SIX-MAN REWIND: Cream continues to rise throughout Big Country Preps coverage area

We’re approaching the midpoint of the regular season and teams are preparing for the imminent start of district play. And while Week 5 didn’t yield many competitive games throughout the Big Country Preps coverage area, the teams atop our power rankings continued to separate themselves from the pack.

Whether it was Strawn routing Zephyr in the “Six-Man Lookahead” Game of the Week, Robert Lee taking care of Sands or Gordon and Jayton cruising to wins over quality opponents, the area’s cream continued its rise to the top.

As we have in the past on Mondays, it’s time to recap the week that was in our “Six-Man Rewind” column. We hope you enjoy this review, and encourage you to check out our check out our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page for standings, results and upcoming matchups. 

LAST WEEK’S TOP RESULTS

• Strawn 86, Zephyr 38 — The No. 7 Greyhounds amassed 508 total yards, including 385 on the ground, and took advantage of four forced turnovers defensively to earn a comfortable win over the Bulldogs. Behind that effort, Strawn (4-1) scored 32 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 46-6 lead into halftime. But Zephyr (4-1) wouldn’t go away lightly after the break. The Bulldogs, who finished with 441 yards (266 passing, 175 rushing) scored 32 third-quarter points to narrow the gap to 68-38 and force a fourth quarter before finally succumbing to the 45-point rule with just four minutes remaining in the game.
• Robert Lee 82, Ackerly Sands 46 — Brenner Sherwood ran for 350 yards, passed for 192 yards and contributed nine total touchdowns to lead the fifth-ranked Steers to a blowout win over the Mustangs. The standout senior also had three interceptions defensively, as Robert Lee took a 60-40 halftime lead before putting the game away with three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Josh Garcez added a pair of rushing touchdowns, and Wyatt Bosworth received for 75 yards and a score for the Steers, who stayed perfect at 5-0 with the win. 
• Gordon 66, Fort Worth Covenant Classical 20 — Stryker Reed ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 41 yards and another score and had a 58-yard TD catch to fuel the top-ranked Longhorns to a mercy-rule win over the Cavaliers. Asher Salinas added 61 yards and a touchdown receiving and Ry Reed contributed 57 yards and a TD rushing for Gordon (5-0), which stretched its win streak to 35 games with the win. The Longhorns controlled the game throughout, racing out to a 22-0 first-quarter lead and stretching that advantage to 52-20 by halftime, before ending the game early with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter. 
• Jayton 58, Hermleigh 0 — Body Ham ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while Sean Stanaland threw three TD passes and Colt Gentry had a pair of TD catches to lead the Division II No. 1 Jaybirds to a runaway win over the Cardinals. That trio also paced the Jayton defense in a shutout effort, as Ham had eight tackles and three interceptions, Gentry had eight tackles and a fumble return touchdown and Stanaland added eight tackles of his own. The kept the Jaybirds undefeated at 5-0, while Hermleigh fell to 3-2 with the loss.
• Rising Star 46, Gorman 36 — JV Kelly ran for 213 yards and four touchdowns, passed for 99 yards and another score and had a pick-six on defense to fuel the Wildcats to a hard-fought win over the Panthers in the area’s most competitive six-man game of Week 5. Chance Wells also had a big game for Rising Star (3-2), rushing for 78 yards and a score and passing for 74 yards. Gorman, which fell to 1-4 with the loss, was led by Tristan Lee with 102 yards and a touchdown rushing and another score passing, Tyce Delgado with 100 yards and one TD rushing and Ethan Jones with two touchdown catches.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• Brenner Sherwood, SB, Sr., Robert Lee — Ran for 350 yards and seven touchdowns on 22 carries, threw for 192 yards and two TDs on 12-of-14 passing and had 10 tackles and three interceptions defensively in the Steers’ win over Sands.
• Michael Wallis, QB, Jr., Trent — Ran for 187 yards and seven touchdowns on just seven carries, went 4-of-6 passing for 121 yards and a TD and returned a kickoff 53 yards for a score in the Gorillas’ 68-18 win over Lueders-Avoca. 
• Kaiden Cuellar, RB/DB, Sr., Ranger — Ran for 311 yards and six touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a TD in the Bulldogs’ 55-33 win over Mullin.
• JV Kelly, utility, Jr., Rising Star — Ran for 213 yards and four touchdowns, went 9-of-14 passing for 99 yards and a score and added three receptions for 44 yards in the Wildcats’ win over Gorman. The junior also had a big day on defense, collecting 14 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an 80 yard pick-six.
• Landon Rodriguez, RB/DB, So., Westbrook — Ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns, had a 60-yard TD catch and returned a fumble for a score in the Wildcats’ 64-16 win over Imperial Buena Vista.
• Jayden Gibson, RB/LB, Sr., Santa Anna — Ran for 217 yards and five touchdowns and added four tackles in the Mountaineers’ 50-0 win over Priddy.
• Zander Abila, RB, Jr., Knox City — Ran for 289 yards and six touchdowns in the Greyhounds’ 57-8 win over Crowell.
• Colby Sanders, FB, Sr., Highland — Ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns and received for 95 yards and two more scores in the Hornets’ 58-8 win over Blackwell. 
• Gabe Cerveny, RB, Sr., Roby — Ran for 191 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions’ 58-12 win over Baird.
• Mason Beck, utility, Sr., Blanket — Ran for 131 and three touchdowns, passed for 38 yards and a TD and had two interceptions in the Tigers’ 58-0 win over Throckmorton.

BCP POWER RANKINGS

DIVISION I

1. Gordon (5-0) ⇔ — The No. 1 Longhorns picked up another impressive win last week over Covenant Classical. They’ll have this week off before opening District 13 play at winless Lingleville on Oct. 9.
2. Water Valley (5-0) ⇔ — The second-ranked Wildcats remained unbeaten with a 54-0 win over Rochelle. They’ll be tested this week when they host No. 10 Rankin in their last nondistrict game. 
3. May (4-1) ⇔ — The No. 3 Tigers continued their strong start to the season with a 68-13 dismantling of Iredell. They should open District 14 play at 6-1 with games against Irion County (1-4) and Rocksprings (3-2) up next.
4. Robert Lee (5-0) ⇔ — The fifth-ranked Steers stayed perfect with an impressive win over Sands. They’ll travel to Bronte for their final nondistrict tuneup this week.
5. Newcastle (3-1) ⇔ — The No. 9 Bobcats had the week off to recoup from their Week 4 loss to May. Things don’t get any easier this week against DII No. 1 Jayton.
6. Westbrook (3-1) ⇔ — The Wildcats had no trouble with an overmatched Buena Vista team last week. This week’s trip to Garden City should provide a better test.
7. Perrin-Whitt (4-1) ⇑1 — The Pirates claimed their third straight win with a 50-0 shutout of Granbury Grace Classical. They’ll take on undefeated Saint Jo this week, before opening District 6 play with a big game at Newcastle on Oct. 10.
8. Ira (2-2) ⇑1 — The Bulldogs were idle last week, ahead of this week’s nondistrict finale against winless Loraine. They’ll open District 7 play with games against Roby (Oct. 10) and Westbrook (Oct. 17). 
9. Hermleigh (3-2) ⇓2 — The Cardinals couldn’t keep up with Jayton in a 58-0 road loss. They’ll have this week off, before kicking off District 7 play with a Week 7 matchup at Highland.
10. Bryson (3-2) ⇔ — The Cowboys bounced back from their Week 4 loss to Strawn with a 54-6 rout of winless Woodson. They’ll try to start a winning streak this week against Gorman.

First five out — Roby (4-1) ⇔, Knox City (1-4) ⇑1, Highland (2-3) ⇑⇑⇑, Paint Rock (3-2) ⇓2, Rotan (2-2) ⇓1

DIVISION II

1. Jayton (5-0) ⇔ — The top-ranked Jaybirds took care of business in a shutout win over Hermleigh. They’ll travel to Newcastle this week for a big nondistrict matchup.
2. Richland Springs (3-1) ⇔ — The No. 3 Coyotes had the week off, giving them extra time to prepare for their final nondistrict game at Lometa.
3. Benjamin (3-0) ⇔ — The sixth-ranked Mustangs were idle for the second straight week last week. They’ll face off with No. 4 and fellow unbeaten Cherokee (5-0) this Friday.
4. Strawn (4-1) ⇔ — The No. 7 Greyhounds were impressive in handing Zephyr its first loss. They’ll travel to Ranger this week before taking Week 7 off.
5. Aspermont (5-0) ⇑1 — The undefeated Hornets move up a spot after shutting out Loraine 46-0. They’ll play their first opponent with a victory this season when Rotan comes to town this week.
6. Zephyr (4-1) ⇓1 — The Bulldogs couldn’t keep pace with Strawn in a 45-point-rule loss. They’ll try to bounce back this week against Santa Anna. 
7. Three Way (5-0) ⇔ — The Braves stayed perfect with a 54-0 win over Lohn. Up next is a trip to Paint Rock to close out nondistrict play.
8. Bluff Dale (4-1) ⇔ — Bluff Dale claimed its third consecutive win with a 69-6 drubbing of Brookesmith. They’ll travel to Granbury Grace Classical this week before opening District 11 play with a big game at Three Way on Oct. 9.
9. Gustine (3-1) ⇔ — After taking last week off, the Tigers will try to close out nondistrict play with a bang this Friday when they travel to Morgan.
10. Blanket (4-1) ⇔ — The Tigers will try to win their fifth straight this week when they host Woodson. A tough District 13 slate awaits after that one..

First five out — Paint Creek (4-1) ⇑1, Bronte (3-2) ⇓1, Rising Star (3-2) ⇔, Guthrie (3-1) ⇔, Trent (4-1) ⇑⇑⇑