The Longhorns (1-2) will attempt to return to the win column at 7 p.m. Friday at Hamilton, where the Class 2A Division I Bulldogs (2-1) are in the midst of a win streak.
Early is coming off a 57-0 loss to Class 3A Division II No. 5 Comanche, according to Harris Ratings Weekly, a game in which the Longhorns gave up 585 total yards while being held to 116 total yards – 91 through the air and 25 on the ground.
“Friday was a tough one,” said Early fourth-year head coach Daniel Price. “We had a few more guys out injured going into that. We sputtered offensively and had three or four good drives that ended with penalties and got us off schedule. Those are simple things we need to clean up to be more successful. Defensively, we have to tackle well which we didn’t do very well on Friday night against Comanche. Not the best game for us, but the five at the end are the five that matter.”
Regarding the positives the Longhorns could take away from last week, Price said, “We got some great work for our quarterback Weston Barton. He got a chance to play the game and he played well and I’m proud of how he handled it. We got some other guys some experience they hadn’t had the opportunity to get, and that’s invaluable on a game night because you can’t rep that or simulate that in practice. Getting that experience was big for us, and then there’s also things Friday night that happened that you just want to move on from and start over.”
Hamilton has defeated Bosqueville, 55-0, and Santo, 20-14, since opening the season with a 20-7 loss to Millsap. The Bulldogs return nine offensive and seven defensive starters from last year’s 7-6 playoff team that advanced to the regional semifinals as the fourth place team from the district.
“Hamilton’s really good and really big up front,” Price said. “Watching them on film they look really physical and have some good looking kids. They have a good looking running back and their defensive line looks huge on film. They’re going to be another good contest for us as we get closer to district.”
Players to watch include receiver/linebacker Jacob Eanes, running back/defensive back Reese Hungerford, receivers/defensive backs Ryan Worbington and Garrett Guinn, running back/linebacker Izaac Wood, quarterback/defensive back Jaxon Edwards and the aforementioned large offensive and defensive fronts.
“With the woes we had last Friday night, to get to see our kids respond and have a chance to go do that well this Friday night is going to be big for us,” Price said. “They’re big up front, so being able to control the game and getting them off schedule and forcing them into some passing situations would be helpful for our defense. Offensively, their defense has some gaps that we have to take advantage of based on how they align. If we execute we’re going to be in a good spot to make some plays and that’s what you want to see when you get into Week 4, better execution.”
Early enters Friday’s contest averaging 22 points and 292 yards – 167 passing and 125 rushing – per game, with 10 turnovers.
Three quarterbacks have taken snaps – Rohyn Price (14 of 26 for 227 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT), Justin Pierce (13 of 25 for 170 yards, 4 INTs), and Weston Barton (9 of 25 for 105 yards, 2 INTs) – with Barton getting all the work against Comanche.
Griffin Cheslock leads the way on the ground with 296 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries, while leading receivers include Andrew Reedy (12-122, 1 TD), Ki Houston (7-189, 1 TD), Barton (5-56, 1 TD), Reece Middleton (5-52), and Ben Bleth (3-51, 1 TD).
On the flip side of the ball, the Longhorns are surrendering 38 points and 366 yards – 188 on the ground and 178 through the air – per outing, with four takeaways. Standouts include Kaleb Ozuna (22 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Dalton Adams (18 tackles, 6 for loss, 4 sacks), Izik Delgado (18 tackles, 5 for loss), Reedy (17 tackles), Brooks Clippinger (15 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack), Bleth (11 tackles), Barton (11 tackles), Houston (10 tackles, 1 INT) and Dylan Brame (9 tackles, 1 for loss).
As for what Price hopes to see out of his team Friday night, he said, “I want to see the defense fly around, fly to the ball, tackle together. That’s part of it. There’s a motor there that we haven’t gotten to that we need to get to this Friday night. Offensively, I want to see us be better at executing the little things – not getting a false start – those things are what we need to clean up Friday night. And then running the correct routes, catching the football when you get an opportunity. Those are all things we hope to see improvement on this Friday.”
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 7-point favorite.
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Early Longhorns 2023 Football Season Stats
Through 3 Games (1-2)
TEAM OFFENSE
22.0 points per game (66)
292.0 yards per game (760)
124.7 rushing yards per game (374)
167.3 passing yards per game (502)
PASSING
* Rohyn Price
14 of 26 for 227 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
* Justin Pierce
13 of 25 for 170 yards, 4 INTs
* Weston Barton
9 of 25 for 105 yards, 2 INTs
RUSHING
* Griffin Cheslock
296 yards on 51 carries, 2 TDs
* Kaleb Ozuna
39 yards on 8 carries
* Rohyn Price
23 yards on 5 carries, 2 TDs
* Ben Morris
15 yards on 3 carries
* Weston Barton
3 yards on 5 carries
* Justin Pierce
-2 yards on 3 carries
RECEIVING
* Andrew Reedy
12 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
* Ki Houston
7 catches, 189 yards, 1 TD
* Weston Barton
5 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD
* Reece Middleton
5 catches, 52 yards
* Ben Bleth
3 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD
* Griffin Cheslock
3 catches, 18 yards
* Kaleb Ozuna
1 catch, 14 yards
###
TEAM DEFENSE
38.3 points per game (115)
366.0 yards per game (1,098)
188.3 rushing yards per game (565)
177.7 passing yards per game (533)
TACKLES
* Kaleb Ozuna
22 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
* Dalton Adams
18 tackles, 6 for loss, 4 sacks
* Izik Delgado
18 tackles, 5 for loss
* Andrew Reedy
17 tackles
* Brooks Clippinger
15 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack
* Ben Bleth
11 tackles
* Weston Barton
11 tackles
* Ki Houston
10 tackles, 1 INT
* Dylan Brame
9 tackles, 1 for loss
* Reece Middleton
7 tackles
* Rohyn Price
5 tackles
* Griffin Cheslock
4 tackles, 1 INT
* Giovanni Guevara
3 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 fumble recovery
* Rico Vasquez
3 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack
* Justin Pierce
3 tackles
* Ben Morris
3 tackles
* Ethan Moseley
2 tackles
* Kaeden Byrd
1 tackle
* Angel Del Villar
1 tackle
* Jacob Braun
1 tackle
* Jacob McDaniel
1 tackle
###
TURNOVER MARGIN (-6)
* Early: 10 (3 fumbles, 7 interceptions)
* Opponents: 4 (2 fumbles, 2 interceptions)