BANGS – Despite a recent four-game skid, the Bangs Dragons continue their quest for their initial District 5-2A Division I victory, and hope to remain in the playoff picture, as they host the De Leon Bearcats in Friday’s home finale.

Kickoff between Bangs (2-6, 0-3) and De Leon (5-3, 3-0) is set for 7 p.m. Friday.

Though the Dragons have yet to secure a victory against a district foe, Bangs first-year head coach Colton Buzzard stated optimism is still high within the program.

“We’re still pushing, still working, still keeping a positive mindset and getting prepared for each week,” Buzzard said. “It’s no different than if we were 8-0 right now, we approach each week as a new week, keep moving forward and keep getting better. Our seniors know they are only promised two more games, but the playoffs are still in the picture and crazier things have happened in life.”

Bangs is coming off a 46-8 loss at No. 10 Hamilton, which remained undefeated, as the Bulldogs finished with 417 yards to the Dragons’ 188, and forced four turnovers while coughing up the ball just once.

“We started off the game pretty solid on defense, but we just couldn’t capitalize offensively,” Buzzard said. “We kept having mistakes, running the route or going the wrong way on a play.”

Further elaborating on the positives and negatives on each side of ball currently, Buzzard said, “Defensively we’re starting to fit up right but where we need to get better is obviously tackling. Just because you’re in position doesn’t mean the play’s over. Our tackling needs to improve. Offensively, we’re running hard, we’re playing hard, we’re just not staying on our blocks long enough. If we do that we’ll have better results, but until then it will be the same results we’ve had lately.”

De Leon enters the contest on a three-game win streak, with its losses this season coming at the hands of Stamford (44-20), Hawley (54-21) and Muenster (50-21).

For the year, the Bearcats are averaging 45 points and allowing 30 per game, but since the start of 5-2A Division I action De Leon is surrendering just 8 points per contest.

The driving force for De Leon is quarterback Heston Jobe, who’s thrown for 2,001 yards with 21 touchdowns while rushing for 728 yards and seven more scores.

Other offensive weapons include receivers Jake Cooper (32-595, 7 TDs) and Max Jones (21-636, 6 TDs) and running backs Lane Couch (712 yards, 2 TDs) and Adan Salinas, who last week rushed for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win over Ballinger.

“De Leon’s really good, just as good as Hamilton if not better,” Buzzard said. “They do a really good job at moving fast and their quarterback is a really good athlete. Even if you have everybody covered he can scramble and make plays so we definitely have our work cut out for us this week. But we’re going to be prepared, ready to go and our plan is to win the game. That’s what we’re going to come out Friday and try to do.”

Bangs heads into the game averaging 25 points and 274 yards – 202 rushing and 72 passing – per outing, but has turned over the ball 20 times.

The wing-T ground attack is led by Jackson Edmiston (334 yards, TD), Brayden Gatlin (308 yards, 5 TDs), Aden Jones (304 yards, 4 TDs), Eliseo Rivas (303 yards, 2 TDs) and Skylar Minshew (299 yards, 3 TDs).

Minshew (418 passing yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs) and Hunter Withers (152 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT ) have both seen time at quarterback, while top receiving options include Cason Tidwell (19-209, 5 TDs), Rex Guerrero (9-100, TD), Jones (4-40, TD), Noah Castillo (4-17), Braxton Wommack (3-98, 2 TDs), Hunter Crowell (3-44), and Connor Bible (3-27).

Defensively, the Dragons surrender 31 points and 294 yards – 192 rushing and 102 passing – per contest, with 10 takeaways.

Leading the charge are Crowell (60 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Tidwell (51 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Rivas (50 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Bible (29.5 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Kian Kelly (25 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), and Chris Valdez (23 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack).

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 30-point underdog.

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Bangs Dragons 2024 Football Season Stats

Through 8 Games (2-6, 0-3)

TEAM OFFENSE

25.0 points per game (200)

274.3 yards per game (2,195)

201.8 rushing yards per game (1,615)

72.5 passing yards per game (580)

PASSING

* Skylar Minshew

40 of 76 for 418 yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs

* Hunter Withers

9 of 23 for 152 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

RUSHING

* Jackson Edmiston

334 yards on 55 carries, 1 TD

* Brayden Gatlin

308 yards on 61 carries, 5 TDs

* Aden Jones

304 yards on 49 carries, 4 TDs

* Eliseo Rivas

303 yards on 48 carries, 2 TDs

* Skylar Minshew

299 yards on 54 carries, 3 TDs

* Navaeh Menefield

86 yards on 15 carries, 2 TDs

* Connor Bible

8 yards on 1 carry

* Hunter Withers

-27 yards on 10 carries

RECEIVING

* Cason Tidwell

19 catches, 209 yards, 5 TDs

* Rex Guerrero

9 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD

* Aden Jones

4 catches, 40 yards, TD

* Noah Castillo

4 catches, 17 yards

* Braxton Wommack

3 catches, 98 yards, 2 TDs

* Hunter Crowell

3 catches, 44 yards

* Connor Bible

3 catches, 27 yards

* Michael Parrott

2 catches, 14 yards

* Brayden Gatlin

1 catch, 27 yards

* Eliseo Rivas

1 catch, 4 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

31.1 points per game (249)

294.3 yards per game (2,355)

192.5 rushing yards per game (1,540)

101.8 passing yards per game (815)

TACKLES

* Hunter Crowell

60 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Cason Tidwell

51 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Eliseo Rivas

50 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

* Conner Bible

29.5 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery

* Kian Kelly

25 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Chris Valdez

23 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack

* Aden Jones

21 tackles

* Rex Guerrero

17.5 tackles

* Nevaeh Menefield

17 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 sacks

* Kristopher Kelly

14.5 tackles, 4 for loss

* Skylar Minshew

13.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Noah Castillo

12.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries

* Michael Parrott

11 tackles

* Brayden Gatlin

8 tackles, 1 for loss

* John Paul Rangel

7.5 tackles, 2 for loss

* Haydon Bush

6 tackles

* Jackson Edmiston

5.5 tackles

* Jaxon Duncan

4.5 tackles, 1 for loss

* Mason Minshew

4 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Kason Klutts

3 tackles, 1 for loss

* Hunter Withers

3 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery

* Damian Hudspeth

1.5 tackles

* Braxton Wommack

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-10)

* Bangs: 20 (12 fumbles, 8 interceptions)

* Opponents: 10 (8 fumbles, 2 interceptions)