Hopeful for share of district title, Early seeks fourth league win as Dublin visits

November 6, 2025 at 7:15 am Derrick Stuckly

Miguel Brunette (24) and the Longhorns are now averaging 25 points per game and allowing 23 per contest after last week’s 74-0 victory at Eastland {Photo courtesy of Mike Jones}

EARLY – The playoff-bound Early Longhorns rebounded from a heartbreaking 17-15 four-overtime loss to Brady on Oct. 25 with a 74-0 thrashing of the winless Eastland Mavericks this past week, now the one-win Dublin Lions await in the District 5-3A Division II and regular season finale.

Early (4-5, 3-1) hosts Dublin (1-8, 1-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, where a Longhorns victory and a win by Clifton (7-2, 3-1) over Brady (7-2, 4-0) would result in a three-way tie for the district championship, and the league’s No. 1 playoff seed for first-year head coach Marvin Wilson’s squad. If Brady were to come out on top Friday night, the Longhorns would head into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed from district.

“If Clifton could get the win, we share a piece of the district title and it throws us to the No. 1 seed,” Wilson said. “We’ve been in conversations with both teams we have a chance to play. I hate not knowing things, I’d rather know who we’re going to be playing, but for our kids to have an opportunity to earn a split of the district championship, that’d be huge for us.”

Reflecting the win over Eastland last week, Wilson said, “We just told our kids we had to start how we finished against Brady, and it was hard, we were tired. Carrying over from a Saturday overtime game we tried to come off on them a little during the week and refresh those legs We told them you just have to go out there and do what we do. Play fast, play hard, be physical and they got after them quick.”

The Longhorns also had the opportunity to allow the entire roster to receive significant playing time, leading 43-0 at halftime.

“It’s a positive because those kids put in work just like the rest of them,” Wilson said. “When they can go play a good bit it’s real good for them, to get all the experience they can get.”

Dublin’s lone victory this season came at the hands of Eastland, 57-7, on Oct. 24 as the Lions finished with 473 yards of total offense, including 371 through the air.

Alex Teten connected on 19 of 24 passes with six scoring tosses, while Joe Salinas led the ground game with 50 yards and a touchdown. Leading receivers were Kyson Gilman with eight catches for 139 yards and four touchdowns while Hudson Joslin added four grabs for 133 yards and crossed the goal line twice.

Edwin Nevarez led the defense – which for the season has allowed 53 points per game on average – with 12 tackles include five for loss, followed by seven tackles from Hunter Splawn and six from Weston Rollins, who tallied one of the Lions’ three sacks. Nevarez, Joslin, Gilman and Salinas all intercepted passes as well for Dublin.

“Dublin does some things very well,” Wilson said. “They can throw the ball, they complete a lot of passes, but then they’ve shot themselves in the foot. We would rather them not complete those balls, but we have to make ourselves better. Just focus on your job, your technique, your eyes, your keys and do your job and go to work, and let the outcome be the outcome.”

Offensively through nine games, the Longhorns are producing 25 points and 286 yards – 150 on the ground and 136 through the air – per contest, with 10 turnovers.

Quarterback Caden Wilson (84 of 153 for 1,152 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs; 383 rushing yards, 7 TDs) continues to lead Early in both passing and rushing yards. Receiving weapons include Andrew Reedy (35-575, 11 TDs), Stone Ratliff (15-242, 1 TD; 190 rushing yards, 2 TDs), Brennen Rasor (9-120, 1 TD), and Jaxson Stockman (9-86), and threats out of the backfield include Cameron Love (364 rushing yards, 2 TDs), Isaac Ybarra (228 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Brandon Walker (119 rushing yards, 2 TDs).

The Early defense enters the contest yielding 23 points and 322 yards – 191 rushing and 131 passing – per outing, with 11 takeaways.

Standouts include Brayden Schafer (93 tackles, 4 for loss), Angel Marquez (85 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception), Mario Vasquez (50 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Rhett Williams (48 tackles, 2 for loss), Aaron Mendoza (46 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception), Weston Harrison (46 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks), Aidan Driskill (45 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Andrew Reedy (44 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 interceptions), and Logan Jackson (34 tackles, 6 for loss).

Regarding the keys to Friday night’s contest, Wilson said. “Play hard and be mentally tough. It doesn’t matter if you’re up by 100 or down by 100 play hard. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold, play hard. That’s what we’ve been preaching whether good or bad, take care of your and that will take care of the team. Do your job the most efficiently we can do it.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 38-point favorite. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football also lists the Longhorns as 34-point favorites.

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Early Longhorns 2025 Football Season Stats

Through 9 Games (4-5, 3-1)

TEAM OFFENSE

25.5 points per game (230)

285.6 yards per game (2,571)

149.6 rushing yards per game (1,347)

136.0 passing yards per game (1,224)

PASSING

* Caden Wilson

84 of 153 for 1,152 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs

* Skyden Stoddart

2 of 4 for 47 yards

* Isaac Ybarra

1 of 1 for 25 yards, 1 TD

RUSHING

* Caden Wilson

383 yards on 87 carries, 7 TDs

* Cameron Love

364 yards on 64 carries, 2 TDs

* Isaac Ybarra

228 yards on 44 carries. 2 TDs

* Stone Ratliff

190 yards on 27 carries, 2 TDs

* Brandon Walker

119 yards on 17 carries, 2 TDs

* Andrew Reedy

53 yards on 2 carries

* Skyden Stoddart

5 yards on 2 carries

* Aidan Driskell

5 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

35 catches, 575 yards, 11 TDs

* Stone Ratliff

15 catches for 242 yards, 1 TD

* Brennen Rasor

9 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD

* Jaxson Stockman

9 catches for 86 yards

* Aiden Driskill

5 catches, 41 yards

* Cameron Love

3 catches, 73 yards

* Aaron Mendoza

3 catches, 46 yards

* Miguel Brunette

2 catches, 27 yards

* Isaac Ybarra

2 catches, 8 yards

* Brandon Walker

2 catches, 5 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

23.0 points per game (207)

321.6 yards per game (1,930) – not including Hamilton, Tolar, Eastland

190.6 rushing yards per game (1,144) – not including Hamilton, Tolar, Eastland

131.0 passing yards per game (786) – not including Hamilton, Tolar, Eastland

TACKLES

* Brayden Schafer

93 tackles, 4 for loss

* Angel Marquez

85 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception

* Mario Vasquez

50 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries

* Rhett Williams

48 tackles, 2 for loss

* Aaron Mendoza

46 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception

* Weston Harrison

46 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks

* Aidan Driskill

45 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack

* Andrew Reedy

44 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 interceptions

*Logan Jackson

34 tackles, 6 for loss

* Caden Wilson

31 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 interception

* Brennen Rasor

28 tackles

* Jaxson Stockman

22 tackles, 1 interception

* Grant Stacks

22 tackles, 5 for loss

* Will Speck

21 tackles, 1 for loss

* Brandon Walker

18 tackles, 2 for loss

* Ben Wilson

14 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Kaden Burleson

13 tackles, 1 for loss

* Eli Pallette

11 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack

* Riley Barton

11 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Isaac Ybarra

10 tackles

* Miguel Brunette

10 tackles

* Rhett Smith

7 tackles,1 for loss

* Matthew Walker

6 tackles, 1 interception

* Braedyn Peek

6 tackles, 1 for loss

* Dacorian McBride

6 tackles

* Cameron Love

4 tackles

* Skyden Stoddart

4 tackles

* Stone Ratliff

3 tackles

* Darryl Watkins

2 tackles

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+1)

* Early: 10 (5 fumbles, 5 interceptions)

* Opponents: 11 (3 fumbles, 8 interceptions