The 2026 high school football season arrives in the Brown County area this week with a Thursday night opener in Mullin and a full Friday schedule highlighted by a matchup of ranked teams when May visits Zephyr.

Three Way at Mullin begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The game marks the start of the Slater Isbell coaching era for the Bulldogs, who are coming off a 2-8 season and are seeking their first playoff berth since 2014. Mullin returns Mani Morales, Aaron Porter and Johnathan Armendarez, while Quayde Heard joins the roster after producing 594 passing yards, eight touchdown passes, 233 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown for Zephyr in 2025.

Three Way enters after an 11-2 playoff season. The Braves return Cole Schrimsher, Gage Thompson and Manny Alvarado and are projected by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to finish second behind Iredell in District 13-A Division II. Dave Campbell’s lists Mullin as a 34-point underdog, while sixmanfootball.com lists the Bulldogs as 45-point underdogs.

May and Zephyr meet in ranked season opener

May visits Zephyr at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a meeting of preseason-ranked Brown County squads. May is ranked No. 16 in Class A Division I, while Zephyr is ranked No. 7 in Class A Division II.

The Tigers enter head coach Jacob Brown’s second season after an 11-2 playoff campaign, but must replace every starter from last year’s team. Players to watch include Kaiden Adams, Kayden Psencik, JD Harrell, Ty McInnis, Justin McKenzie, Brodie Kelley and Alberto Chavaria.

Zephyr went 10-2 last season and returns five starters on each side of the ball for head coach Derek Stevens’ second season. Chayden Woodcock leads the list of returnees after rushing for 1,306 yards and 31 touchdowns, adding 316 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, along with 70 tackles. Other key Bulldogs include CJ Byers, Ryan Glosson, Jetson Gowin, Bauer Blair, Ethan Prochaska, Reid Hamm and Slade Butler.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football gives Zephyr a two-point edge, while sixmanfootball.com lists May as a 29-point favorite.

Friday games across the area

Blanket travels to Panther Creek for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Blanket begins its third season under Jalen Helms and returns four starters from last year’s team. Panther Creek starts the Enrique Rodriguez coaching era after going 5-5 in 2025 and brings back all six starters on both sides of the ball. Blanket is favored by 24 points by Dave Campbell’s and 45 points by sixmanfootball.com.

Brookesmith hosts Trent at 6:30 p.m. The Mustangs went 4-6 last year and return five starters on offense and defense as Blake Hood begins his second season in charge, with the program pursuing its first postseason berth since 2020. Trent finished 6-4 in 2025 and returns Chanse Williamson, Brayden Brazelton, Travis Clark and Grayson Payne. Brookesmith is a one-point favorite in Dave Campbell’s projection but a 15-point underdog according to sixmanfootball.com.

Comanche hosts Breckenridge at 7 p.m. Comanche returns to Class 3A Division II after a two-year stay in Division I and brings back seven offensive and seven defensive starters. The Indians lost to Breckenridge 26-22 last season. Breckenridge reached the playoffs in 2025 for the first time since 2022 and returns eight starters on each side. Dave Campbell’s gives Comanche a seven-point advantage.

Coleman visits Grape Creek at 7 p.m. Zach Edington takes over for the Bluecats, who went 2-8 last season after a four-year postseason streak. Coleman returns six starters on each side of the ball. Grape Creek went 7-5 and won a playoff game in 2025, returns five starters on offense and defense, and is projected second in District 3-3A Division II behind Coahoma. Coleman is a 23-point underdog in Dave Campbell’s projection.

San Saba visits De Leon at 7 p.m. in a game between preseason Top 25 teams in Class 2A Division I. San Saba is ranked No. 21 and returns five offensive and six defensive starters after a 6-5 playoff season. No. 18 De Leon went 9-4 and returns six starters on each side. The Bearcats are projected third in District 5-2A Division I, while San Saba is a five-point underdog according to Dave Campbell’s.

Other Friday night games include Junction at Goldthwaite at 7:30 p.m., Bruceville-Eddy at Cross Plains at 7 p.m., Veribest at Santa Anna at 7:30 p.m., Richland Springs at Lometa at 7:30 p.m., Rising Star at Forestburg at 7 p.m., and Sidney at Rochelle at 7 p.m.

More season-opening storylines

Goldthwaite, ranked No. 13 in Class 2A Division II, returns nine offensive and 10 defensive starters from an 8-4 playoff team and faces No. 11 Junction, which went 13-1 last season. Bruceville-Eddy finished 1-9 in 2025, while Cross Plains went 4-7 and reached the playoffs.

Santa Anna begins Tom McVey’s second stint as head coach while seeking its first postseason appearance since 2016. Richland Springs, ranked No. 4 in Class A Division II, reached the 2025 state final and will field 11 players this season under new coach James McIntyre. Rising Star is pursuing its first playoff berth since 2023 after a 5-5 season, and Sidney is also seeking its first postseason appearance since 2023 after finishing 2-8.

All games listed are season openers, giving local teams their first opportunity to establish momentum in 2026.