BANGS – Coming off their first defeat of the season, the Bangs Dragons can still lock up the No. 2 seed out of District 2-3A Division I as they host the Brady Bulldogs in Friday’s regular season finale.

Kickoff between the Dragons (7-1, 3-1) and Bulldogs (4-5, 2-2) is slated for 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium in Bangs.

After rolling through their first seven games, the Dragons’ momentum was derailed last week with a 25-13 loss at Ballinger. Another Bangs loss could bring into play several potential seeding scenarios depending on the outcome of the Ballinger-Sonora match-up as well.

A Bangs loss and a Sonora win would leave the Dragons as the No. 4 seed, while a Bangs loss and a Sonora loss would lead to a three-way tie between the Dragons, Brady and Sonora for second place and a points tiebreaker would determine the seeds.

However, third-year head coach Kyle Maxfield and the Dragons have every intention of returning to the winning ways enjoyed throughout the majority of the season.

“We’ve had a good week of practice and the kids know there’s a lot more to play for,” Maxfield said. “Brady’s coming to town Friday so we don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves. We have to go back to work and our kids have done a great job doing that.”

Brady clinched a playoff berth with its 53-34 victory over Ingram Moore last week. The Bulldogs – led by former Brownwood assistant Shay Easterwood – also own a 28-0 district win over Grape Creek, while falling to Sonora, 44-13, and having to forfeit its league opener to Ballinger due to a COVID outbreak.

“They’ve got some size, they’re young in spots, but their sophomore running back is really good. They have a big, tall receiver they like to throw it to and a little bit of speed at the other receiver spot,” Maxfield said of Brady. “Defensively, it seems like they run to the ball pretty well. They’ve played pretty solid defense, and they’re a good, solid football team.”

The Dragons head into the contest averaging 42 points and 444 yards – 275 rushing and 169 passing – per outing.

Quarterback Ethan Cortez has connected on 69 of 98 passes for 1,353 yards with 16 touchdowns and one interception, while rushing for 619 yards and nine scores. Ethan Sanchez anchors the ground game with 1,358 yards and 21 touchdowns, while leading receivers include Brayton Wedeman (23-474, 6 TDs), Guy Powell (13-239, 3 TDs), Damien Santillanes (13-88, TD), Trevor Bowers (8-232, 3 TDs), Sanchez (7-223, 3 TDs), and Logan Massey (4-60).

Defensively, Bangs is giving up 11 points and 230 yards – 146 on the ground and 84 through the air.

Standouts include Sanchez (91 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 2 FRs), Santillanes (69.5 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR, 1 INT), Charlie Smith (52 tackles, 5 for loss), Wedeman (51 tackles, 3 INTs), Wyatt Lykins (37 tackles, 2 for loss, 4 FRs, 1 INT), Trey Ivey (27.5 tackles, 2 for loss), Logan Bishop (24.5 tackles, 1 for loss), Evan Belez (21.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs), and Jesse Sterling (19.5 tackles).

“I want to see fewer penalties and better execution than what we had last Friday,” Maxfield said of the goals against Brady. “We have to have that this Friday and in the playoffs. We need to get back to rolling on both sides of the ball.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Bangs is a 17-point favorite.

Bangs Dragons 2020 Football Stats

Through 8 Games (7-1, 3-1)

TEAM OFFENSE
41.8 points per game (321)
443.9 yards per game (3,551)
274.8 rushing yards per game (2,198)
169.1 passing yards per game (1,353)

PASSING
‒ Ethan Cortez
69 of 98 for 1,353 yards, 16 TDs. 1 INT

RUSHING
‒ Ethan Sanchez
1,358 yards on 114 carries, 21 TDs

‒ Ethan Cortez
619 yards on 68 carries, 9 TDs

‒ Damien Santillanes
191 yards on 19 carries, 1 TD

‒ Guy Powell
115 yards on 23 carries

‒ Harley Keely
31 yards on 7 carries

‒ Jesse Sterling
10 yards on 3 carries

‒ Tait Bowers
5 yards on 1 carry

‒ Trevor Lorah
1 yard on 1 carry

‒ Trevor Bowers
–6 yards on 2 carries

‒ Brayton Wedeman
–8 yards on 4 carries

‒ Team
–28 yards on 3 carries

RECEIVING
‒ Brayton Wedeman
23 catches for 474 yards, 6 TDs

‒ Guy Powell
13 catches for 239 yards, 3 TDs

‒ Damien Santillanes
13 catches for 88 yards, TD

‒ Trevor Bowers
8 catches for 232 yards, 3 TDs

‒ Ethan Sanchez
7 catches for 223 yards, 3 TDs

‒ Logan Massey
4 catches for 60 yards

‒ Wyatt Lykins
1 catch for 34 yards

TEAM DEFENSE

11.0 points per game (88)

229.9 yards per game (1,839)
145.8 rushing yards per game (1,166)
84.1 passing yards per game (673)

TACKLES

‒ Ethan Sanchez
91 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 2 FRs

‒ Damian Santillanes
69.5 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 FR, 1 INT

‒ Charlie Smith

52 tackles, 5 for loss

‒ Brayton Wedeman
51 tackles, 3 INTs

‒ Wyatt Lykins
37 tackles, 2 for loss, 4 FRs, 1 INT

‒ Trey Ivey

27.5 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Logan Bishop
24.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Evan Belez
21.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 INTs

‒ Jesse Sterling
19.5 tackles

‒ Trevor Bowers
17 tackles, 2 for loss

‒ Donovan Ruiz

14.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Guy Powell
13.5 tackles, 1 INT

‒ Ethan Cortez
12.5 tackles

‒ Logan Massey
12 tackles, 1 FR

‒ Braden Montgomery

9 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Trevor Lorah
7.5 tackles, 1 for loss

‒ Hunter Bernal
7 tackles

‒ Jackson Light
4 tackles

‒ Harley Keely
4 tackles

‒ Tait Bowers

4 tackles

‒ Luke Duncan
3 tackles

‒ Austin Tilley
3 tackles

‒ Jackson Light
3 tackles

‒ Harley Keely
2 tackles

‒ Jesse Sterling
2 tackles

‒ Dakota Baker
1.5 tackles

‒ Braxton Melling

1 tackle, 1 FR