The most important portion of the schedule begins for the Brownwood Lions Friday night, as after regrouping to win their final two pre-district outings, the District 4-4A Division I schedule kicks off at 7:30 p.m. against the Lampasas Badgers.

After laboring through the first three games of the season, the Lions (3-2) hit their stride over the last two weeks with victories over China Spring, 37-21, and Ingleside, 55-7, and head coach Sammy Burnett is pleased with the recent progression he’s witnessed from his squad.

“It’s been a huge confidence builder,” Burnett said of the back-to-back victories. “It started two weeks ago after we lost to Glen Rose and La Vega, which were honestly two better teams than we were at the time. We learned from the past, then blocked it out and focused on being 2-0 for the next two weeks. We talked to the kids about continuing to work hard and having faith in their abilities and what position the coaches are putting them in to be successful and they did that. Our growth is right where it needs to be, and the important thing for us is I don’t think we’ve reached our ceiling. I don’t think we’ve reached our peak, but we are gelling at the right time and that’s exciting.”

Regarding the reasons the Lions were able to turn around their season after suffering their first shutout loss in 13 years against La Vega, Burnett said, “It’s their desire to get better. They took those losses personally and they wanted to get better. Our kids work extremely hard, we feel like we outwork other people and we feel like that’s why we can be successful against teams that may have a greater volume of athletes than we do. We control our destiny and how we play is going to determine whether we win or lose, that’s been our message all week. We told them to go out there with faith and confidence and use the abilities the Lord has gifted you with and go out and play to full your potential. Don’t be afraid to fail, just go be successful.”

Burnett likened the Lions’ preparation for Friday’s district opener to studying for a test the student-athletes would typically take inside a classroom.

“How we prepare for this test will determine how we play,” Burnett said. “The test is against the guy across from you regardless of the position you play. The test is going out and answering the questions, and the questions are the plays. If we have 100 plays, there’s 100 questions to be answered and who’s going to win those? Is it going to be you or is it going to be him? Win the questions and you’ll pass the test.”

The Badgers (5-1) head into the district opener having won five of their first six contests. Lampasas’ foes are a combined 13-17 on the season as the Badgers have defeated 1-4 Class 4A Division II Lorena (24-13), 3-2 Class 4A Division II No. 9 Wimberley (35-27), 2-3 Class 5A Division I Killeen Chaparral (63-20), 2-3 Class 4A Division II Salado (49-30), and 1-4 Class 4A Division I Fredericksburg (40-21). The only loss came to 4-1 Class 5A Division II Waco University (28-21), which also owns a 31-21 win over China Spring – a team Brownwood knocked off Sept. 27 by a 37-21 count.

“Lampasas is a very senior-heavy team,” Burnett said, “They have 47 players on their roster and 32 are seniors and most of them contribute and play a lot. In my opinion, that’s why they’ve been so successful.”

The Badgers are averaging 46 points and 419 yards – 230 rushing and 189 passing – per game.

Quarterback Reed Jerome has completed 69 of 104 passes for 735 yards with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. Jerome is also the leading rusher for Lampasas with 500 yards and eight touchdowns, trailed by Daemian Rivas with 392 yards and two scores and KJ Reed with 266 yards and a pair of trips to the end zone.

Primary receiving threats include Ty Johnson (23-282, 6 TDs) and Bryson Roberts (23-261, 3 TDs). Roberts has also seen time at quarterback where he’s connected on 7 of 14 attempts for 171 yards with two scoring tosses and one pick.

“Ty Johnson is a sophomore and he’s a special kid, very athletic,” Burnett said. “Bryson Roberts has played quarterback for them and when he’s not playing quarterback he’s a dominant receiver. I expect Reed Jerome, who is the starting quarterback. to come back this week and they’re a different football team when he’s playing. He’s very capable of running the football at any time and can throw the ball well, so we have to take one of his elements away, we can’t let him do both.

“We think our game plan is simple but complex at the same time. It’s complex when you’re having to face it but when you’re executing it, it comes down to alignment and execution and keeping them off balance. Our defensive coaches do a great job disguising coverages and mixing up our twists and stunts and doing them in a timely manner. Making tackles, covering the guy you’re supposed to cover, being disciplined with their eyes, controlling the line of scrimmage, linebackers having to fit properly and everybody doing their job is what we have to do to be successful defensively.”

The Lions defense is allowing 24 points and 328 yards – 175 rushing and 153 passing – on average. Brownwood has forced six turnovers the last two games after creating just one the first three outings.

Standouts include Brinson Martin (66 tackles, 2 for loss), Noah Gonzalez (49 tackles, 2 for loss), Wyatt Wolf (38 tackles, 1 FR), Robert Trowbridge (37 tackles, 1 for loss), Devin Eanes (30 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INTs), Jack Field (27 tackles, 1 sack), Ben Wilson (25 tackles, 2 for loss), Enrique Vazquez (22 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), Weston Wolf (22 tackles, 3 for loss), Raven Prado (20 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR), Julius Lara (20 tackles, 1 for loss) and Kenyan McDowell (16 tackles).

On the flip side of the ball, Brownwood is now producing 25 points and 289 yards – 146 rushing and 143 passing – per contest, with just three turnovers.

Behind the blocking of Weston Wolf, Luke Hagood, Isaiah Rosas, Aidan Packheiser and Ian Barrera, quarterback Judson Coalson has been able to connect on 55 of 96 passes for 697 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions, while Trey Mosley has rushed for 588 yards and six scores. Receiving weapons include Carson Noe (17-182, TD), Aaron Edmonds (15-202, 3 TDs), Grant Gray (11-164, 2 TDs), Levi Pearson (7-40) and Devin Eanes (4-84, TD).

Lampasas is allowing 28 points per game, and plays a defensive scheme reminiscent to the one Brownwood sees daily in practice, which could prove beneficial.

“They’re a lot like us in that they run a 3-3-5 for the most part, and they do things similarly to what we do defensively,” Burnett said. “They’re going to bring it, slant certain directions and bring different linebackers in different gaps. We have to sift it out up front and control the line of scrimmage. We have to be able to establish the run game early and be able to control the clock.”

Players to watch on defense, according to Burnett, are Levi Ferguson at middle linebacker and Johnson, Josiah Toeaina and Haegen Oncken in the back end.

On the injury front for Brownwood, Aiden Driskill, Stone Ratliff and Caven Webster are expected to be out again Friday, but could possibly return after next week’s bye. The rest of the lineup appears good to go for district.

“This is probably the healthiest we’ve been in the last three or four weeks,” said Burnett, whose team is beginning its quest for a third straight district championship.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, this game is a toss up.

“We have to bring our ‘ A’ game and step up one more rung on that ladder Friday night and play extremely well in a hostile environment,” Burnett said. “Their stadium is old and small, you’re packed in there and not very far from the bleachers so everything is heard and seen, and when you’re playing you hear it all. It’s going to be a packed house and an awesome game, we just have to go out there and execute our game plan and pass that test by answering those questions on every play. Weather the storm in the first quarter, settle in the second quarter, then go out and win the third and fourth quarters.”

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Brownwood Lions 2024 Football Season Stats

Through 5 Games (3-2)

TEAM OFFENSE

25.0 points per game (125)

288.8 yards per game (1,444)

146.2 rushing yards per game (731)

142.6 passing yards per game (713)

57.4 completion percentage (58 of 101)

PASSING

* Judson Coalson

55 of 96 for 697 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs

* Braeden Stacks

2 of 5 for 11 yards

* Julius Lara

1 of 1 for 5 yards

RUSHING

* Trey Mosley

588 yards on 92 carries, 6 TDs

* Judson Coalson

54 yards on 30 carries, 1 TD

* Levi Pearson

45 yards on 27 carries

* Braeden Stacks

26 yards on 2 carries

* Grant Gray

19 yards on 2 carries

* Noah Gonzalez

7 yards on 1 carry

* Julius Lara

0 yards on 1 carry

* TEAM

-8 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING

* Carson Noe

17 catches, 182 yards, 1 TD

* Aaron Edmonds

15 catches, 202 yards, 3 TDs

* Grant Gray

11 catches, 164 yards, 2 TDs

* Levi Pearson

7 catches, 40 yards

* Devin Eanes

4 catches, 84 yards, 1 TD

* Trey Mosley

2 catches, 10 yards

* Braeden Stacks

1 catch, 16 yards

* Caven Webster

1 catch, 5 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

24.4 points per game (122)

328.2 yards per game (1,641)

175.2 rushing yards per game (876)

153.0 passing yards per game (765)

60.3 opponents’ completion percentage (70 of 116)

TACKLES

* Brinson Martin

66 tackles, 2 for loss

* Noah Gonzalez

49 tackles, 2 for loss

* Wyatt Wolf

38 tackles, 1 FR

* Robert Trowbridge

37 tackles, 1 for loss

* Devin Eanes

30 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 INTs

* Jack Field

27 tackles, 1 sack

* Ben Wilson

25 tackles, 2 for loss

* Enrique Vazquez

22 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Weston Wolf

22 tackles, 3 for loss

* Raven Prado

20 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT, 1 FR

* Julius Lara

20 tackles, 1 for loss

* Kenyan McDowell

16 tackles

* Caven Webster

15 tackles, 1 INT

* Ian Barrera

11 tackles, 1 sack

* Wesley Isquirdeo

8 tackles

* Robbie Robinson

6 tackles

* Treyvon Mitchell

6 tackles

* Jonathan Bush

4 tackles

* Casen Glezman

3 tackles, 1 for loss

* Levi Pearson

2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR

* Trae Jones

2 tackles

* Keedan Brooks

2 tackles

* Grant Gray

1 tackle

* Kaleb Grabast

1 tackle

* Case Burnett

1 tackle

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KICKING

* Rory McNeese

7 of 10 FGs – long of 41

14 of 15 PATs – 1 blocked

35 points

3 punts, 93 yards, 31.0 average – long of 48; 1 inside opponents’ 20

* Eli Valenciano

18 punts, 556 yards, 30.9 average – long of 51; 4 inside opponents’ 20

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+4)

* Brownwood: 3 (2 interceptions, 1 fumble)

* Opponents: 7 (4 interceptions, 3 fumbles)

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PENALTIES

* Brownwood: 30 for 246 yards (6 for 49.2 per game)

* Opponents: 29 for 283 yards (5.8 for 56.6 per game)