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Class 1A Division II Region IV Semifinals

Zephyr (10-1) vs. Richland Springs (10-1)

6:30 p.m. Friday at San Saba

The Zephyr Bulldogs and Richland Springs Coyotes are both looking to lock up a spot in the Class A Division II Region IV championship game when they square off Friday night.

Despite missing seven players due to injury, Zephyr secured a bi-district championship with a 53-8 victory over Evant last week. Meanwhile, third-ranked Richland Springs coasted to a 62-0 triumph over Calvert to advance to the second run.

For Zephyr, Chayden Woodcock rushed for 102 yards and five touchdowns on just nine carries – scoring from 36, 11, 7, 15, and 20 yards away – and also caught an 18-yard touchdown pass that enforced the 45-point mercy rule with 4:31 left in the third period.

As a team, Zephyr compiled 274 yards of total offense – 147 on the ground and 127 through the air. Ethan Prochaska competed 3 of 6 passes – all for touchdowns – totaling 96 yards. Along with Woodcock’s 18-yard grab, Troy Kubin hauled in a 54-yard scoring toss and Reid Hamm pulled down a 24-yard touchdown reception.

Jetson Gowin tacked on 55 yards on the ground and also completed a 31-yard pass to Bauer Blair, accounting for the rest of the Bulldogs’ offensive yardage.

Defensively, Zephyr surrendered just one touchdown, 87 total yards – 60 on the ground and 27 through the air – and recovered a pair of Evant fumbles as Hamm and Gowin pounced on a loose ball in each half.

In the Richland Springs win, the Coyotes jumped out to a 46-0 lead after one quarter thanks in part to three special teams touchdowns – all by Cohen Ethridge – who returned a kick 75 yards for six points as well as two punt returns of 45 and 40 yards.

Billy Perry rushed for a 25-yard touchdown and also threw a 22-yard touchdown to Ethan Deeds, who tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Layne Ward. Trendon Vogel tacked on a 41-yard rushing score for Richland Springs.

Defensively, Deeds intercepted a pair passes to highlight the Richland Springs effort.

According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 41-point favorite.

Friday’s winner will face either Oglesby (10-1) or Cherokee (10-1) for the Region IV championship next weekend.

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Class 1A Division I Region IV Semifinals

May (10-1) vs. Medina (9-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Marble Falls Faith Academy

The Class A Division I No. 3 May Tigers also also targeting in a regional championship game berth in Region IV as they clash with the Medina Bobcats

District 14 champion May earned a 70-22 bi-district championship victory over Gorman last week as the Tigers were offensively by Lane Goodson with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown and 13 passing yards and a score; Mikey Scheriger with 64 yards on the ground and a score; Maddix Raffel with a 55-yard kick return touchdown, a 15-yard receiving score, and 13 yards rushing; Jackson Lusk with 27 yards rushing and a touchdown and 33 yards receiving; Cayson Dail with 33 yards passing and a touchdown and 13 yards receiving and a score; Kayden Psencik with 13 yards on the ground and a touchdown; Brody Stice with 18 yards receiving and a score; Britton Morrow with a 20-yard rushing touchdown; and Kobey Morris with a 15-yard passing touchdown.

Defensively for the Tigers, Psencik recorded five tackles and recovered a fumble, along with five tackles from Lusk; four tackles each from Goodson and Morris; three tackles and an interception from Kaden Watkins; and two tackles apiece from Scheriger, Raffel and Morrow.

Medina is coming off a 74-26 bi-district victory over Runge. The only losses for the Bobcats this year have been at the hands of Marble Falls Faith Academy (76-55) and undefeated Menard (62-40).

Players to watch for Medina include Zy’Heme Jones, Davis Peterson, Mike Bogorad, Cooper Arnold, Aiden Munsterteiger, Cody Boatman, and J.T. Kunz.

According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 42-point favorite.

Friday’s winner will face either Gordon (10-0) or Menard (10-0) for the Region IV championship next weekend.

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Class 2A Division II Region III Area Round

Goldthwaite (8-3) vs. Overton (7-4)

7 p.m. Friday at Groesbeck

Fresh off a five-overtime, 36-34 bi-district championship victory over Maud, the Goldthwaite Eagles look to earn a berth in the Class 2A Division II Region III semifinals as they battle the Overton Mustangs Friday night.

Against Maud last week, the game was tied at 20 at end of regulation. Goldthwaite and Maud then scored touchdowns in the first overtime but did not convert the extra point, leaving the score at 26-all. The same occurred in the second overtime, with failed two-point attempts, making the score 32-32. Neither team converted a two-point try in the third overtime, but both teams were successful on two-point efforts in the fourth extra session, which resulted in a 34-all deadlock. Eagle quarterback Blake Howard then scored from 3 yards out in the fifth overtime, while the defense held to clinch the victory.

Goldthwaite – which won last year’s first-round meeting, 55-12 – finished with 298 yards of total offense – 153 passing and 145 rushing – and the game’s only turnover, while Maud generated 402 yards, with 327 coming on the ground.

Landry Sanderson rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Goldthwaite offense, while Blake Howard completed 11 of 17 passes for 153 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Casen Wiedebusch grabbed five receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown, and also scored on a 1-yard carry for the Eagles.

Aidyn Lee added three receptions for 53 yards, Zach Rodriguez caught two passes for 27 yards, and Owen Campbell caught a 19-yard pass and rushed for 7 yards for Goldthwaite.

Overton recorded a 49-20 bi-district win over West Sabine last week.

The Mustangs rushed for 404 of their 462 total yards last week, as quarterback Rylan Holleman finished with 181 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and Gabriel Miller chipped in 160 yards and a rushing score.

Through the air, Holleman was 5 of 10 for 38 yards as Justin Weir caught three passes for 9 yards, and Jacob Osburn pulled down two receptions for 29 yards. Brody Brown also caught a 20-yard pass from Justin Weir, who tacked on 58 rushing yards and a touchdown as well.

Defensively, Overton surrendered 349 yards – 283 on the ground and 66 through the air – with one interception by Brown. Leading tacklers were Weir and Brown with 11 apiece, Miller eight nine, and Holleman, Osburn and Hunter Klima with eight apiece.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Goldthwaite is an 8-point underdog.

Friday’s winner will face either Chilton (10-1) or Mount Enterprise (11-0) in the regional semifinal round next weekend.