The No. 17 Brownwood Lions will open the 2026 football season at 7 p.m. Friday at Hugh Sandifer Stadium, returning to Abilene Wylie for a rematch of last year’s season-opening matchup. Brownwood is seeking to avenge a 25-0 loss to the Bulldogs, but the game is also the first test in a demanding early-season schedule.
Brownwood is ranked No. 17 in the Harris Ratings Weekly Class 4A Division II poll. The Lions enter the season after finishing 7-5 in 2025 and winning a fourth consecutive bi-district championship. Second-year head coach Jeryl Brixey said the opening game will show how the team responds after months of work.
“I’m excited to see what a real game looks like for us,” Brixey said.
Last year’s meeting provided a difficult introduction for Brownwood. Brixey said the Lions’ focus this time must remain on competing through every play rather than becoming distracted by the score or the previous result.
“The scoreboard doesn’t matter until the game is over, you just have to play your heart out every single play, regardless,” Brixey said.
A demanding non-district schedule
Before Friday’s season opener, the Lions scrimmaged Class 4A Division II No. 6 Brock, which went 14-1, and Class 4A Division I No. 12 Alvarado, which finished 12-1. Brownwood’s remaining pre-district opponents include Wylie, reigning 4A Division I state champion and top-ranked Stephenville, 4A Division I No. 3 Springtown, 4A Division II No. 12 Graham and 4A Division I China Spring.
The records listed for those opponents illustrate the challenge ahead: Wylie finished 5-5 last season, Stephenville went 16-0, Springtown went 12-1, Graham went 9-4 and China Spring went 3-9. Brixey said Brownwood would like to go 5-0 in non-district play, although the larger goal is to identify areas for improvement before district competition.
“We’re going to go out with a plan to win every game and let the chips fall where they may,” Brixey said.
New faces on the Brownwood offense
The Lions return four offensive starters: linemen Jackson Rainey and Rylan Martin, running back Trent Buffington and receiver Conner Cornelius. Buffington rushed for 775 yards and nine touchdowns last season, while Cornelius recorded 23 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns.
Riggs Gray takes over at quarterback. Layton Greer, Bowen Slack, Judah Lee and Julio Fletes are expected to see time on the offensive line. Brody Bolton, KeShaun White, Rush Tharp, Sirr Beam and Aiden Jimenez are listed among the receivers, while Isaac Gonzales and Hudson Fry will share fullback duties. Garrett Wilkerson and Jack Bauchman will play tight end.
Brixey said the offensive line’s execution will be especially important against Wylie. He identified assignment discipline, footwork and proper positioning as keys to giving Brownwood’s skill players opportunities.
“Our kids are good enough if we get a body on a body we’re going to be OK,” Brixey said.
Gray will also make his first season-opening start at quarterback. Brixey said the passing game will require patience, accurate reads and ball security from the running backs. Avoiding turnovers and unnecessary penalties, he said, will help put the Lions in position to compete.
Experienced defense faces a changing Wylie offense
Brownwood’s defense has the most returning experience. Defensive ends Christian Gray and Hayden Fulkersin and tackle Maddox Mendoza are back, along with linebacker Isaac Gonzales. Gray recorded 63 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 10 sacks last season, while Gonzales had 86 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Several players who saw significant time in the secondary in 2025 also return: Wyatt Wolf, Sirr Beam, Nick Rodriguez and Aiden Jimenez. Newcomers include Hudson Fry at inside linebacker, Hudson Deen at the joker position and Hutton Malone at safety.
Wylie returns seven offensive starters and eight starters overall from last year’s .500 team, which missed the postseason. Its returning offensive players include receiver Blaze Ruffin, quarterback Jadin Karleskint, receiver Dylan Regala and running back Cooper Jones. The Bulldogs’ defense is led by linebackers Bo Kates, Cooper Hill and Carter Nelson, safety Brody Martin, defensive lineman Jayden Naemi and Ruffin in the secondary.
Brixey said Wylie is expected to throw more than it did a year ago, when the Bulldogs relied heavily on a powerful running back. That puts pressure on Brownwood’s defenders to cover receivers, tackle in space and escape long-yardage situations.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” Brixey said.
According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Brownwood is an eight-point underdog. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football gives Wylie a seven-point advantage.
Brixey said a victory could help Brownwood’s confidence, but he does not want the result to define the season. Whether the Lions win or lose, he said, the team must return to work quickly because of the quality of its non-district opponents.
“Winning this game is important, but getting better is what we’re really looking for,” Brixey said.