Kickoff between the Longhorns (1-3), who are in the midst of a three-game slide, and the Bulldogs (2-2) is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Burnet.
“It’s a tough opponent, but we didn’t schedule anybody in the pre-district schedule that wasn’t a quality football team,” said Early fourth-year head coach Daniel Price. “Burnet is another one Friday night, a 4A school that played Brownwood really close so it’s going to be a tough challenge and we know that.”
Since defeating Bangs, 52-10, in the season opener, the Longhorns have since fallen to Tolar, 48-14, Comanche, 57-0, and Hamilton, 40-0, last week.
“It was another tough outing against another pretty good football team in Hamilton,” Price said. “We knew they were going to be good and there were some things we still struggled with Friday night that we have to be better at as we go through the season. I told the boys Friday night the five important ones are still in front of us so it wasn’t the outcome we wanted but we’re still preparing and doing things now that hopefully when we get district we’ll have improved on.”
In last week’s second straight shutout setback, Early was limited to 170 yards of total offense – 92 rushing and 78 passing – with four turnovers. Meanwhile, the Longhorn defense surrendered 333 yards, with 264 coming on the ground, with one takeaway.
“We talk a lot about having no fear of failure,” Price said. “We want to see our guys sell out for each other and go play and relax and sometimes it’s almost like we’re scared to make mistakes out there. What we’re going to talk about and try and do this week is make them feel more comfortable on the field and have them step into the roles they’re playing and be better this week.”
Burnet enters the contest fresh off a 35-7 victory over Giddings, which comes on the heels of a 24-10 loss at Brownwood – a game in which the Bulldogs led 10-7 at halftime.
Against Brownwood, Burnet finished with 296 yards of total offense – 188 passing and 108 rushing – with one turnover and gave up 269 yards – 167 through the air and 102 on the ground. Grant Jones scored the lone touchdown on a 73-yard pass from Rhett Murray, while Trent Park led the way with seven receptions for 72 yards. On the ground, Dash Denton amassed 62 rushing yards and Khris Kassner chipped in 26.
The Bulldogs also own a 47-12 win over Llano this season along with a 49-27 loss to LaVernia.
“They’ve got a good offensive line, a really good running back and a guy that can sling the ball, their quarterback is pretty good,” Price said of Burnet. “This will be a good overall challenge for our defense as we get ready for district, someone who is going to put a lot of pressure on our secondary. Hopefully we can see our guys step up and make plays.
“Their defense is very active up front. They do a little 3-4 and bring linebackers quite a bit. Being able to pick up those pressures and get on our combo blocks in the running game is going to be important for us. It’s going to be a good challenge for our offensive line.”
Early heads into the game averaging 16 points and 253 yards – 144 passing and 109 rushing – per outing with 14 turnovers through four games, including 11 interceptions. Quarterbacks for the Longhorns this season have been Rohyn Price (19 of 38 for 261 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs), Justin Pierce (13 of 25 for 170 yards, 4 INTs), and Weston Barton (12 of 34 for 147 yards, 3 INTs), while leading receivers are Andrew Reedy (15-134, TD), Ki Houston (11-241, TD), Barton (6-68, TD), Reece Middleton (5-52), and Ben Bleth (3-51, TD). Griffin Cheslock (328 rushing yards, 2 TDs) anchors the ground attack.
Defensively, the Longhorns are allowing 39 points and 358 yards – 207 on the ground and 151 through the air – per contest, with five takeaways. Leading the charge are Kaleb Ozuna (32 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Dalton Adams (31 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks), Brooks Clippinger (22 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Reedy (22 tackles), Izik Delgado (18 tackles, 5 for loss), Middleton (13 tackles), Barton (13 tackles), Bleth (12 tackles), Dylan Brame (11 tackles, 1 for loss), Houston (11 tackles, 1 INT), and Giovanni Guevara (7 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 fumble recovery).
Regarding the keys to notching a victory Friday night, Price said. “We have to be better offensively and lately we haven’t been able to sustain any kind of drives or put anything together and we have to better at that and better at taking care of the ball. We had another big turnover night with four on Friday. Offensively we have to take care of the ball and sustain some drives and put together some drives and score some points. Defensively, we have to be better at tackling. We want to go out and see them get after them up front and go tackle the guy with the ball.”
Price added the Longhorns are continuing to battle injuries, but hope to be close to full strength by the time District 2-3A Division II action begins Oct. 6 at home against Ballinger.
“We’re still pretty banged up but we’re hoping to get some guys back as we get into district,” Price said. “We’ve had quite a few of them out and slowly, hopefully, they’ll all be getting well over the next couple of weeks.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 30-point underdog.
***
Early Longhorns 2023 Football Season Stats
Through 4 Games (1-3)
TEAM OFFENSE
16.5 points per game (66)
253.3 yards per game (760)
108.8 rushing yards per game (435)
144.5 passing yards per game (578)
PASSING
* Rohyn Price
19 of 38 for 261 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs
* Justin Pierce
13 of 25 for 170 yards, 4 INTs
* Weston Barton
12 of 34 for 147 yards, 3 INTs
RUSHING
* Griffin Cheslock
328 yards on 58 carries, 2 TDs
* Rohyn Price
45 yards on 10 carries, 2 TDs
* Kaleb Ozuna
39 yards on 8 carries
* Ben Morris
15 yards on 3 carries
* Weston Barton
7 yards on 6 carries
* Ki Houston
3 yards on 1 carry
* Justin Pierce
-2 yards on 3 carries
RECEIVING
* Andrew Reedy
15 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD
* Ki Houston
11 catches, 241 yards, 1 TD
* Weston Barton
6 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD
* Reece Middleton
5 catches, 52 yards
* Ben Bleth
3 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD
* Griffin Cheslock
3 catches, 18 yards
* Kaleb Ozuna
1 catch, 14 yards
###
TEAM DEFENSE
38.8 points per game (155)
357.8 yards per game (1,431)
207.3 rushing yards per game (829)
150.5 passing yards per game (602)
TACKLES
* Kaleb Ozuna
32 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
* Dalton Adams
31 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks
* Brooks Clippinger
22 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack
* Andrew Reedy
22 tackles
* Izik Delgado
18 tackles, 5 for loss
* Reece Middleton
13 tackles
* Weston Barton
13 tackles
* Ben Bleth
12 tackles
* Dylan Brame
11 tackles, 1 for loss
* Ki Houston
11 tackles, 1 INT
* Giovanni Guevara
7 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 fumble recovery
* Kaeden Byrd
6 tackles, 2 for loss
* Rohyn Price
5 tackles
* Griffin Cheslock
4 tackles, 1 INT
* Rico Vasquez
3 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack
* Ethan Moseley
3 tackles
* Justin Pierce
3 tackles
* Ben Morris
3 tackles
* Angel Del Villar
1 tackle
* Jacob Braun
1 tackle
* Jacob McDaniel
1 tackle
* Aaron Mendoza
1 tackle
###
TURNOVER MARGIN (-9)
* Early: 14 (3 fumbles, 11 interceptions)
* Opponents: 5 (3 fumbles, 2 interceptions)