Bangs continues quest for first district victory against San Saba

October 12, 2023 at 7:30 am Derrick Stuckly

Ethan Ethridge (22) and the Dragons (1-5, 0-2) are averaging 21 points per game and allowing 44 per contest heading into Friday’s home game with the Armadillos. [Photo courtesy of Terry Thompson]

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BANGS – The Bangs Dragons find themselves with their backs to the walls in terms of the postseason following a second consecutive District 5-2A Division I setback, but first-year head coach Jason Cole and the team is focusing on the imminent task at hand – securing the first league victory of the season against the San Saba Armadillos.

Kickoff between the Dragons (1-5, 0-2) and Armadillos (2-5, 1-2) – who have dropped two in a row since upsetting Hamilton in their league opener – is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium.

“I’m worried about San Saba, trying to get our first district win, putting our kids in the best position to succeed and trying to keep everyone happy and together – that’s my goal,” Cole said following losses of 40-21 to De Leon and 42-14 to Goldthwaite last week. “We’re trying to put a good game on the field this Friday. Our boys are getting better, we wish that we’d get better faster, but we have a bunch of young guys with a bunch of sophomores and juniors starting. But we’re going to keep battling.”

In last week’s 28-point loss at Goldthwaite, the Dragons trailed just 7-0 at halftime.

“We started the game better than we had been,” Cole said. “We had two or three chances to score and we could have gone in tied or maybe even with the lead. In the second half it got away from us a little bit. The first play of the second half we had a mental lapse and they broke a big run on us and got up 14-0 and that was probably the turning point. But our boys played really hard the whole game. We faced some adversity during the game and they kept playing hard and we’re really proud of them.”

San Saba also finds itself needing a win to remain in the thick of the playoff race as since its 32-28 triumph over Hamilton, the Armadillos have fallen to Coleman, 40-26, and De Leon, 42-20.

The Armadillos are averaging 27 points and 329 yards – 250 rushing and 79 passing – per game, with seven turnovers.

Running back Ethan Gonzales has been the driving force on offense with 1,109 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, to go along with a team-high 21 receptions for 212 yards and two more scores. Lane Miller (30 of 60 for 317 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs; 385 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Winton Lackey (22 of 39 for 237 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs; 91 rushing yards) have seen time at quarterback, while additional receiving threats include Skylar Romero (12-265, 2 TDs), Glover (12-66) and Haiden Vanbibber (7-62, TD).

Defensively, the Armadillos allow 32 points per outing with seven takeaways.

Standouts include Glover (38 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries), Lackey (34 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Alex Estrada (25 tackles, 1 for loss), Juan Patino (22 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Julius Salinas (20 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), and Daniel Aguirre (20 tackles).

“San Saba has a bunch of good, talented kids and a really good offensive scheme,” Cole said. “It’s going to be quite a challenge.”

Bangs heads into the contest averaging 21 points and 318 yards – 163 passing and 155 rushing – per contest, with seven turnovers.

Quarterback Kenny Cole has completed 73 of 159 passes for 979 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 278 yards and two scores. Other weapons in the backfield include Ethan Ethridge (424 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 9-134, TD receiving) and Hunter Hudnall (142 rushing yards), while receiving threats include Hunter Newton (29-456, 6 TDs), Kade Minshew (14-217, TD), Skylar Minshew (13-121) and Brayden Gatlin (7-36, TD).

Defensively, the Dragons are yielding 44 points and 444 yards – 281 on the ground and 163 through the air – per contest, with six takeaways.

Leading the charge are Hunter Crowell (43 tackles), Ethridge (41.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks), Cason Tidwell (29.5 tackles), Newton (28.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), Skylar Minshew (16.5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Weston Scantling (14.5 tackles) and Kade Minshew (10 tackles, 1 INT).

Regarding the keys to a victory for the Dragons, Cole said, “We started better this last game and we’re really fired up about that. We need to start physical and tough and do that again and then when we have a chance to put the ball in the end zone we have to find a way to do, especially early in the game. We tend to settle in and score more in the second half, so we need to try and put more points on the board in the first half to give us a better chance.”

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

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Bangs Dragons 2023 Football Season Stats

Through 6 Games (1-5, 0-2)

TEAM OFFENSE

20.7 points per game (124)

318.2 yards per game (1,909)

155.0 rushing yards per game (930)

163.2 passing yards per game (979)

PASSING

* Kenny Cole

73 of 159 for 979 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs

RUSHING

* Ethan Ethridge

424 yards on 74 carries, 4 TDs

* Kenny Cole

278 yards on 70 carries, 2 TDs

* Hunter Hudnall

142 yards on 11 carries

* Skylar Minshew

47 yards on 22 carries

* Navaeh Menefield

24 yards on 5 carries, TD

* Brayden Gatlin

2 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING

* Hunter Newton

29 catches, 456 yards, 6 TDs

* Kade Minshew

14 catches, 217 yards, TD

* Skylar Minshew

13 catches, 121 yards

* Ethan Ethridge

9 catches, 134 yards, TD

* Brayden Gatlin

7 catches, 36 yards, TD

* Ethan Hager

2 catches, 19 yards

* Aden Jones

1 catch, 36 yards, TD

* Weston Scantling

1 catch, 4 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

44.0 points per game (264)

444.1 yards per game (2,665)

280.8 rushing yards per game (1,685)

163.3 passing yards per game (980)

TACKLES

* Hunter Crowell

43 tackles

* Ethan Ethridge

41.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks

* Cason Tidwell

29.5 tackles

* Hunter Newton

28.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries

* Skylar Minshew

16.5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Weston Scantling

14.5 tackles

* Kade Minshew

10 tackles, 1 INT

* Brayden Gatlin

9 tackles, 1 sack

* Brody Newton

8 tackles, 1 sack

* Hunter Hudnall

7 tackles

* Hunter Withers

6.5 tackles

* Sergio Lopez

6 tackles, 1 for loss

* Ethan Hager

5 tackles

* Quade Angel

5 tackles

* Aden Jones

5 tackles

* Noah Pin

4.5 tackles

* Damian Hudspeth

4 tackles, 1 sack

* Kenny Cole

4 tackles

* Dwayne Lyon

2.5 tackles

* Cody Brooks

2 tackles

* Navaeh Menefield

1 tackle

* Chris Valdez

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-1)

* Bangs: 7 (5 fumbles, 2 interceptions)

* Opponents: 6 (4 fumbles, 2 interceptions)