As the final week of the regular season arrives, there’s plenty to play for in District 5-2A Division I – particularly in the Bangs Dragons-Coleman Bluecats rivalry.
Kickoff between the Dragons (5-4, 2-2) and Bluecats (2-7, 1-3) is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium in Bangs.
The following playoff scenarios are possible, based on potential Friday outcomes:
- If the Dragons defeat Coleman, Bangs enters the playoffs as the No. 3 seed from 5-2A Division I, and the Bluecats would miss the postseason – if Hico defeats Ballinger. If Hico were to lose to Ballinger, and Coleman falls to Bangs, the Bluecats would be the fourth playoff seed from the district, based on a points tiebreaker, unless Ballinger defeats Hico by 14 points, then the Bearcats would claim the final berth.
- If Coleman were to defeat Bangs by more than 2 points, the Bluecats would secure the third seed from the district in a three-way points tiebreaker that includes Hico. After the third-place team is determined, the fourth-place team will be decided based on the head-to-head outcome, according to both Bangs head coach Colton Buzzard and Coleman head coach John Elder, which would land the Dragons as the No. 4 seed due to their 28-27 win over Hico.
- If Coleman defeats Bangs by 1 point, that would result in a three-way deadlock in a points tiebreaker between the Dragons, Bluecats and Hico. In that scenario, a coin toss would determine the third and fourth playoff seeds.
Bangs is coming off a 60-20 loss at De Leon, its second straight league setback after reeling off five consecutive victories to leap into the playoff picture.
For the season, the Dragons average 35 points and 312 yards – 239 rushing and 73 passing – per outing, with eight turnovers.
Bangs is led on the ground by Cason Tidwell (1,185 rushing yards, 20 TDs) along with Eliseo Rivas (251 rushing yards, 3 TDs), Jackson Edmisten (184 rushing yards, 1 TD), Jaxon Duncan (160 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Jayden Robinson (125 rushing yards, 1 TD). Through the air, Hunter Withers has connected on 34 of 68 passes for 457 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions, while leading receivers include Connor Bible (15-299, 5 TDs), Rex Guerrero (12-113, 3 TDs), Tidwell (8-91), Joaquin Rubio (6-91) and Robinson (5-132).
Defensively, Bangs is giving up 25 points and 264 yards – 132 on the ground and 132 through the air – on average per contest, with 15 takeaways.
Standouts include Tidwell (93 tackles, 12 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Rivas (54 tackles, 6 for loss), Ryan Alqorum (51 tackles, 19 for loss, 10 sacks), Duncan (45 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Rubio (32 tackles, 10 for loss, 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries), Kian Kelly (31 tackles, 12 for loss, 6 sacks), Robinson (28 tackles), Brennan Mendieta (27 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Rooster Laughlin (26 tackles, 10 for loss, 6 sacks), Guerrero (23 tackles, 2 for loss), and Bible (21 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery).
Coleman snapped a seven-game skid and kept its playoff hopes alive by rallying from a 6-point halftime deficit for a 26-19 victory over Ballinger last week.
The Bluecats generated 397 yards of total offense – 311 rushing and 84 passing – with a pair of turnovers, while yielding 302 yards, with 212 coming through the air, with a pair of takeaways.
Paul Salas rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns for Coleman, scoring on runs of 11 and 27 yards. Hunter Edington completed 5 of 10 passes for 84 yards with a 19-yard scoring toss to Micah Lackey, along with 9 rushing yards and a 1-yard touchdown carry.
Also on offense, Brayden Torres added 43 yards on the ground and two catches for 38 yards, and Braylon Stewart tacked on 26 rushing yards and grabbed two receptions for 27 yards.
Defensively for the Bluecats, Brady Elder logged nine tackles followed by Nathaniel Guerrero with eight, Gio Villanueva with six, and Corbin Rosales with four tackles.
According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, Bangs is a 14-point favorite. Harris Ratings Weekly, however, lists Coleman as a 3-point favorite.
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Bangs Dragons 2025 Football Season Stats
Through 9 Games (5-4, 2-2)
TEAM OFFENSE
35.3 points per game (318)
312.0 yards per game (2,808)
239.4 rushing yards per game (2,112)
73.0 passing yards per game (696)
PASSING
* Hunter Withers
34 of 68 for 457 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs
* Jaxon Duncan
13 of 21 for 231 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
* Cason Tidwell
1 of 1 for 8 yards
RUSHING
* Cason Tidwell
1,185 yards on 192 carries, 20 TDs
* Eliseo Rivas
251 yards on 63 carries, 3 TDs
* Jackson Edmisten
184 yards on 42 carries, 1 TD
* Jaxon Duncan
160 yards on 28 carries, 2 TDs
* Jayden Robinson
125 yards on 6 carries, 1 TD
* Dayton Vrana
97 yards on 13 carries
* Brennan Mendieta
71 yards on 9 carries, TD
* Connor Bible
20 yards on 5 carries
* Hunter Withers
3 yards on 10 carries, 3 TDs
* Damian Hudspeth
1 yard on 1 carry, 1 TD
RECEIVING
* Connor Bible
15 catches, 299 yards, 5 TDs
* Rex Guerrero
12 catches, 113 yards, 3 TDs
* Cason Tidwell
8 catches, 91 yards
* Joaquin Rubio
6 catches, 91 yards
* Jayden Robinson
5 catches, 132 yards
* Eliseo Rivas
5 catches, 16 yards, 1 TD
* Ryan Alqorum
2 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD
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TEAM DEFENSE
24.8 points per game (224)
263.8 yards per game (2,110) – not including Hamilton
132.3 rushing yards per game (1,058) – not including Hamilton
131.5 passing yards per game (1,052) – not including Hamilton
TACKLES
* Cason Tidwell
93 tackles, 12 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception
* Eliseo Rivas
54 tackles, 6 for loss
* Ryan Alqorum
51 tackles, 19 for loss, 10 sacks
* Jaxon Duncan
45 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
* Joaquin Rubio
32 tackles, 10 for loss, 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries
* Kian Kelly
31 tackles, 12 for loss, 6 sacks
* Jayden Robinson
28 tackles
* Brennan Mendieta
27 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception
* Rooster Laughlin
26 tackles, 10 for loss, 6 sacks
* Rex Guerrero
23 tackles, 2 for loss
* Connor Bible
21 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery
* Dayton Vrana
15 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries
* Kason Klutts
13 tackles
* Braxton Wommack
5 tackles
* Bryce Schoen
5 tackles
* Jackson Edmisten
4 tackles
* Caleb Wagner
3 tackles, 1 for loss
* Quentin Doll
3 tackles
* Jace Duncan
1 tackle, 1 for loss
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TURNOVER MARGIN (+7)
* Bangs: 8 (1 fumble, 7 interceptions)
* Opponents: 15 (3 interceptions, 12 fumbles)