The Brownwood Lions will try to regain their early-season momentum Friday night when they travel to face the China Spring Cougars in the final game of the pre-district schedule.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 25 in China Spring. Both teams enter the matchup with 1-3 records and are seeking their first victory since opening night. Brownwood has won the last two meetings in a series that will be played for the third consecutive year and the seventh time since 2018.
Brownwood trying to stop a two-week slide
The Lions opened the season with a 45-12 victory over Waco Connally but have since suffered consecutive lopsided losses to Springtown and Graham. Over those two games, Brownwood has been outscored 118-15 and outgained 1,162 yards to 383.
Second-year Brownwood head coach Jeryl Brixey said the coaching staff is focused on rebuilding competition and consistency during practice. The Lions are averaging 13 points and 231.3 yards per game through four contests, including 128 rushing yards and 103.3 passing yards. Brownwood has committed four turnovers, with three coming last week.
“It’s frustrating because as I’ve told the kids, we couldn’t have done the things we did the first two weeks if we don’t have a good football team hiding in here somewhere,” Brixey said.
Running back Trent Buffington has produced 485 yards and four touchdowns on 104 carries. Quarterback Riggs Gray has completed 29 of 75 passes for 413 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Brownwood’s leading receiving totals include Jack Bauchman with nine catches for 140 yards, Conner Cornelius with six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown, and Brody Bolton with four catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Conner Cornelius scored Brownwood’s only touchdown in last week’s game against Graham on a 17-yard reception.
Brixey said the Lions must restore their physical approach at the line of scrimmage and improve the execution of the passing game.
“When you’re physical running the ball, it opens everything else up,” Brixey said.
Defense faces another demanding test
Brownwood’s defense has allowed an average of 38.3 points and 476.3 yards per game, including 257 rushing yards and 219.3 passing yards. The unit held Abilene Wylie to seven points in the season opener.
Isaac Gonzales leads the Lions with 28 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Hudson Fry has 27 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. Sirr Beam has 25 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception, while Hutton Malone has 23.5 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Other defensive contributors include Hudson Deen, who has 26.5 tackles and returned a blocked extra-point attempt 93 yards for two points; Aiden Jimenez, who has 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and a blocked extra point; and Wyatt Wolf, who has 12 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and a blocked field goal.
Brixey said Brownwood must pressure China Spring’s quarterback, maintain coverage responsibilities and avoid abandoning defensive assignments while trying to make plays.
“Everyone has to know their job and do their job,” Brixey said. “If you do your job and 10 other guys know their job and do their job, then you have a chance to have a great football team.”
China Spring bringing a high-scoring offense
China Spring began the year with a 45-12 win over Brownwood’s District 13-4A Division II rival Waco Connally. The Cougars have since lost three straight games by a combined 13 points: 29-23 in overtime to Waco University on Sept. 4, 41-37 to Gatesville on Sept. 11, and 42-39 to Glen Rose the previous Friday.
In the win over Connally, China Spring quarterback Jack Kennedy completed 18 of 26 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score. Running back Hudson Brown carried 26 times for 115 yards and a touchdown, while receiver Benny Bolton caught six passes for 124 yards and scored once.
Against Gatesville, China Spring overcame deficits of 21-3 and 34-16 to take a 37-34 lead before losing on a 27-yard Gatesville touchdown pass with 40 seconds remaining. Against Glen Rose, quarterback Judd Connally ran for 235 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries and passed for 216 yards and another score.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football lists Brownwood as a four-point favorite. Brixey said the result will depend less on the prediction than on whether the Lions correct their recent problems and play to their capabilities before district competition begins.
“We need to go play well and get these things fixed and come out of this game Friday night feeling like we’re back to moving in the right direction and ready for district play,” Brixey said.