EARLY – Coming off their most complete performance of the season, the Early Longhorns face their toughest challenge to date as they battle the Class 4A Division I Burnet Bulldogs Friday in the pre-district finale.

The homecoming game for the Longhorns (2-2) against Burnet (2-2) kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Longhorn Stadium.

Early halted a two-game skid last week with a 26-0 home victory over Troy, a game which in the Longhorn defense capitalized on three takeaways and allowed just 93 yards of total offense.

“It was exciting for us,” Early third-year head coach Daniel Price said of the victory. “We played well in the second half against Comanche, and I felt like that game we started to find who we could be and then we came out Friday and put four quarters together.”

Reflecting on the 50 rushing yards and 43 passing yards surrendered, Price said, “We did a good up front. We controlled the line of scrimmage, and they didn’t have many first downs, so that allowed us to have success. We did a good job in coverage all night and didn’t give up any deep balls there. We tackled really well, we ran to the football well, all of our guys were on the pile. When you do things like that it makes for a fun Friday night.”

Offensively, the Longhorns finished with 233 yards of total offense, taking advantage of Troy turnovers early in the contest to build a comfortable lead.

“We played really well at times and moved the ball well at times,” Price said. “We missed a couple of completions that could have extended drives in the second half, so there’s some things to clean up and be better at. But our defense set us up by recovering a g fumble inside the 20 and then they returned an interception side the 30. In the second half, we had a couple of drives inside the 20 and just couldn’t finish.”

Burnet, which jumped out to a 14-0 lead over Brownwood in Week 3 before falling 33-20, rebounded with a 28-7 triumph over Giddings last week – the Bulldogs’ best outing of the season. Burnet has also defeated LaVernia (36-25) and fallen to Llano (29-21).

Last week, quarterback Tanner O’Hair completed 13 of 27 passes for 148 yards with three touchdowns as leading receivers included Grant Jones (5-89, 2 TDs), Braden Ellett-Clark (5-37, TD), and Trenton Park (2-22). Jose Rodriguez led the ground game with 36 yards.

Defensively, Burnet yielded 229 yards – 119 rushing and 110 passing.

“Burnet is large, athletic, and watching them on film you see how athletic they are,” Price said. “Not a lot of them that play two ways, and almost all of our guys play both ways so being able to hold up to that and be able to compete with them will be key.”

As for the decision to play a Class 4A Division I program, Price said, “We didn’t know a lot about them, but we knew that Brownwood played them a few times since we’ve been here. We were in a position where we’ve had some success and we were looking for some team that would challenge us. I don’t know if we bit off more than we can handle but we’ll see Friday and we’re excited for the opportunity. Watching them on film, I think we have a chance if we execute and play well.”

Early enters the contest averaging 28 points and 363 yards – 247 passing and 116 rushing – per game with four turnovers. The Longhorns were turnover free against Troy, a trend Price would like to continue.

“When you don’t turn the ball over you don’t give the opposing team an opportunity to take advantage of momentum and field position,” Price said. “We need to build off that and continue to take care of ball. The defense is finding its stride and that’s going to make things better for us.”

Quarterback Jaxyn Price has completed 78 of 142 passes for 981 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions, while leading receivers include Jeremy Brown (25-411, 4 TDs), John-Stewart Gordon (16-214, TD), Colton Allen (7-80, TD), Griffin Cheslock (7-44), Cedrick Morelan (6-92, TD), Ki Houston (6-72, 2 TDs), and Kaleb Ozuna (6-45).

Top rushers include Cheslock (288 yards, 3 TDs), Ozuna (133 yards, TD) and Price (38 yards, TD).

“Offensively, we’re going to focus a lot this week on finishing drives, learning how to score when we get opportunities,” Price said. “Those are going to be big points when we get a little further into the season and into district.”

Defensively, the Longhorns yield 30 points and 303 yards – 199 rushing and 104 passing – with nine takeaways, including six interceptions.

Standouts include Caleb McCullough (41 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks), Ozuna (40 tackles, 2 for loss), Dalton Adams (30 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Chris Fernandez (24 tackles, 2 for loss), Morelan (24 tackles, 1 interception), Gavin Sanders (23 tackles), Brown (19 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions), Cheslock (18 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Casey Moseley (16 tackles, 1 for loss), Houston Ortiz (16 tackles, 1 for loss), and Allen (15 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 interceptions).

“Defensively we need to continue to play like we did this past Friday,” Price said. “It’s going to be a different challenge for us. Burnet spreads it and throws it to a level that we haven’t really seen yet. But it would be great to force some more turnovers.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 20-point underdog.

What would it mean for the Longhorns to pull off the homecoming upset?

Price said, “It would be huge, a big confidence boost for us going into district. A few weeks ago, we didn’t look like what we had been last year, but coming off the way we played last week, and to have another week that again this week would be huge for our program.”

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Early Longhorns 2022 Football Season Stats

Through 4 Games (2-2)

TEAM OFFENSE

28.5 points per game (114)

363.0 yards per game (1,452)

115.8 rushing yards per game (463)

247.2 passing yards per game (989)

PASSING

* Jaxyn Price

78 of 142 for 981 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs

* Rohyn Price

1 of 3 for 8 yards, 0 TD, 1 INTs

RUSHING

* Griffin Cheslock

288 yards on 48 carries, 3 TDs

* Kaleb Ozuna

133 yards on 41 carries, 1 TD

* Jaxyn Price

38 yards on 6 carries, 1 TD

* Cedric Morelan

7 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING

* Jeremy Brown

25 catches, 411 yards, 4 TDs

* John-Stewart Gordon

16 catches, 214 yards, 1 TD

* Colton Allen

7 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD

* Griffin Cheslock

7 catches, 44 yards

* Cedrick Morelan

6 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD

* Ki Houston

6 catches, 72 yards, 2 TDs

* Kaleb Ozuna

6 catches, 45 yards

* Reece Middleton

2 catches, 22 yards

* Houston Ortiz

1 catch, 11 yards

* Caleb McCullough

1 catch, 3 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

30.0 points per game (120)

303.3 yards per game (1,213)

199.8 rushing yards per game (799)

103.5 passing yards per game (414)

TACKLES

* Caleb McCullough

41 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks

* Kaleb Ozuna

40 tackles, 2 for loss

* Dalton Adams

30 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

* Chris Fernandez

24 tackles, 2 for loss

* Cedric Morelan

24 tackles, 1 interception

* Gavin Sanders

23 tackles

* Jeremy Brown

19 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions

* Griffin Cheslock

18 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 fumble recovery

* Casey Moseley

16 tackles, 1 for loss

* Houston Ortiz

16 tackles, 1 for loss

* Colten Allen

15 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 interceptions

* Rohyn Price

7 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Izik Delgado

5 tackles, 2 for loss

* Dillon Miller

4 tackles

* Reece Middleton

3 tackles

* Justin Pierce

3 tackles

* Dylan Brame

2 tackles, 1 for loss

* Sebastian Constancio

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+4)

* Early: 5 (1 fumbles, 4 interceptions)

* Opponents: 9 (3 fumbles, 6 interceptions)