Early, Brady jockeying for position in District 2-3A Division II race

October 12, 2023 at 7:00 am Derrick Stuckly

Griffin Cheslock ( 8 ) and the Longhorns (2-4, 1-0) – who produced 404 yards and allowed 44 last week – look to build off a lopsided league victory over Ballinger in a pivotal showdown Friday night. [Photo courtesy of Mike Jones]

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EARLY – With both teams coming off victories in their District 2-3A Division II openers, the Early Longhorns and Brady Bulldogs will look to remain unbeaten in league play and keep their championship hopes alive.

Kickoff between Brady (2-4, 1-0) and Early (2-4, 1-0) – two of three undefeated teams in district, along with Wall (4-2, 1-0) – is slated for 7 p.m. Friday at Longhorn Stadium.

The Longhorns are coming off a 35-0 victory over winless Ballinger in last week’s district opener. Early allowed just 44 yards of total offense and finished with 404 yards.

“It was a great night,” said Early fourth-year head coach Daniel Price. “We came out and played really well. We cleaned up some things we struggled with over the pre-district schedule. I’m really proud of our team for coming together. It was a big team win over Ballinger to open up district, which is exactly what we needed.”

The shutout was the first of the season for Early, which had allowed 42 points per game during the pre-district schedule.

“It was awesome to see those guys really show up,” Price said of the defense. “We tackled well, we ran to the ball well. Our defense has carried us over the last three years and they were able to come up big for us Friday night and get a shutout.”

The offensive production was also a welcome sight after the Longhorns netted just 14 points in their previous three outings.

“We sustained drives, put drives together and scored points,” Price said. “We had a couple of big plays and those are things we haven’t done really well the first five games. We haven’t had the explosive plays we had on Friday night and it all starts with being able to hold on to the football and make the simple plays, which then allowed us to make some big ones. I’m very proud with where we’re at with them.”

Price also credited a near completely clean bill of health with the Longhorns’ performance in the district opener.

“We have everybody but one back right now, and we hope to get him back this week,” Price said. “It’s good to be healthy.”

Brady chalked up a 38-18 victory over San Angelo TLCA in its league opener last week as the Bulldogs enter the contest averaging 18 points and 296 yards –189 rushing and 107 passing – per game, with 11 turnovers.

“They’re big up front,” Price said of the Bulldogs. “They’ve changed their offense from last year with a new head coach. They’re going to get after you up front and try and come downhill and establish a running game. I can see them trying to eat the clock and do those things when they’re under center.”

Brady’s offense features Sean Jacoby (39 of 96 for 584 yards, 2 TDs, 10 INTs; 120 rushing yards, 2 TDs) at quarterback; leading rushers Daryl Adair (542 yards, 3 TDs), Zeke Jones (322 yards, 2 TDs; 8-176, TD receiving; 58-yard TD pass), and Ashton Taylor (123 yards, 2 TDs); and top receivers Ashton Ramsey (10-116, TD) and Mason Airheart (9-99, TD).

Early counters with a defense that surrenders 34 points and 331 yards – 177 on the ground and 154 through the air – per contest, with seven takeaways.

Standouts include Kaleb Ozuna (45 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Dalton Adams (41 tackles, 14 for loss, 4 sacks), Brooks Clippinger (34 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack), Izik Delgado (25 tackles, 6 for loss), Andrew Reedy (24 tackles), Reece Middleton (20 tackles), Dylan Brame (17 tackles, 1 for loss), Weston Barton (17 tackles), Kaeden Byrd (14 tackles, 3 for loss) and Ki Houston (14 tackles, 1 INT).

“Our defense needs to continue what they started last Friday against Ballinger – run, communicate and tackle well,” Price said. “We also broke up some big passes. We need to continue in those areas and be even better.”

On the flip side of the ball, the Bulldogs are yielding 28 points per game on average with six takeaways – three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Leading the charge are Adair (51 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), Jones (38 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Zach Ledesma (33 tackles, 2 for loss), Gauge Evans (32 tackles, 1 sack), Ramsey (32 tackles, 1 interception), Johnny Menefield (31 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), and Demarcus Reed (31 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception).

“The defense is similar to last year,” Price said. “They have some cats back there that can run and make plays at the second level. We’re going to have be prepared for that.”

The Longhorns are manufacturing 19 points and 282 yards – 171 passing and 111 rushing – per outing, with 16 turnovers.

Rohyn Price (48 of 86 for 671 yards, 6 TDs, 6 INTs) went the distance at quarterback last week while Griffin Cheslock (442 rushing yards, 5 TDs) chalked up three touchdowns on the ground against Ballinger. Primary receiving options include Reedy (22-234, TD), Houston (20-416, 2 TDs), Barton (16-198, 2 TDs) and Middleton (8-81).

“Offensively, it’s the old cliche of taking care of the football, not turning it over and not putting our defense in bad spots” Price said. “We have to sustain drives, get first downs, win the field position battle and score some points.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 17-point favorite.

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Early Longhorns 2023 Football Season Stats

Through 6 Games (2-4, 1-0)

TEAM OFFENSE

19.1 points per game (115)

282.5 yards per game (1,291)

111.0 rushing yards per game (666)

171.5 passing yards per game (1,029)

PASSING

* Rohyn Price

48 of 86 for 671 yards, 6 TDs, 6 INTs

* Weston Barton

15 of 38 for 188 yards, 3 INTs

* Justin Pierce

13 of 25 for 170 yards, 4 INTs

RUSHING

* Griffin Cheslock

442 yards on 75 carries, 5 TDs

* Rohyn Price

106 yards on 20 carries, 2 TDs

* Kaleb Ozuna

86 yards on 24 carries, TD

* Ben Morris

24 yards on 7 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

22 catches, 234 yards, 1 TD

* Ki Houston

20 catches, 416 yards, 2 TDs

* Weston Barton

16 catches, 198 yards, 2 TDs

* Reece Middleton

8 catches, 81 yards

* Ben Bleth

4 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD

* Griffin Cheslock

4 catches, 30 yards

* Kaleb Ozuna

2 catches, 16 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

34.5 points per game (207)

330.7 yards per game (1,984)

177.0 rushing yards per game (1,062)

153.7 passing yards per game (922)

TACKLES

* Kaleb Ozuna

45 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Dalton Adams

41 tackles, 14 for loss, 4 sacks

* Brooks Clippinger

34 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack

* Izik Delgado

25 tackles, 6 for loss

* Andrew Reedy

24 tackles

* Reece Middleton

20 tackles

* Dylan Brame

17 tackles, 1 for loss

* Weston Barton

17 tackles

* Kaeden Byrd

14 tackles, 3 for loss

* Ki Houston

14 tackles, 1 INT

* Ben Bleth

12 tackles

* Giovanni Guevara

11 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 fumble recovery

* Rohyn Price

8 tackles, 1 for loss

* Ben Morris

7 tackles

* Griffin Cheslock

6 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT

* Rico Vasquez

3 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Aaron Mendoza

3 tackles

* Ethan Moseley

3 tackles

* Justin Pierce

3 tackles

* Jaxon Andrade

1 tackle

* Angel Del Villar

1 tackle

* Jacob Braun

1 tackle

* Jacob McDaniel

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-9)

* Early: 16 (3 fumbles, 13 interceptions)

* Opponents: 7 (5 fumbles, 2 interceptions)