EARLY – The Early Longhorns’ first road trip of the season proved unkind, and the second of three straight games away from home awaits Friday night with a battle against the Class 2A Division II Junction Eagles.

The Week 3 kickoff between the Longhorns (1-1) and Eagles (2-0) is set for 7 p.m.

After defeating Bangs, 35-18, at home in the season opener, the Longhorns were handed a 34-0 loss last week at Hamilton.

“Last week was rough on us,” said Early first-year head coach Marvin Wilson. “Hamilton made the semifinals last year, they didn’t lose anybody and they got a couple of new ones. They’re well-coached, they’re well-disciplined and they can go.

“They moved the ball on us and the disappointing part is we gave up some big stuff. We got them into some third downs, but gave up something that allowed them to continue drives. We have to get off the field. They got up on us and we had to face some adversity and we had to continue to fight and play hard, which we did. On offense, we were one or two steps away a lot of times from gaining a lot of yards. Credit to Hamilton’s kids, they got there fast and hung on. We moved the ball well, especially in the second half, but we inflicted wounds on ourselves, turning the ball over, just stuff we have to clean up. It was a learning night for us.”

Junction has started its season with victories over Goldthwaite, 40-16 – a game in which the Eagles scored the final 27 points after trailing in the third period – and a 20-6 road triumph over San Saba last week.

“Junction’s a good ball club,” Wilson said. “They made the quarterfinals last year and I’ve known Coach (Scott) Freeman for 10-12 years and I know he does a good job. They play hard, they fly around. They run a ton of wing stuff and come at you. Their quarterback has speed, so we have to be careful letting him loose. We have to play very well, and play disciplined.”

The Eagles enter the contest averaging 30 points per game, led by quarterback Chasen Doyal, who in the season opener against Goldthwite threw a pair of touchdown passes. Kode Bierschwale rushed for two scores, and Aydin O’Brien added a scoring sprint as well as Junction tallied 231 total yards – 150 rushing and 81 passing.

Early counters with a defense that has allowed 26 points per game, and in the season-opening win over Bangs gave up 252 yards – 158 in the ground and 94 through the air.

Leading tacklers through two games for the Longhorns are Angel Marquez (25 tackles, 1 for loss), Brayden Schafer (24 tackles), Mario Vasquez (13 tackles), Aiden Driskill (12 tackles, 2 for loss), Rhett Williams (12 tackles, 1 for loss), Andrew Reedy (10 tackles, 1 INT), Aaron Mendoza (9 tackles, 1 for loss), Weston Harrison (9 tackles, 1 for loss), and Logan Jackson (8 tackles, 2 for loss).

On the flip side, defensive standouts for Junction last week – as the Eagles yielded just 155 yards, with 146 coming on the ground, against San Saba – were Bryan Gonzalez (8 tackles), Bode Bierschwale (7.5 tackles, 2 for loss), and Kaden Haak (3.5 tackles, 1 sack).

The Longhorn offense is producing 17.5 points and 286.5 yards – 152 on the ground and 134.5 through the air – per outing, with three turnovers thus far.

Quarterback Caden Wilson has completed 25 of 31 passes for 269 yards with a pair of scoring tosses and has also rushed for a team-best 108 yards and two more touchdowns. Leading receivers are Andrew Reedy (6-62, TD), Brennen Rasor (5-62), Stone Ratliff (4-47, TD), Jaxson Stockman (3-12) and Cameron Love (2-68). Threats out of the backfield include Brandon Walker (89 rushing yards, TD), Ratliff (40 yards), Reedy (35 yards) and Love (32 yards).

Regarding the key to coming away with a win Friday night, Wilson said, “The biggest deal is we have to fight and not give up. Be the aggressor, don’t be the thinker, don’t be the guy that catches somebody, that’s what I want to see. If you screw it up you screw it up, but go one thousand miles an hour as hard as you can. When we get through this gauntlet we have, if we can learn how to be the aggressor I think that bodes well when we get into district and beyond. “

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the Longhorns are 47-point underdogs, while Harris Ratings Weekly lists the Longhorns as 31-point underdogs.

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Early Longhorns 2025 Football Season Stats

Through 2 Games (1-1)

TEAM OFFENSE

17.5 points per game (35)

286.5 yards per game (573)

152.0 rushing yards per game (304)

134.5 passing yards per game (269)

PASSING

* Caden Wilson

25 of 31 for 269 yards, 2 TDs

RUSHING

* Caden Wilson

108 yards on 25 carries, 2 TDs

* Brandon Walker

89 yards on 5 carries, 1 TD

* Stone Ratliff

40 yards on 8 carries

* Andrew Reedy

35 yards on 1 carry

* Cameron Love

32 yards on 10 carries

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

6 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD

* Brennen Rasor

5 catches, 62 yards

* Stone Ratliff

4 catches for 47 yards, 1 TD

* Jaxson Stockman

3 catches for 12 yards

* Cameron Love

2 catches, 68 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

26.0 points per game (52)

252.0 yards per game (252) – Week 1 totals

158.0 rushing yards per game (158) – Week 1 totals

94.0 passing yards per game (94) – Week 1 totals

TACKLES

* Angel Marquez

25 tackles, 1 for loss

* Brayden Schafer

24 tackles

* Mario Vasquez

13 tackles

* Aiden Driskill

12 tackles, 2 for loss

* Rhett Williams

12 tackles, 1 for loss

* Andrew Reedy

10 tackles, 1 INT

* Aaron Mendoza

9 tackles, 1 for loss

* Weston Harrison

9 tackles, 1 for loss

*Logan Jackson

8 tackles, 2 for loss

* Caden Wilson

7 tackles

* Will Speck

7 tackles

* Brennen Rasor

5 tackles

* Rhett Smith

4 tackles,1 for loss

* Kaden Burleson

4 tackles

* Brandon Walker

3 tackles, 1 for loss

* Jaxson Stockman

3 tackles, 1 for loss

* Stone Ratliff

3 tackles

* Miguel Brunette

3 tackles

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-2)

* Early: 3 (3 fumbles)

* Opponents: 1 (1 interception)