BANGS – The Bangs Dragons are hopeful friendly breaks finally find them on their home turf, as they play their first game at Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday against the Grape Creek Eagles.

Bangs (0-2) is coming off losses of 35-18 at Early and 29-26 at Merkel, while Grape Creek (1-1) tallied its first victory last week, 38-16 over Reagan County, after suffering a 27-12 loss to San Saba in Week 1.

“It’s unfortunate for the kiddos,” Bangs second-year head coach Colton Buzzard said in regard to the start of the season. “They fought hard for the whole 48 minutes last week and sometimes that’s just the way it goes. The ball didn’t bounce our way at the end, we didn’t get some calls that we needed, and it is what it is. We’re 0-2 right now but we are getting better, and that’s the idea of the pre-district schedule, and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Further reflecting on the Merkel contest, Buzzard added, “Offensively we moved the ball pretty well. We had over 250 yards rushing on the ground and 427 yards of total offense. That’s a good sign for our offense, but we did have two trips inside the 20 yard line where we didn’t score. We also need to do better at extra points and two-point conversions, that was the deciding factor in a three-point game, but we’ve been working on that this week. I’m pretty excited about where the offense is and we’re getting better each week.

“Defensively we started off slow again. They spread us out a little bit and hit us with some tunnel screens and quick screens and we knew that was going to happen. We settled down and started making plays and got pressure on the quarterback. Our kids fought hard, we just be have to get a little bit better with technique and angles when we go tackle somebody.”

In Grape Creek’s win over Reagan County last week, the Eagles allowed just 194 yards – 156 passing and 38 rushing – with two takeaways, and did not commit a turnover. Darrell West led Grape Creek’s rushing attack with 173 yards and two touchdowns while Sire Garcia added 68 yards.

Bangs heads into the contest averaging 22 points and 364.5 yards – 246 rushing and 118.5 passing – per contest.

Cason Tidwell leads the way in the Wing-T backfield with 331 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries through two games, followed by Jackson Edmisten (94 yards), Eliseo Rivas (45 yards, TD), Connor Bible (18 yards) and Jaxon Duncan (8 yards, TD).

Duncan, who has filled in at quarterback for the injured Hunter Withers, who is expected to return Friday, has completed 12 of 20 passes for 204 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Leading receivers thus far have been Bible (6-118, TD), Rex Guerrero (5-28), Tidwell (3-32), Jayden Robinson (1-55) and Rivas (1-4, TD).

Defensively, the Dragons surrender 31.5 points and 343.5 yards – 174 through the air and 169.5 on the ground – on average through two contests.

Standouts include Tidwell (20 tackles), Rivas (11 tackles, 1 for loss), Ryan Alqorum (9 tackles), Bible (8 tackles, 1 for loss), Joaquin Rubio (8 tackles), Duncan (7 tackles), and Brennan Mendieta 6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery).

Last year, the Dragons led Grape Creek at halftime by four touchdowns but suffered a double-digit road defeat by the end of the night.

“Being up 27-0 at halftime and to lose 38-27, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Buzzard said. “I told the kids that is a game I would never forget and I never will. A lot the guys that played last year remember and they’re ready to come and get a ‘W’, but it’s going to be a tough game. Grape Creek has almost everybody back. They’re big and physical and do some weird things, we just have to be ready and play assignment football defensively. Offensively, we just need to do what we do and eliminate mistakes and we should be OK.”

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the Dragons are 15-point underdogs, while Harris Ratings Weekly lists the Dragons as a 7-point underdog.

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Bangs Dragons 2025 Football Season Stats

Through 2 Games (0-2)

TEAM OFFENSE

22.0 points per game (44)

364.5 yards per game (729)

246.0 rushing yards per game (492)

118.5 passing yards per game (237)

PASSING

* Jaxon Duncan

12 of 20 for 204 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

* Hunter Withers

4 of 5 for 33 yards, 1 INT

RUSHING

* Cason Tidwell

331 yards on 64 carries, 3 TDs

* Jackson Edmisten

94 yards on 22 carries

* Eliseo Rivas

45 yards on 7 carries, 1 TD

* Connor Bible

18 yards on 3 carries

* Jaxon Duncan

8 yards on 4 carries, 1 TD

RECEIVING

* Connor Bible

6 catches, 118 yards, 1 TD

* Rex Guerrero

5 catches, 28 yards

* Cason Tidwell

3 catches, 32 yards

* Jayden Robinson

1 catch, 55 yards

* Eliseo Rivas

1 catch, 4 yards, 1 TD

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TEAM DEFENSE

31.5 points per game (63)

343.5 yards per game (687)

169.5 rushing yards per game (339)

174.0 passing yards per game (348)

TACKLES

* Cason Tidwell

20 tackles

* Eliseo Rivas

11 tackles, 1 for loss

* Ryan Alqorum

9 tackles

* Connor Bible

8 tackles, 1 for loss

* Joaquin Rubio

8 tackles

* Jaxon Duncan

7 tackles

* Brennan Mendieta

6 tackles. 1 FR

* Kian Kelly

4 tackles

* Jayden Robinson

3 tackles

* Colton Wagner

2 tackles

* Kason Klutts

1 tackle

* Brandon Wommack

1 tackle

* Heath Laughlin

1 tackle

* Quentin Doll

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-1)

* Bangs: 2 (2 interceptions)

* Opponents: 1 (1 fumble)