. Zeke Jones chipped in 103 yards on the ground and a touchdown, while leading receivers were Keegan Farris (5-133, TD), Israel Morales (4-97, TD) and Jones (2-70, TD).

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 24-point underdog.

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Bangs Dragons 2021 Football Stats

Through 8 Games (1-7, 1-3)

TEAM OFFENSE
16.5 points per game (132)
289.4 yards per game (2,315)

226.5 rushing yards per game (1,812)
62.9 passing yards per game (503)

PASSING
‒ Kade Minshew
30 of 64 for 303 yards, 4 TDs, 6 INTs

‒ Skylar Minshew
17 of 30 for 176 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs

‒ Guy Powell
1 of 2 for 24 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

RUSHING

‒ Guy Powell
1,301 yards on 163 carries, 9 TDs

‒ Skylar Minshew

210 yards on 48 carries

‒ Kade Minshew

108 yards on 36 carries, 4 TDs

‒ Ian Cortez

93 yards on 28 carries

‒ Damien Santillanes
55 yards on 15 carries

‒ Hunter Newton
27 yards on 1 carry

‒ Ethan Ethridge

22 yards on 3 carries

‒ Zack Ferguson

6 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING
‒ Zack Ferguson
9 catches for 218 yards, 3 TDs

‒ Guy Powell
9 catches for 38 yards, 1 TD

‒ Damien Santillanes
8 catches for 45 yards

‒ Nate Stoffer
6 catches for 48 yards

‒ Keygan Pitts
4 catches for 62 yards

‒ Guy Funk
3 catches for 29 yards, TD

‒ Braxton Melling
2 catches for 29 yards

‒ Ethan Ethridge
2 catches for 7 yards

‒ Ian Cortez
1 catch for 15 yards, TD

TEAM DEFENSE

42.9 points per game (343)

378.5 yards per game (3,028)
252.8 rushing yards per game (2,022)
125.7 passing yards per game (1,006)

TACKLES

‒ Nate Stoffer
63.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack

‒ Guy Powell
56 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack

‒ Keygan Pitts
39 tackles, 5 for loss , 2 sacks

‒ Ethan Ethridge
32 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sacks, 1 INT

‒ Ian Cortez
20 tackles, 3 for loss

‒ Guy Funk

16 tackles, 1 INT

‒ Hunter Newton
15.5 tackles

‒ Hunter Bernal
15 tackles

‒ Azreal Escobedo
13.5 tackles

‒ Noah Pin
13 tackles, 3 for loss

‒ Zack Ferguson
12.5 tackles, 1 INT

‒ David Herrera
12.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Damien Santillanes
11.5 tackles

‒ Sergio Lopez
9.5 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Donovan Ruiz
7 tackles

‒ Braxton Melling
7 tackles

‒ Weston Jundt
7 tackles

‒ Warren Theriaque
6 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Isaiah Seratto
5 tackles

‒ Skylar Minshew
4 tackles, 1 INT

‒ Cody Carpenter
2.5 tackless

‒ Caedmon Tidwell
2.5 tackles

‒ Kade Minshew
2 tackles

‒ Luke Duncan
1 tackle

‒ Brody Newton
1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN: (-10)
Bangs 19 — 10 INTs, 9 fumbles

Opponents 6 — 4 INTs, 2 fumbles