Early (1-4) will attempt to snap its four-game skid when it faces the 5-3A Division II pre-season favorite Tolar Rattlers (4-1), who are riding a string of four consecutive victories. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
The Longhorns experienced their bye last week, and first-year head coach Randall Case expects Early to be at full strength just in time for the most critical portion of the schedule.
“The bye week came at a good time for us,” Case said. “We are able to get our kids back. We had some kids that were banged up and got them all back healthy. We were able to regroup and refresh, so the bye week was good for us. Now we’re excited to get district kicked off and everybody’s 0-0.”
Tolar is considered by many as the team to beat in 5-3A Division II, but Case realizes the entire league slate is filled with challenges for the Longhorns.
“Our district is going to be super competitive,” Case said. “We start out with Tolar and they’re always extremely talented, they bring a really good group in. Eastland is having a heck of a year, Clifton is tough, and I expect it to be extremely competitive.”
Regarding the impact of the district opener, Case said, “It’s extremely important that we go out and play well. Obviously it’s not going to determine where we go or where we seed in the district, but every district game is important and we’re going to attack it like so.”
Reflecting on the first five games of the season, Case said, “We saw some really good things from our kids and a whole lot of fight from them. I think we grew as a group week to week. We cleaned up some things we were doing early on in the season and kept doing that as we went along. We had some games that didn’t go our way, obviously, but we played some really football teams.”
Tolar could be the best team Early has seen thus far as the Rattlers average just 23 points per game, but are giving up only 13 per outing. Since falling 10-0 in the season opener to Peaster – which also defeated Early, 50-36, this season – the Rattlers have defeated Teague (23-21), Millsap (36-20), Breckenridge (42-6) and Comanche (14-7), the most recent opponent for the Longhorns.
The Rattlers generate 298 yards – 168 passing and 130 rushing – per game, and no opponent has scored more than three touchdowns in a game, with the last two foes mustering just 13 points combined.
Tolar’s offense is led by quarterback Briton Rice (50 of 83 for 824 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs), running back Peyton Brown (426 rushing yards 5 TDs), and receivers Brylen Feist (15-256, 2 TDs) and Drake Owens (11-209, TD).
The defense, which has recorded seven sacks and seven takeaways, is led by Owens (47 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 2 FRs), Cash Clark (39 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT), Kelvin Murray (36 tackles, 5 for loss), Cayden Abrego (34 tackles, 2.5 for loss), Feist (31 tackles, 1 for loss), and Brooks Stone (31 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 FR).
“I expect Tolar to be extremely athletic and confident,” Case said. “They bring a lot of kids back that went four rounds deep last year. They’re always tough and physical. We go to Tolar which is a tough environment to play in, and those kids play well over there. We’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game.”
The Longhorns enter the contest averaging 24 points and 359 yards – 206 passing and 153 rushing – per outing, with seven turnovers.
Andrew Reedy has been the driving force behind the offense with 48 catches for 715 yards and six touchdowns, to go along with 121 rushing yards and six more scores. Quarterback Weston Barton has completed 78 of 139 passes for 1,028 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions, while Ben Bleth (20-245, 2 TDs) is also a viable option in the passing game. A handful of Longhorns have contributed out of the backfield, including Cameron Love (221 rushing yards), Ben Morris (175 rushing yards, TD) and Brandon Walker (110 yards, TD).
Where the Longhorns must improve in order to make a playoff push is on the defensive side of the ball, as Early is yielding 41 points and 451 yards – 296 rushing and 155 passing – per game. Despite creating 11 takeaways, each Early opponent has scored points than the previous through five games, with Comanche tallying 54 points in the most recent contest.
Leading the way for the Longhorns defensively are Kaeden Byrd (74 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack), Mario Vazquez (48 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries), Brayden Schafer (26 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Morris (26 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Rhett Williams (24 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Will Speck (24 tackles, 1 for loss), Barton (22 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 fumble recovery), Bleth (20 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Reedy (19 tackles, 1 INT), Angel Marquez (18 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Da’Corrain McBride (16 tackles), and Brennen Rasor (15 tackles, 1 fumble recovery).
As for what it will take for the Longhorns to emerge victorious Friday night, Case said, “Offensively we have to control the clock and control the game and keep our defense off the field for as long as possible. Defensively, we’re going to have to tackle. They have a big running back there who’s hard to tackle and they surround him with guys that can really run. We’re going to have to be good tackles and swarm to the football.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 25-point underdog.
***
Early Longhorns 2024 Football Season Stats
Through 5 Games (1-4)
TEAM OFFENSE
24.4 points per game (122)
359.0 yards per game (1,795)
153.4 rushing yards per game (767)
205.6 passing yards per game (1,028)
PASSING
* Weston Barton
78 of 139 for 1,028 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs
RUSHING
* Cameron Love
221 yards on 29 carries
* Ben Morris
175 yards on 44 carries, 1 TD
* Weston Barton
140 yards on 23 carries
* Andrew Reedy
121 yards on 21 carries, 6 TDs
* Brandon Walker
110 yards on 21 carries, 1 TD
RECEIVING
* Andrew Reedy
48 catches, 715 yards, 6 TDs
* Ben Bleth
20 catches, 245 yards, 2 TDs
* Jaxson Stockman
4 catches, 46 yards, 1 TD
* Angel Marquez
2 catches for 11 yards
* Brayden Moya
1 catch for 6 yards
* Cameron Love
1 catch for 5 yards
* Da’Corrain McBride
1 catch, 3 yards
* Ben Morris
1 catch, -3 yards
###
TEAM DEFENSE
41.2 points per game (206)
451.0 yards per game (2,255)
296.0 rushing yards per game (1,480)
155.0 passing yards per game (775)
TACKLES
* Kaeden Byrd
74 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack
* Mario Vazquez
48 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries
* Brayden Schafer
26 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 fumble recovery
* Ben Morris
26 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack
* Rhett Williams
24 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
* Will Speck
24 tackles, 1 for loss
* Weston Barton
22 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 fumble recovery
* Ben Bleth
20 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
* Andrew Reedy
19 tackles, 1 INT
* Angel Marquez
18 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
* Da’Corrain McBride
16 tackles
* Brennen Rasor
15 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
* Brandon Walker
12 tackles, 3 for loss
* Rhett Smith
9 tackles
* Aaron Mendoza
7 tackles
* Cameron Love
4 tackles
* Eli Pallette
4 tackles
* Jaxson Stockman
3 tackles
* Jack Nowell
3 tackles
* Brayden Moya
2 tackles
* Riley Barton
1 tackle
* Ethan Moseley
1 tackle
###
TURNOVER MARGIN (+4)
* Early: 7 (2 fumbles, 5 interceptions)
* Opponents: 11 (8 fumbles, 3 interceptions)