Early welcomes Wall with District 2-3A Division II top spot at stake

October 26, 2023 at 7:00 am Derrick Stuckly

The Early Longhorns (4-4, 3-0) carry a three-game win streak into Friday’s home finale, seeking the program’s first district championship since 2007. [Photo courtesy of Mike Jones]

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EARLY – For the Early Longhorns, the opportunity presents itself in Friday night’s home finale to earn the program’s first district championship since 2007. But again standing in the way are the Wall Hawks, a perennial thorn in Early’s side, as the last two undefeated teams in District 2-3A Division II cross paths.

Kickoff between Early (4-4, 3-0), a winner of three straight, and Wall (6-2, 3-0) is slated for 7 p.m. Friday at Longhorn Stadium.

“We’re really excited about this opportunity,” said Early fourth-year head coach Daniel Price. “The way this season started was a little rough compared to what we’re used to. It’s been good to get almost everyone healthy and to see us perform the way we have has been fun. We knew we had the capability and everything we’ve worked for is still right here in front of us with a showdown against a really good Wall team Friday night.”

Wall is one of, if not the stingiest defense Early has faced all season as the Hawks yield just 8 points per game on average with 13 takeaways – seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries. No team has scored more than 17 points against Wall, that coming in a three-point overtime loss to Jim Ned. The only other setback for the Hawks this year came at the hands of Mason, 14-7.

Leading the charge on defense are William Scherr (72 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries), Ethan Michalewicz (70 tackles, 11 for loss, 2 sacks), Logan Thomas (55 tackles, 12 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries), and Bryan White (54 tackles, 10 for loss, 3 sacks).

“They’ve changed up their defense this year from what it has been,” Price said. “They’re going with a little 3-3 stack and they’re all over the place. They have guys coming from everywhere. We’ve spent the week trying to figure out a way to prepare and give our kids the best chance to be successful Friday night.”

Early counters with an offense that has scored 158 points in three district outings and is averaging 30 points and 332 yards – 191 passing and 141 rushing – per outing, with 16 turnovers.

Running back Griffin Cheslock (857 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and quarterback Rohyn Price (78 of 130 for 1,183 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs) have led the rejuvenated Longhorns offense while receiving threats include Andrew Reedy (30-403, 4 TDs), Ki Houston (24-553, 3 TDs), Weston Barton (24-312, 2 TDs) and Reece Middleton (14-205, 3 TDs).

“Offensively, we have to take care of the football and put some drives together,” Price said. “We have to take what they give us and not be in a hurry to press. Sometimes against them you feel like you have to score on every possession and you don’t know how many times you’re going to touch the ball. We have to stay with the game plan, execute and take care of the ball like we have these last three weeks.”

Wall’s offense produces 40 points and 330 yards – 245 rushing and 85 passing – per game on average, and is again heavily run-based.

Quarterback Gunnar Dillard has thrown for 725 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions, while rushing for 434 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns. Other weapons in the ground game include leading rusher Nathan Pepper (469 rushing yards, 6 TDs), Hagyn Barbee (318 rushing yards, 6 TDs), Luke Kemp (307 rushing yards, 4 TDs), and Briggs Jones (227 rushing yards, 3 TDs). Receiving threats for the Hawks include Landon Beeles (12-142, TD), Ryan Allen (11-178, 2 TDs), and Kellan Oliver (8-136, TD).

“This is one of the most athletic Wall teams I’ve seen in the seven years I’ve been here,” Price said. “They keep getting kids that show up bigger and bigger, and they’re fast. They just execute on both sides of the ball.”

The Early defense, which has posted shutouts in two of the last three games, has surrendered 27 points and 306 yards – 174 on the ground and 132 through the air – on average, with 13 takeaways.

Leading the charge are Kaleb Ozuna (76 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries), Dalton Adams (50 tackles, 16 for loss, 8 sacks), Brooks Clippinger (45 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries), Izik Delgado (36 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Reedy (33 tackles, 2 INTs), Kaeden Byrd (32 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks), and Middleton (32 tackles).

“Defensively, we’re going to see something different than anything we’ve seen,” Price said. “They get in that double slot and run the wing T stuff at you, some mid-line and veer, and some quarterback follows. You don’t see that a lot during the season and you try and get prepared for it but the first time you see it live is Friday night when it hits you in the mouth. We have to get our guys ready to go and they have to understand they have to be very disciplined.”

As for what it would mean to the Longhorn program to end its district championship drought, Price said, “It would be another huge step. We’ve taken some huge steps in this program the last three years and to find a way to win this one would give us another big boost for a program that’s still relatively young. A win over team like Wall would be huge for the program and the guys who have worked so hard to get to this point.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 14-point underdog. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football lists the Longhorns as 30-point underdogs.

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Early Longhorns 2023 Football Season Stats

Through 8 Games (4-4, 3-0)

TEAM OFFENSE

29.7 points per game (238)

332.2 yards per game (2,326)

141.1 rushing yards per game (988)

191.1 passing yards per game (1,338)

PASSING

* Rohyn Price

78 of 130 for 1,183 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs

* Weston Barton

16 of 39 for 243 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs

* Justin Pierce

13 of 25 for 170 yards, 4 INTs

RUSHING

* Griffin Cheslock

857 yards on 105 carries, 12 TDs

* Rohyn Price

182 yards on 30 carries, 3 TDs

* Ben Morris

153 yards on 17 carries, 1 TD

* Kaleb Ozuna

91 yards on 26 carries, 3 TDs

* Weston Barton

7 yards on 6 carries

* Ki Houston

6 yards on 2 carries

* Justin Pierce

-2 yards on 3 carries

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

30 catches, 403 yards, 4 TDs

* Ki Houston

24 catches, 523 yards, 3 TDs

* Weston Barton

24 catches, 312 yards, 2 TDs

* Reece Middleton

14 catches, 205 yards, 3 TDs

* Griffin Cheslock

8 catches, 54 yards

* Ben Bleth

5 catches, 83 yards, 2 TDs

* Kaleb Ozuna

2 catches, 16 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

26.8 points per game (215)

306.1 yards per game (2,449)

173.9 rushing yards per game (1,391)

132.2 passing yards per game (1,058)

TACKLES

* Kaleb Ozuna

76 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries

* Dalton Adams

50 tackles, 16 for loss, 8 sacks

* Brooks Clippinger

45 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries

* Izik Delgado

36 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Andrew Reedy

33 tackles, 2 INTs

* Kaeden Byrd

32 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks

* Reece Middleton

32 tackles

* Giovanni Guevara

21 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 fumble recovery

* Weston Barton

20 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Dylan Brame

17 tackles, 1 for loss

* Rohyn Price

16 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Ki Houston

16 tackles, 1 INT

* Ben Bleth

13 tackles

* Ben Morris

9 tackles

* Griffin Cheslock

8 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 INT

* Justin Pierce

7 tackles

* Aaron Mendoza

5 tackles

* Rico Vasquez

4 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Jacob McDaniel

4 tackles, 1 INT

* Ethan Moseley

4 tackles

* Angel Del Villar

2 tackles

* Jaxon Andrade

1 tackle

* Jacob Braun

1 tackle

* Will Speck

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-4)

* Early: 17 (3 fumbles, 14 interceptions)

* Opponents: 13 (8 fumbles, 5 interceptions)