Playing in their second consecutive road game to start the 2025 campaign, the Dragons (0-1) are hopeful better results await in Merkel, where they battle the Badgers (1-0) at 7 p.m. Bangs won last year’s contest, 20-14, at Memorial Stadium.
Looking back at the season opener, Bangs second-year head coach Colton Buzzard said, “Our guys played extremely hard, it was a hard fought, physical game, we just came up short at the end. Unfortunately some calls didn’t go our way, the ball didn’t bounce our way, but that’s football.”
Offensively, the Dragons churned out 300 yards – 205 rushing and 95 passing – despite an injury to starting quarterback Hunter Withers, as Jaxon Duncan filled in for a majority of the contest.
Cason Tidwell rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown for Bangs, Jackson Edmisten tacked on 44 yards, Eliseo Rivas rushed for 10 yards, and Brennan Mendieta finished with 3 yards and one touchdown.
Jaxon Duncan completed 5 of 6 passes for 62 yards with a touchdown, while Hunter Withers went 4 of 5 through the air for 33 yards with an interception.
Connor Bible pulled down four receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, Rex Guerrero grabbed four passes for 13 yards, and Tidwell contributed a 9-yard catch.
“I was pleased with our ability to be able to run the ball and throw it when we wanted to,” Buzzard said. “We had some mistakes when you go back and look at film, blocking errors, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. I was extremely proud of our physicality and how we handled the big defensive linemen from Early.”
Areas in which Buzzard wants to see improvement offensively are, “Sustaining long drivers, not having a missed block or missed assignments, and stepping where you need to step, those are things we’re going to fix this week,” he said. “And when we do that, it’s really hard to stop what we do. I’m excited about what we could do this upcoming game.”
Defensively, Bangs wound up allowing 452 yards of total offense – 261 on the ground and 191 through the air – with one takeaway against Early.
Standouts included Tidwell (11 tackles), Joaquin Rubio (6 tackles), Ryan Alqorum (6 tackles), Rivas (4.5 tackles), Duncan (4.5 tackles), Bible (4 tackles), Brennan Medieta (4 tackles. 1 FR), Kian Kelly (2.5 tackles), Colton Wagner (2 tackles), and Jayden Robinson (1 tackle).
“The first half we played extremely well on defense, we were being physical,” Buzzard said. “We had a call early in the game that didn’t go our way but the kids bounced back and got a stop. The first half went extremely well. The second half they did some different things to make some big plays and we didn’t stop them.”
Regarding where the Dragons need to make improvements defensively, Buzzard said, “We need to work on coming out in the second half and limiting big plays. The same thing happened last year, they had a big play coming out of halftime. We just have to limit that. We were in the right position, just a little tweak on the play and we’re good, but hats off to the guy from Early that made the play.”
Merkel is coming off a 38-26 victory over the Dragons’ District 5-2A Division I rival Ballinger. The Badgers did most of their damage through the air as Merkel finished with 414 yards of total offense, including 382 passing.
Easton Malone connected on 17 of 24 passes for 319 yards with four touchdowns, and also rushed for a team-high 26 yards. Tristian Quinonez-Smith added a 63-yard touchdown pass and grabbed four receptions for 53 yards. The leading receiver was Kaden Blubaugh with six grabs for 190 yards and four trips to the end zone, while Rayson Houston hauled in three receptions for 85 yards and scored once.
“Early’s big and physical and can run the ball pretty well, while Merkel is more of a lateral team, fast, and they like to get their linemen out in space,” Buzzard said. “They have a really good quarterback in Easton Malone, who does a good job getting the ball out there quick. They run tunnel screens, quick screens, jail breaks, and their receiver Kaden Blubaugh is back and he’s pretty good. We saw him last year and we expect him to get the ball pretty quickly. We’re going to try and limit their passing and rally to the football.”
Defensively, Merkel finished with six sacks as a team, led by two from Houston and Eli Delgado intercepted a pass. Houston, Jason Alaniz and Cameron Parker led the Badgers with eight tackles apiece followed by Delgado and Malone with six each and LaDanian Boalts and Ryder Israel with five tackles apiece.
“People match up different to the wing T, but last week they ran an even front so we’re going to expect something of that nature,” Buzzard said of the Merkel defense. “They’re physical, they like to stunt, they like to bring backers, so we have to make sure our eyes are up and we’re blocking an area and not just a person and we’ll be all right.”
In terms of the keys to a Dragons’ victory, Buzzard said, “Our second drive of each half needs to be better offensively, and defensively we have to eliminate the splash plays and that’s what Merkel does. If we can do that, rally to the football and tackle, we’ll be fine.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 3-point favorite, while Dave Campbell’s Texas Football lists the Dragons as 11-point underdogs.
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Bangs Dragons 2025 Football Season Stats
Through 1 Game (0-1)
TEAM OFFENSE
18.0 points per game (18)
300.0 yards per game (300)
205.0 rushing yards per game (205)
95.0 passing yards per game (95)
PASSING
* Jaxon Duncan
5 of 6 for 62 yards, 1 TD
* Hunter Withers
4 of 5 for 33 yards, 1 INT
RUSHING
* Cason Tidwell
148 yards on 26 carries, 1 TD
* Jackson Edmisten
44 yards on 12 carries
* Eliseo Rivas
10 yards on 1 carry
* Jaxon Duncan
3 yards on 2 carries, 1 TD
RECEIVING
* Connor Bible
4 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD
* Rex Guerrero
4 catches, 13 yards
* Cason Tidwell
1 catch, 9 yards
###
TEAM DEFENSE
35.0 points per game (34)
452.0 yards per game (452)
261.0 rushing yards per game (261)
191.0 passing yards per game (191)
TACKLES
* Cason Tidwell
11 tackles
* Joaquin Rubio
6 tackles
* Ryan Alqorum
6 tackles
* Eliseo Rivas
4.5 tackles
* Jaxon Duncan
4.5 tackles
* Connor Bible
4 tackles
* Brennan Medieta
4 tackles. 1 FR
* Kian Kelly
2.5 tackles
* Colton Wagner
2 tackles
* Jayden Robinson
1 tackle
###
TURNOVER MARGIN (0)
* Bangs: 1 (1 interception)
* Opponents: 1 (1 fumble)