BANGS – The first year of the Colton Buzzard coaching era at Bangs will not end the way those associated with the program had hoped, as the playoffs are not a possibility for the Dragons in 2024.

However, Bangs can still conclude the year with a win and slow down their surging rival, the Coleman Bluecats, in Friday’s regular season finale.

Kickoff between the Dragons (2-7, 0-4) and Bluecats (2-7, 2-2) is set for 7 p.m.

“Our expectation at the beginning of the season was to make the playoffs,” Buzzard said. “We didn’t meet those expectations but let’s go out and try and go out on a high note. It would be huge to go into the offseason with a win under our belt, it would help our younger guys to see what it takes to win a district game. We’re not slowing down or taking it easy this week, we’re still grinding and still working hard.”

For Buzzard, Friday’s game will be a homecoming of sorts as he’s a 2009 graduate of Coleman High School.

“It’s definitely going to be different being on the opposite sideline but I’m excited to go back to my alma mater and try and bring back a win to Bangs,” Buzzard said. “I’m going to have a lot of family there. It’s still big game even though there’s no playoffs at stake for us. I’m excited to see what we can do.”

The Dragons will attempt to halt a five-game skid in the season finale as Bangs is coming off a 54-0 loss to De Leon last week. The Dragons were limited to just 89 yards of total offense – 73 rushing and 16 passing – while surrendering 599 total yards.

Meanwhile, Coleman is in the midst of a two-game win streak that has clinched the third playoff seed from District 5-2A Division I for the Bluecats, after they dropped their first seven contests of the year.

The Bluecats have scored just 14 points in each of their wins, but yielded only 6 points to Hico two weeks ago and 7 points to Ballinger last week.

Against Ballinger, Coleman tallied 224 yards – 135 rushing and 89 passing – with one turnover, but allowed just 129 yards – 79 through the air and 50 on the ground – with five takeaways.

Hunter Edington rushed for a 1-yard touchdown and also completed 8 of 21 passes for 89 yards with a a 16-yard touchdown to Kelan Sikes, who caught three passes for 56 yards. Blaine Bouldin added 134 yards rushing and Anthony Espitia caught a 23-yard pass and chipped in 13 yards on the ground. Braylon Stewart also caught four passes for 10 yards.

Easton Meador led Coleman with 14 tackles and three sacks, Cutter Cody contributed 12 tackles and two sacks, and Brooks Clippinger also tallied a dozen tackles with one sack. Darren Hurtado added eight tackles with a fumble recovery and Chantz Adams finished with six tackles and pounced on a fumble.

“Coleman’s a tough football club, they’re going to play hard and fight and I wouldn’t expect anything less from Coach (John) Elder,” Buzzard said. “Their defense is pretty stout, they’re strong up front, and their second level gets downhill quick. It’s going to be a defensive battle. If our defense shows up, which I’m expecting us to, it should be a close battle and a hard fought game.”

The Bangs offense is averaging 22 points and 252 yards – 187 rushing and 65 passing – per game, with 20 turnovers.

Standouts include Skylar Minshew (434 passing yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs; 329 rushing yards, 4 TDs), Jackson Edmiston (337 rushing yards, TD), Aden Jones (310 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 4-40, TD receiving), Brayden Gatlin (308 rushing yards, 5 TDs), Eliseo Rivas (307 rushing yards, 2 TDs), Navaeh Menefield (104 rushing yards, 2 TDs), Cason Tidwell (21-214, 5 TDs receiving), Rex Guerrero (10-111, TD receiving), and Braxton Wommack (3-98, 2 TDs).

Defensively, the Dragons are allowing 34 points and 328 yards – 201 in the ground and 127 through the air – with 10 takeaways.

Leading tacklers include Hunter Crowell (68.5 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Tidwell (57 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Rivas (51 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Conner Bible (32.5 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), Kian Kelly (27.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), Jones (25 tackles), Chris Valdez (23.5 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack), Guerrero (19.5 tackles), Menefield (17 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 sacks), and Kristopher Kelly (14.5 tackles, 4 for loss).

Regarding the keys to a victory Friday night, Buzzard said, “We’ll have to keep control of the football, get first downs and first downs will eventually lead to touchdowns. We have to hold on to the football, execute on offense and we’ll be fine. We have to avoid the mistakes because we’ll have to play almost perfect football to win this game.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 17-point underdog.

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Bangs Dragons 2024 Football Season Stats

Through 9 Games (2-7, 0-4)

TEAM OFFENSE

22.2 points per game (200)

252.6 yards per game (2,274)

187.5 rushing yards per game (1,688)

65.1 passing yards per game (586)

PASSING

* Skylar Minshew

43 of 81 for 434 yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs

* Hunter Withers

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

RUSHING

* Jackson Edmiston

337 yards on 58 carries, 1 TD

* Skylar Minshew

329 yards on 63 carries, 3 TDs

* Aden Jones

310 yards on 56 carries, 4 TDs

* Brayden Gatlin

308 yards on 61 carries, 5 TDs

* Eliseo Rivas

307 yards on 50 carries, 2 TDs

* Navaeh Menefield

104 yards on 25 carries, 2 TDs

* Connor Bible

8 yards on 1 carry

* Cason Tidwell

5 yards on 3 carries

* Hunter Withers

-20 yards on 14 carries

RECEIVING

* Cason Tidwell

21 catches, 214 yards, 5 TDs

* Rex Guerrero

10 catches, 111 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

33.6 points per game (303)

328.2 yards per game (2,954)

201.5 rushing yards per game (1,814)

126.7 passing yards per game (1,140)

TACKLES

* Hunter Crowell

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

* Cason Tidwell

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

* Eliseo Rivas

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

* Conner Bible

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

* Kian Kelly

27.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Aden Jones

25 tackles

* Chris Valdez

23.5 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack

* Rex Guerrero

19.5 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

* Haydon Bush

9 tackles

* Brayden Gatlin

8 tackles, 1 for loss

* John Paul Rangel

7.5 tackles, 2 for loss

* Jackson Edmiston

5.5 tackles

* Hunter Withers

5 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery

* Jaxon Duncan

4.5 tackles, 1 for loss

* Mason Minshew

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

* Braxton Wommack

4 tackles

* Kason Klutts

3 tackles, 1 for loss

* Damian Hudspeth

1.5 tackles

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-10)

*Bangs: 20 (12 fumbles, 8 interceptions)

*Opponents: 10 (8 fumbles, 2 interceptions)