EARLY – The District 5-3A Division II tri-champion Early Longhorns have already added to their trophy case this season, picking up a share of the league championship and the No. 1 seed for the postseason a week ago.

Now, first-year head coach Marvin Wilson’s squad looks to add to its collection as it tangles with the preseason stated-ranked Holliday Eagles in the Class 3A Division II Region II Bi-District round of the playoffs.

Kickoff between the Longhorns (5-5) and Holliday (6-4), which is in the midst of a three-game skid, is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Clyde.

Reflecting briefly this week on this past Friday’s 76-6 win over Dublin, coupled with Clifton’s 7-6 victory over Brady that resulted in three-way district tie, Wilson said, “Our kids are district champions and they know it, but as coaches immediately after Friday we have to get ready for this week. We understand what we accomplished, but it’s on to the next one. I hate being that way, but if you enjoy last week too much, you’ll miss out on a chance to enjoy more wins.”

Early captured its season opener then dropped four games in a row before posting a 4-1 league mark. Wilson said of the Longhorns’ turnaround this season, “We went through a tough schedule but our kids played hard. They bought in, they work hard and they play hard. We told them from day one if you learn to play hard and compete and fight when you’re on the field, good things are going to come. It took us a while to get to the good things, but it’s been a great second half of the season and we have a little momentum with us.”

When it comes to surprise results heading into the playoffs, Early’s ascent to the district championship and Holliday’s fall from the Top 10 may rank as equal. However, reinforcements could be on the way for the Eagles Friday night.

“Holliday has been without their quarterback for the last three weeks, and I fully expect him to be back,” Wilson said. “He’s a player and he runs that offense, so I don’t know if the three losses truly show who they are.”

For the year, the Eagles average 45 points and 407 yards – 227 passing and 180 rushing – per game.

Landon Jones (1,362 passing yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs; 771 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and Caleb McClane (726 passing yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs) have seen the bulk of the work under center, while Brayden Hamill (753 rushing yards, 13 TDs; 26-369, 6 TDs receiving) is the main threat out of the backfield. Receiving targets include Tyler Harrison (28-576, 8 TDs), Brady Jones (26-278, 2 TDs), Owen Hays (19-327, 5 TDs), and Jayden Whitley (17-295, 3 TDs),

“They’ve got athletes and the starting quarterback is a difference maker,” Wilson said. “They remind me of Peaster a lot, but if you go back to that ball game, when we did what we were supposed to do, we did a good job. When we put our eyes where they’re not supposed to be, we did bad. We have to have our eyes where they’re supposed to be, get in the gaps we’re supposed to be in, and just go play hard and it’ll shake out.”

Early’s defense is surrendering 21 points and 316 yards – 174 on the ground and 142 through the air – per outing, with 14 takeaways on the year. In district play, no foe scored more than 17 against the Longhorns, who yielded 8 points per league game on average.

Standouts include Brayden Schafer (110 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack), Angel Marquez (95 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception), Rhett Williams (59 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks), Weston Harrison (55 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks), Aiden Driskill (52 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Aaron Mendoza (51 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions), Mario Vasquez (50 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Andrew Reedy (45 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 interceptions), and Logan Jackson (35 tackles, 6 for loss).

“Holliday plays hard, they play fast, they’re good at what they do and they do it well,” Wilson said. “We have to go out there and limit them and keep the ball away from them. We have to be smart and play hard and take care of ourselves.”

The Eagle defense, meanwhile, is surrendering 33 points per game – but allowing an average of 50 points per game during their current three-game drought – with 22 takeaways, including 13 fumble recoveries, and 20 sacks.

Leading the charge for Holliday are Hays (109 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Cash Kirkland (93 tackles, 4 for loss,4 sacks, 1 interception), Canon Faulkner (69 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), Crue Harrison (64 tackles, 7 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery), and Landon Jones (50 tackles, 2 for loss).

The Longhorns counter with an offense that generates 31 points and 316 yards – 176 rushing and 140 passing – per game, and in district play Early increased that number to 47 points per game while scoring 150 points combined in the last two contests.

Quarterback Caden Wilson has completed 91 of 165 passes for 1,327 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, while rushing for 398 yards and seven more scores. Other contributors out of the backfield include Cameron Love (481 rushing yards, 5 TDs), Isaac Ybarra (385 rushing yards, 4 TDs), Stone Ratliff (238 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 16-247, 1 TD receiving), and Brandon Walker (146 rushing yards, 2 TDs). Primary receiving options are Andrew Reedy (37-651, 12 TDs), Brennen Rasor (11-161, 2 TDs) and Jaxson Stockman (11-139).

“We have to manage the clock and drive the ball,” Wilson said. “Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. We have to limit what they get on offense, so our offense has to have ball control and take what they give us.”

Regarding the importance of another victory Friday night, Wilson said, “The kids earned last week, they put in the work and effort. To keep winning, to keep validating themselves would be huge. We’ve got a great group of seniors. For them to go out and play as long as they can play, it’s what we’re looking for. We know everybody is 0-0 right now, so let’s go play as long as we can play.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, the Longhorns are 2-point underdogs.

Friday’s winner faces either District 8 runner-up Scurry-Rosser (4-6) or District 7 third seed Leonard (6-4) in second-round playoff action next week.

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Early Longhorns 2025 Football Season Stats

Through 10 Games (5-5, 4-1)

TEAM OFFENSE

30.6 points per game (306)

316.0 yards per game (2,571)

175.6 rushing yards per game (1,756)

140.4 passing yards per game (1,404)

PASSING

* Caden Wilson

91 of 165 for 1,327 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs

* Skyden Stoddart

3 of 6 for 52 yards

* Isaac Ybarra

1 of 1 for 25 yards, 1 TD

RUSHING

* Cameron Love

481 yards on 69 carries, 5 TDs

* Caden Wilson

398 yards on 93 carries, 7 TDs

* Isaac Ybarra

395 yards on 51 carries, 4 TDs

* Stone Ratliff

238 yards on 33 carries, 4 TDs

* Brandon Walker

146 yards on 22 carries, 2 TDs

* Andrew Reedy

53 yards on 2 carries

* Skyden Stoddart

40 yards on 6 carries, 1 TD

* Aidan Driskell

5 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

37 catches, 651 yards, 12 TDs

* Stone Ratliff

16 catches for 247 yards, 1 TD

* Brennen Rasor

11 catches, 161 yards, 2 TDs

* Jaxson Stockman

11 catches for 139 yards

* Aiden Driskill

5 catches, 41 yards, 1 TD

* Cameron Love

3 catches, 73 yards

* Aaron Mendoza

3 catches, 46 yards

* Miguel Brunette

3 catches, 32 yards

* Isaac Ybarra

2 catches, 8 yards

* Brandon Walker

2 catches, 5 yards21.3 points per game (13)

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TEAM DEFENSE

315.7 yards per game (2,210) – not including Hamilton, Tolar, Eastland

174.1 rushing yards per game (1,219) – not including Hamilton, Tolar, Eastland

141.6 passing yards per game (991) – not including Hamilton, Tolar, Eastland

TACKLES

* Brayden Schafer

110 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack

* Angel Marquez

95 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception

* Rhett Williams

59 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks

* Weston Harrison

55 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks

* Aiden Driskill

52 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Aaron Mendoza

51 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 interceptions

* Mario Vasquez

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

* Andrew Reedy

45 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 interceptions

*Logan Jackson

35 tackles, 6 for loss

* Caden Wilson

31 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 interception

* Brennen Rasor

28 tackles

* Grant Stacks

27 tackles, 5 for loss

* Jaxson Stockman

24 tackles, 2 interceptions

* Brandon Walker

21 tackles, 2 for loss

* Will Speck

21 tackles, 1 for loss

* Ben Wilson

18 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack

* Kaden Burleson

17 tackles, 1 for loss

* Riley Barton

15 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Eli Pallette

13 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Miguel Brunette

12 tackles

* Isaac Ybarra

10 tackles

* Matthew Walker

7 tackles, 1 interception

* Braedyn Peek

7 tackles, 1 for loss

* Rhett Smith

7 tackles,1 for loss

* Dacorian McBride

6 tackles

* Darryl Watkins

5 tackles

* Skyden Stoddart

5 tackles

* Cameron Love

4 tackles

* Stone Ratliff

3 tackles

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+5)

* Early: 9 (4 fumbles, 5 interceptions)

* Opponents: 14 (4 fumbles, 10 interceptions)