The Brownwood Lions return home Friday night with a major early-season test: the reigning Class 4A Division I state champion and top-ranked Stephenville Yellow Jackets will visit Gordon Wood Stadium for the 86th Battle of 377.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. Brownwood enters the game 1-0 after opening the season with a 13-7 upset of Class 5A Division II Abilene Wylie, while Stephenville is also 1-0 after defeating Midlothian Heritage 44-21.

The matchup marks the first home game of Brownwood’s schedule under second-year head coach Jeryl Brixey. The Lions are trying to defeat Stephenville for the first time since 2019 and end the Yellow Jackets’ series-best six-game winning streak.

Stephenville brings a high-powered offense

Stephenville scored the final 30 points in its season-opening victory and finished with 471 total yards. Quarterback Trot Jordan completed 18 of 28 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns, added 43 rushing yards and scored on a 32-yard run.

Receiver Caden Monk caught 11 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown. Austin Jergins added four receptions for 78 yards and two scores, while Zyler McClendon rushed 15 times for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Brixey said Brownwood will have to account for an experienced Stephenville offense, including Jordan, the returning quarterback, and the Yellow Jackets’ returning running back. Stephenville also returns three offensive linemen, with center Cooper Doty identified as a key part of the group.

“Stephenville is the top of the mountain in 4A until someone knocks them off,” Brixey said.

The Brownwood coach said his defense will need to execute its assignments, create confusion and find opportunities for takeaways and stops against the Yellow Jackets’ passing attack.

“Their offense is going to air bomb the ball all over the place,” Brixey said.

Lions’ defense delivered in the opener

Brownwood allowed Wylie 300 total yards in the season opener, including 174 passing and 126 rushing. However, the Lions held the Bulldogs scoreless on four trips inside the red zone. Brownwood also recovered a fumble and blocked a field goal.

Safety Wyatt Wolf led the defense with 12 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and a blocked field goal. Linebacker Hudson Fry recorded 10 tackles and a tackle for loss, while Isaac Gonzales made 7.5 tackles. Christian Gray had 6.5 tackles and a tackle for loss, Sirr Beam made five tackles, Hudson Deen had four and Hutton Malone recorded three tackles and a fumble recovery.

Brixey said the defensive performance provided encouragement, while also leaving room for improvement. Brownwood’s stated team goal is a 50 percent red-zone success rate; against Wylie, the defense reached 100 percent by preventing scores on all four red-zone possessions.

“I’m really encouraged about the way we played on the defensive side of the ball for sure,” Brixey said.

Stephenville’s defense also made impact plays in its opener, giving up 371 yards—204 passing and 167 rushing—but recording three takeaways, five sacks and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Carter VanZandt led the Yellow Jackets with 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.

Brownwood looks to establish the run

The Lions produced 258 yards against Wylie, splitting that total between 132 passing yards and 126 rushing yards. Trent Buffington rushed for 114 yards and a 4-yard touchdown. Riggs Gray completed 7 of 14 passes for 132 yards, while Conner Cornelius caught three passes for 66 yards and Jack Bauchman had three receptions for 56 yards.

Brixey said Brownwood’s offensive line showed progress against Wylie and that the Lions must remain physical for the entire game. Gray improved after a difficult first half, and Brixey also highlighted a leaping catch by freshman tight end Bauchman and Cornelius’ performance.

“We have to be physical, run the football, and hit plays in the play action pass. That’s what we do,” Brixey said.

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, Brownwood is a 21-point underdog. The Lions will try to make Stephenville commit additional defenders to stopping the run, creating opportunities for Brownwood’s play-action passing game.

Friday’s game brings together two undefeated teams and continues one of the area’s established football rivalries. For Brownwood, it is an opportunity to follow an opening-week upset with another victory over a ranked opponent at home.