EARLY – The last of three consecutive road games arrives Friday night for the Early Longhorns, who may be facing their toughest test to date against the undefeated Class 3A Division I Peaster Greyhounds.

Kickoff between the Longhorns (1-2) and Greyhounds (3-0) is slated for 7 p.m. Friday.

Early will attempt to halt a two-game skid after falling at Class 2A Division II No. 6 Junction, 34-14, this past Friday.

“Our kids played hard. they got aggressive, but we weren’t great in the first half,,” Early first-year head coach Marvin Wilson said reflecting on the Junction contest. “We allowed two touchdowns the first half where we missed some tackles. Junction’s a good football team, their quarterback has some speed and he was able to scramble one play specifically and got away from us. We have to go clean up our form and technique, our stuff, and I believe we’re making the right strides, we just have to put it all together.”

Peaster has started its season with victories over Tolar (34-0), Ferris (49-7) and Jacksboro (28-7). The Greyhounds average 37 points and 358 points – 205 passing and 153 rushing – per outing, while allowing just 5 points per game with 10 sacks and nine takeaways.

Quarterback Luke Gray (39 of 64 for 616 yards, 8 TDs; 26 rushing yards, 2 TDs) spearheads the offense as leading receivers include Slayte Robertson (8-118, TD), Cade McCollough (7-139, 4 TDs), and Colt Turner (5-133, TD), while weapons out of the backfield are Hudson Salyers (233 rushing yards, TD) and Kaden Albert (111 rushing yards; 6-75, TD receiving).

Defensively, the Greyhounds are led by Mark Tullous (33 tackles, 2 for loss), Hagen Hadley (27 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 sacks), Walker Lacy (24 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), Rhett Kelley (17 tackles, 1 for loss, 3 interceptions), and Robertson (16 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 fumble recovery).

“Peaster is a very good team, more than 40 on their varsity,” Wilson said. “They’re going to be more of a spread type team, bring in some two-back stuff a little back. They’re going to spread the ball out and they have a quarterback and receivers that can throw and catch very well. Their o-line up front has good, solid, physical kids. We have to challenge ourselves to attack them defensively.”

Early heads into the contest averaging 16 points and 257 yards – 134 passing and 123 rushing – per game, with four turnovers.

Quarterback Caden Wilson (32 of 57 for 401 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 164 rushing yards, 2 TDs) leads the Longhorns in both passing and rushing yards, while receiving threats include Andrew Reedy (10-124, 3 TDs), Brennan Rasor (6-91), Stone Ratliff (4-47, TD) and Jaxson Stockman (4-21). Weapons out of the backfield include Brandon Walker (87 rushing yards, TD) and Cameron Love (43 rushing yards, 2-68 receiving).

On the defensive side of the ball, the Longhorns are yielding 29 points and 353 yards – 230 rushing and 123 passing – per game on average, with a pair of takeaways.

Leading the defensive unit are Angel Marquez (36 tackles, 2 for loss), Brayden Schafer (32 tackles), Aaron Mendoza (22 tackles, 1 for loss), Aiden Driskill (18 tackles, 2 for loss), Weston Harrison (17 tackles, 1 for loss), Rhett Williams (16 tackles, 1 for loss), Reedy (15 tackles, 1 interception) and Mario Vasquez (15 tackles).

Regarding areas in which Wilson wants to see improvement against Peaster, he said, “It’s not about somebody else right now, it’s about us. We’ve got to get to where we want to get to, and that starts just one play at a time. Offensively, we’ve got to play a clean game. We can’t have penalties. We got ourselves in a bind a couple of times last week with that. We have to be the aggressors and stop getting in our own way. We miss a block or slip off a double team too early and allow some stuff. Throwing and catching, we have to be more consistent with everything we do.

“Defensively, we’ve got to make tackles. Last week we were right there a bunch of times and we didn’t finish the play. We have to finish the play on both sides.”

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, Early is a 62-point underdog. Harris Ratings Weekly lists the Longhorns as 40-point underdogs.

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Early Longhorns 2025 Football Season Stats

Through 3 Games (1-2)

TEAM OFFENSE

16.3 points per game (49)

256.7 yards per game (770)

123.0 rushing yards per game (369)

133.7 passing yards per game (401)

PASSING

* Caden Wilson

32 of 57 for 401 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT

RUSHING

* Caden Wilson

164 yards on 37 carries, 2 TDs

* Brandon Walker

87 yards on 8 carries, 1 TD

* Cameron Love

43 yards on 15 carries

* Stone Ratliff

40 yards on 8 carries

* Andrew Reedy

35 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

10 catches, 124 yards, 3 TDs

* Brennen Rasor

6 catches, 91 yards

* Stone Ratliff

4 catches for 47 yards, 1 TD

* Jaxson Stockman

4 catches for 21 yards

* Cameron Love

2 catches, 68 yards

* Aaron Mendoza

1 catch, 11 yards

* Aiden Driskill

1 catch, 11 yards

* Brandon Walker

1 catch, 10 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

28.7 points per game (86)

353.5 yards per game (707) – not including Hamilton

230.5 rushing yards per game (461) – not including Hamilton

123.0 passing yards per game (246) – not including Hamilton

TACKLES

* Angel Marquez

36 tackles, 2 for loss

* Brayden Schafer

32 tackles

* Aaron Mendoza

22 tackles, 1 for loss

* Aiden Driskill

18 tackles, 2 for loss

* Weston Harrison

17 tackles, 1 for loss

* Rhett Williams

16 tackles, 1 for loss

* Andrew Reedy

15 tackles, 1 INT

* Mario Vasquez

15 tackles

* Caden Wilson

13 tackles, 1 for loss

*Logan Jackson

10 tackles, 2 for loss

* Will Speck

10 tackles

* Rhett Smith

7 tackles,1 for loss

* Brennen Rasor

5 tackles

* Jaxson Stockman

4 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INT

* Kaden Burleson

4 tackles

* Miguel Brunette

4 tackles

* Brandon Walker

3 tackles, 1 for loss

* Grant Stacks

3 tackles

* Stone Ratliff

3 tackles

* Ben Wilson

2 tackles

* Skyden Stoddart

1 tackle

* Cameron Love

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-2)

* Early: 4 (3 fumbles, 1 interception)

* Opponents: 2 (2 interceptions)