The Dragons (2-2, 0-0) and host Bearcats (3-1, 0-0) are set to clash at 7 p.m.
After pummeling Grape Creek, 53-6, in Week 3, Bangs notched a 28-13 road victory over Merkel last week.
“We played a solid game in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams,” said Bangs fifth-year head coach Kyle Maxfield. “Our defense created three turnovers – a pick six, another interception and a fumble recovery. Offensively, the only thing that was frustrating was we got down to the one foot line and got a penalty and left some points on the board. We executed a little better and we’re taking steps forward.”
De Leon, which did not win a game a season ago, has lost just once in its first four outings of the season. The Bearcats own victories against Junction (28-8), Valley Mills (38-36) and Hico (52-7), with the lone loss to undefeated Cross Plains (33-7).
“They don’t have a lot of numbers but they have a couple of kids that can hurt you on both sides of the ball,” Maxfield said of the Bearcats. “Coach (Jacob) Marwitz has done a great job. They had a season a lot like ours last year, not a whole lot of wins, and they’re 3-1 and feeling really good about themselves.”
In De Leon’s blowout victory over Hico last week, Heston Jobe completed 9 of 11 passes for 220 yards with three touchdowns, while rushing for 108 yards and two more scores. Kallen McIlvain chipped in 186 rushing yards and two scores on the ground, while leading receivers were Jake Cooper with three catches for 79 yards and a touchdown, and Andrew Coan hauled in two scoring receptions totaling 86 yards.
Defensively, Hico yielded just 249 yards of total offense – all on the ground.
The Bangs offense is producing 30 points and 310 yards – 233 rushing and 77 passing – per contest, with four turnovers.
Guy Powell is the driving force offensively with 656 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, while quarterback Kenny Cole had added 148 yards and three scores on the ground to go along with 307 passing yards and three touchdowns. Hunter Newton has caught five passes for 110 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 35 yards and another score, while other receiving threats include Guy Funk (4-101, TD), Nate Stoffer (4-77, TD), and Skylar Minshew (4-17). Keygan Pitts has tacked on 58 yards to the team rushing tally.
“Offensively, we need to keep spreading the wealth as much as we can and finish some drives,” Maxfield said. “We didn’t play our best game up front last week, we had some miscues. Sometimes that happens, but we’ve got a guy in the backfield that’s good enough to help overcome some of those mistakes. It’s something we’ve really been working on this week, to execute better up front.”
On the defensive side, the Dragons are surrendering 24 points and 378 yards – 248 rushing and 130 pass – per outing, with seven takeaways this season.
Standouts include Stoffer (42 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery), Pitts (39 tackles, 2 for loss), Powell (33 tackles 1 fumble recovery), Sergio Lopez (13 tackles), Ethan Ethridge (11 tackles, 1 interception), Weston Jundt (10 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Braydon Fields (9 tackles, 1 interception), Minshew (9 tackles), David Herrera (9 tackles), and Noah Pin (7 tackles).
“Their offense runs through their tailback,” Maxfield said of De Leon. “He’s a senior and a big runner. Their quarterback is a freshman but executes really well for a freshman. Defensively, we have to tackle well and get lined up properly because they’ll throw some different formations at you. We have to play sound defense.”
As for starting the district slate on the right foot, Maxfield said, “It’s the first district game and everybody feels like they’ve got a chance, the records go back to 0-0. We’re going to have to put our best foot forward going over there and play a solid game. It’s not a must-win game, but it’s very important. We know what’s ahead of us. When you line up every Friday night in this district you better put your best foot forward or you’re going to get behind real fast.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 19-point favorite.
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Bangs Dragons 2022 Football Season Stats
Through 4 Games (2-2)
TEAM OFFENSE
29.8 points per game (91)
310.3 yards per game (1,241)
233.5 rushing yards per game (934)
76.8 passing yards per game (307)
PASSING
* Kenny Cole
19 of 55 for 307 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
RUSHING
* Guy Powell
656 yards on 62 carries, 8 TDs
* Kenny Cole
148 yards on 32 carries, 3 TDs
* Keygan Pitts
58 yards on 8 carries
* Hunter Newton
35 yards on 4 carries, 1 TD
* Ethan Ethridge
33 yards on 5 carries
* Skylar Minshew
4 yards on 1 carry
RECEIVING
* Hunter Newton
5 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD
* Guy Funk
4 catches, 101 yards, TD
* Nate Stoffer
4 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD
* Skylar Minshew
4 catches, 17 yards
* Kade Minshew
1 catch, 3 yards
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TEAM DEFENSE
23.8 points per game (95)
378.5 yards per game (1,514)
248.3 rushing yards per game (993)
130.2 passing yards per game (521)
TACKLES
* Nate Stoffer
42 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery
* Keygan Pitts
39 tackles, 2 for loss
* Guy Powell
33 tackles 1 fumble recovery
* Sergio Lopez
13 tackles
* Ethan Ethridge
11 tackles, 1 interception
* Weston Jundt
10 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
* Braydon Fields
9 tackles, 1 interception
* Skylar Minshew
9 tackles
* David Herrera
9 tackles
* Noah Pin
7 tackles
* Hunter Newton
6 tackles
* Brody Newton
5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack
* Zack Ferguson
5 tackles, 1 interception
* Guy Funk
3 tackles
* Isaiah Serrato
3 tackles
* Chris Valdez
2 tackles
* Caedmon Tidwell
2 tackles
* Noah Castillo
2 tackles
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TURNOVER MARGIN (+3)
* Bangs: 4 (1 fumbles, 3 interceptions)
* Opponents: 7 (2 fumbles, 5 interceptions)