BANGS – The Bangs Dragons earned their first postseason berth since 2022 in dramatic fashion last week at Hico, and now set their sights on the program’s first district championship since 2008 as they host fellow District 5-2A Division I unbeaten Hamilton Friday.

The Dragons (5-2, 2-0) and Bulldogs (5-2, 2-0) will square off at 6 p.m., moved up due to the threat of inclement weather.

“I’m excited to see how we stack up against someone like Hamilton,” said Bangs second-year head coach Colton Buzzard. “Hamilton’s a good ball club, there’s a reason why they’re one of the top teams in the state and went to the state semifinals last year. This is going to be fun, let’s go enjoy this and go get after them, and whatever happens, happens.”

Bangs is coming off a 28-27 victory decided with 37 seconds left when the Dragons turned in extra-point attempt into a game-winning two-point conversion to a secure a fifth consecutive victory.

Buzzard attributes the 2025 for Bangs, which won only twice in 2024, to the work the Dragons have put in since the culmination of last season.

“It all started when the season ended last year, in the offseason, and I told the kids this was going to be one of the toughest things you’ve ever done,” Buzzard said. “They didn’t believe it at first, but now they believe me. They built a lot of mental toughness over the spring and the summer was a big testament to whether we were going to have success this football season and our turnout was great. And all the hard work and all the hours they’ve put in are starting to pay off with wins.”

The Dragons also own a 48-0 victory over Ballinger since league play began, while Hamilton routed Ballinger 61-0 last week, which came on the heels of a 38-7 triumph over Coleman in its district opener.

Against Ballinger last week, the Bulldogs generated 427 yards of total offense – 243 rushing and 184 passing – while the defense yielded only 89 yards.

Hailston Haile rushed nine times for 116 yards and two touchdowns and also caught two passes for 25 yards with a another trip to the end zone. Cooper Turner tacked on 59 yards on the ground and crossed the goal line twice. Defensively, Kennon Lee led the charge with seven tackles, including four for loss with three sacks.”

“Hailston Haile is a good athlete and they move him around a lot,” Buzzard said. “They like to put him out wide and have him in the back field. They also have two good receivers, they’re really skilled. One is 6-5, Ben Ivey, and the other receiver is a pretty good athlete, Devin Eanes. It’s going to be a tough battle but I think our kids are tough enough to get the job done.”

Bangs’ string of three consecutive shutouts ended last week at Hico, but for the season the Dragons are still allowing just 16 points and 233 yards – 117 passing and 116 rushing – per game on average, with 14 takeaways.

Leading the charge defensively are Cason Tidwell (77 tackles, 10 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Eliseo Rivas (48 tackles, 6 for loss), Ryan Alqorum (42 tackles, 16 for loss, 7 sacks), Jaxon Duncan (36 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Joaquin Rubio (29 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries), Brennan Mendieta (26 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Kian Kelly (25 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks), Jayden Robinson (23 tackles), Rooster Laughlin (22 tackles, 9 for loss, 6 sacks), Connor Bible (18 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery).

Offensively, Bangs is producing 40 points and 318 yards – 249 on the ground and 69 through the air – on average per outing, with just four turnovers all season.

The Dragons’ Wing-T attack is anchored by Tidwell (1,033 rushing yards, 17 TDs), along with Eliseo Rivas (189 rushing yards 3 TDs), Jackson Edmisten (168 rushing yards, 1 TD), and Jaxon Duncan (91 rushing yards, 1 TD). Through the air, quarterback Hunter Withers has connected on 22 of 38 passes for 273 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions, while top receivers include Connor Bible (11-271, 4 TDs), Rex Guerrero (10-95, 3 TDs), Tidwell (6-64), Jayden Robinson (5-132), Rubio (4-17), and Rivas (4-13, TD).

Regarding the key to attaining a sixth consecutive victory and remaining atop the District 5-2A Division I standings, Buzzard said, “We just have to avoid turnovers and we’ve done a really job of that, not giving the ball to the other team. Time of possession will be big, who can hold on to the football longer. They played San Saba earlier in the year and San Saba did a real good job of keeping the ball away from them, keep it away from their skill players. That’s what we do offensively anyway, that;s not secret, if you can control the lkne of scrummage you control the game. It’s going to come down to which offensive line and defensive line is going to win, so we have to get our guys ready.”

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the Dragons are a 50-point underdog, while Harris Ratings Weekly lists Bangs as a 27-point underdog.

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Bangs Dragons 2025 Football Season Stats

Through 7 Games (5-2, 2-0)

TEAM OFFENSE

39.7 points per game (278)

317.9 yards per game (2,225)

248.6 rushing yards per game (1,740)

69.3 passing yards per game (485)

PASSING

* Hunter Withers

22 of 38 for 273 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs

* Jaxon Duncan

12 of 21 for 204 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

* Cason Tidwell

1 of 1 for 8 yards

RUSHING

* Cason Tidwell

1,033 yards on 147 carries, 17 TDs

* Eliseo Rivas

189 yards on 44 carries, 3 TDs

* Jackson Edmisten

168 yards on 36 carries, 1 TD

* Jaxon Duncan

91 yards on 23 carries, 1 TD

* Jayden Robinson

86 yards on 2 carries, TD

* Dayton Vrana

84 yards on 11 carries

* Brennan Mendieta

71 yards on 9 carries, TD

* Connor Bible

18 yards on 4 carries

* Damian Hudspeth

1 yard on 1 carry, 1 TD

* Hunter Withers

-1 yard on 7 carries, 3 TDs

RECEIVING

* Connor Bible

11 catches, 271 yards, 4 TDs

* Rex Guerrero

10 catches, 95 yards, 3 TDs

* Cason Tidwell

6 catches, 64 yards

* Jayden Robinson

5 catches, 132 yards

* Joaquin Rubio

4 catches, 17 yards

* Eliseo Rivas

4 catches, 13 yards, 1 TD

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TEAM DEFENSE

16.5 points per game (116)

233.4 yards per game (1,634)

116.1 rushing yards per game (813)

117.3 passing yards per game (821)

TACKLES

* Cason Tidwell

77 tackles, 10 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception

* Eliseo Rivas

48 tackles, 6 for loss

* Ryan Alqorum

42 tackles, 16 for loss, 7 sacks

* Jaxon Duncan

36 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

* Joaquin Rubio

29 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries

* Brennan Mendieta

26 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception

* Kian Kelly

25 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks

* Jayden Robinson

23 tackles

* Rooster Laughlin

22 tackles, 9 for loss, 6 sacks

* Connor Bible

18 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery

* Rex Guerrero

16 tackles, 2 for loss

* Dayton Vrana

15 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries

* Kason Klutts

12 tackles

* Bryce Schoen

5 tackles

* Jackson Edmisten

4 tackles

* Caleb Wagner

3 tackles, 1 for loss

* Quentin Doll

3 tackles

* Braxton Wommack

2 tackle

* Jace Duncan

1 tackle, 1 for loss

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+10)

* Bangs: 4 (1 fumble, 3 interceptions)

* Opponents: 14 (3 interceptions, 11 fumbles)