Here are the Big Country’s rushing leaders through Week 6:
Author: Evan Ren
Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (As submitted by area coaches through Oct. 8)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. roughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Haskell’s Pinkerton takes the top spot
The season’s midpoint usually offers little in the way of big-time performances, with most of the area teams taking a bye week prior to the opening of district play.
This year was an exception.
Haskell junior quarterback Haegan Pinkerton delivered an astonishing effort in last week’s 56-42 win over Seymour, that could have taken our weekly accolade at any given point in the season.
DISTRICT 10-2A DIV. II WEEK 6 REPORT: Goldthwaite tops Hubbard, Bremond, Chilton, Frost all chart wins
Goldthwaite 65, Hubbard 0 — The Eagles rolled up 424 yards in total offense, whle holding Hubbard to 40 in an easy district win.
Blake Howard threw for 213 yards and four scores and added one rushing TD to lead Goldthwaite (3-2).
Hubbard fell to 2-3.
DISTRICT 4-3A DIV. II WEEK 6 REPORT: Wall remains unbeaten, Merkel routs Brownfield, Coahoma falls
Wall 35, Idalou 21 — Landon York threw for 307 yards and two scores and Wall rushed for 95 yards via committee in a tough win at Idalou.
The Hawks improved to 6-0 in their final non-district game of the season. Idalou fell to 3-3.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: Brownwood, Stephenville, Lampasas, Burnet, Marble Falls all score wins
Brownwwood 62, Ingleside 0
The Lions (3-3) rolled up 548 yards in total offense to reach the .500 mark for the first time this year.
Trent Buffington rushed for 111 yards and two TDs while Carson Noe and Grant Gray threw two touchdown passes each to lead Brownwood, which had built a 55-0 lead by halftime.
Limited to only 36 total yards, Ingleside fell to 2-4.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 6 REPORT: Glen Rose and the entirety of district enjoy midseason break
Glen Rose (0-5), idle — The Tigers were open yesterday but will see action again next Friday when they play host to Godley.
Glen Rose’s record could be deceiving. The combined record of the Tigers’ opposition thus far is 20-5 and four of those losses were by a combined 26 points (four scores).
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: TLCA falls as the rest of the district enjoys a bye
San Angelo Grape Creek 49, San Angelo TLCA 12 — TLCA was the lone district team to see action on Friday, falling to its archrival Grape Creek in league play.
TLCA fell to 0-5 with the loss and will open district play at home against Sweetwater next Friday.
DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: Olney wins while the rest of the league enjoys a night off
Olney 33, Crosbyton 0 — The Cubs (2-3) were the lone districts member to hit the field on Friday and came away with a win over struggling Crosbyton.
Tucker Cortinez threw for 343 yards and four scores to lead the Cubs.
The victory was the second in succession for Olney, which travels to Abilene TLCA next Friday.
DISTRICT 7-2A DIV. II WEEK 6 REPORT: Entire league enjoys a night off
Albany (3-2), Idle — The Lions were open yesterday, but will see action again next Friday when they travel to Miles (1-4).
Albany will enter that game on a two-game losing skid, having fallen to Coahoma (5-1) and Anson (5-0) in succession.
FEATURE: Big Spring’s Marcus Rios emerges as one the area’s top offensive weapons
Photos provided by Rosie Slate
BIG SPRING — For most of his football career, Big Spring senior Marcus Rios has patiently played the role of backup quarterback. This dates back to his middle school days which saw him play as the seventh grade “B” team QB, the eighth grade “B” team QB, the freshman team backup QB, the JV backup QB and the backup varsity QB last year.
Five full seasons as an understudy.
Now, at the age of 17, Rios has at long last, been given the reins of the Big Spring varsity offense and he’s making the most of the opportunity. At present, he stands as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Big Country.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Wylie, Cooper clash in our spotlight game
LAST WEEK: 52-10, .838
SEASON TOTAL: 251-66, .791
COOPER (3-2) AT WYLIE (3-2)
Our Big Country Preps Game of the Week is a tough call. Cooper comes in playing its best football of the year with back-to-back routs of Lubbock Coronado (59-0) and Wichita Falls Memorial.
Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (As submitted by area coaches through Oct. 1)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. roughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde junior is the top Dawg
As it turned out, the best game in the Big Country last week was Clyde’s dramatic 54-49 win over Muleshoe in the top shootout the area has seen thus far in 2025.
At the heart of all that mayhem was our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, CHS junior quarterback Devan Wright.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Stephenville, Ruston, La., rematch should be closer
A year ago, the Ruston, La., Bearcats brought 11 DI players to the Lone Star State and beat three quality programs in Longview (21-10), Midland Legacy (38-6) and Stephenville (63-17). Yet they finished 11-3 with three losses to Louisiana teams and failed to win their state title.
What does that say about the quality of Louisiana football?
Regardless, the Bearcats are again dipping their paws into Texas’ talent pool this year, with two more wins over Longview (38-35) and Legacy (49-21). Stephenville is up next in a neutral site game in Longview this Friday and Ruston (4-0) is again loaded, with at least six DI players, including 6-foot-6, 235-pound blue chip tight end Deejay Drain.
Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Stephenville, Ruston, La., rematch should be closer”
DISTRICT 14-2A DIV. I WEEK 5 REPORT: Armadillos upset Hamilton to close out non-district
San Saba 17, Hamilton 14 — Jason Everett and Luke Tharp combined for 205 yards rushing and one score to help lead the Armadillos to a huge upset over Hamilton.
San Saba (3-2) will enjoy an open date next Friday before opening district play with Johnson City (3-2) on Oct. 10.
Chilton 14, Goldthwaite 0 — Chilton rolled up 264 yards rushing, with Marneko Thomas leading the way with 177 yards on only 14 carries. 
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 5 REPORT: Glen Rose’s hard luck continues with fifth straight loss
Alvarado 55, Glen Rose 50 — The Tigers’ hard luck continued on Friday with a fifth straight loss. To date, four of Glen Rose’s five losses have been decided by two scores or less.
Their last three defeats have been decided by one score.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 5 REPORT: Yellow Jackets, Lions, Lampasas all score wins
Stephenville 64, Waco La Vega 28 — Zyler McClendon rushed for 207 yards and three scores and Trot Jordan threw for 235 yards and three more TDs as Stephenville routed La Vega.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 5-0 heading into next Friday’s showdown with Ruston, La.
DISTRICT 4-3A DIV. II WEEK 5 REPORT: Wall, Merkel, Coahoma Grape Creek secure wins
Wall 35, Sweetwater 0 — Wall (5-0) remained unbeaten with a workmanlike effort against Sweetwater.
Landon York threw for 171 yards and three TDs to lift Wall, which limited the Mustangs to 183 total yards.
Sweetwater (1-4) was led by Caiden Ortiz, who threw for 108 yards and Mason Blueford, who rushed three times for 45 yards.
DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 5 REPORT: Cisco, Hawley, Stamford, Anson all collect wins
Cisco 65, Frenship Memorial 13 — The Loboes rolled up 500 yards in total offense including 321 on the ground in a lopsided win over Memorial.
Noah Hernandez rushed for 108 yards and one score on four carries and Colby Mcilroy threw for 179 yards and three scores to led Cisco (4-1), which charted its fourth straight win.
Memorial dropped to 3-2.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 5 REPORT: Clyde, Jim Ned, Breckenridge, Comanche all victorious
Clyde 54, Muleshoe 49 — The Bulldogs topped Muleshoe in what turned out to be the area’s most entertaining game of the week.
Devan Wright rushed for 179 yards and four scores and threw for 246 yards and three more touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs, who improved to 4-1 with the win.
Muleshoe dropped to 2-3.
DISTRICT 7-2A DIV. II WEEK 5 REPORT: Pied Pipers chalk up fourth straight win; Cross Plains, Winters also victorious
Hamlin 36, Quanah 6 — Javier Ramos threw for 313 yards and two scores and Hudson Smith rushed for 105 yards and two more TDs to lift Hamlin to a lopsided win over Quanah.
It was the fourth-straight win for Hamlin (4-1) since a season-opening loss to still-unbeaten Anson.
Quanah dropped to 3-2 with the loss.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Anson remains unbeaten behind defense, St. John
ANSON — Friday’s Big Country Preps Game of the Week was expected to be a street fight of sorts, pairing off Albany and Anson —two of the more physical small school teams in the area.
It didn’t disappoint.
Anson (5-0), behind a top-notch defensive effort and a big night from Malachi St. John, shut down an Albany rally attempt in a 20-6 win to remain unbeaten.
Led by Shawn Keen’s 60 yards rushing and one score, Albany slipped to 3-2.
FEATURE: With starting QB out, Coahoma developing new identity behind sturdy defense
COAHOMA — Most successful football programs have an identity of sorts — an aspect of the team which most fans quickly think of when the subject of that ballclub is brought up.
At Coahoma, where coach Chris Joslin is currently in his eighth year of guiding the Bullldogs, that identity has largely been built around offense. And heading into this season with quarterback Boyd Cox expected to improve on an already impressive set of numbers, offense was again what most area fans were talking about when the subject of the Bulldogs came up around the water cooler.
Not anymore.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Anson plays host to Albany in 2A showdown
LAST WEEK: 38-10, .791
SEASON TOTAL: 199-56, .780
ALBANY (3-1) AT ANSON (4-0)
Nothing stirs my interest early in the football season more than having a surprise team square off with an established powerhouse.
So when selecting our Big Country Preps Game of the Week for Sept. 26, Albany’s visit to Anson (4-0) was a big blip on the area radar screen.
Albany (3-1) a perennial power coming off a loss to unbeaten Coahoma, will now face an Anson club that some believe is the biggest surprise in the Big Country thus far.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wylie junior takes the top spot
Wylie junior Haddie Mock was at her very best against difficult competition last week, helping the Lady Bulldogs to wins over seventh-ranked 3A Bushland (25-8) and 21st-ranked 4A Stephenville last week.
Mock finished a whopping combined total of 19 blocks in the two matches to help the Lady Bulldogs improve to 24-7. She also had 16 combined kills.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Coahoma defense among top area surprises
Prior to the season starting, much of the attention garnered by Coahoma came through its offense, with veteran quarterback Boyd Cox expected to put up some of the best numbers in the area.
As it has turned out, Cox is gone for the season with an injury suffered in a season opener with Forsan. But the Bulldogs have found compensation with a defense that has been nothing short of spectacular.
Coahoma enters this week at 4-0, having topped Forsan (60-8), Roscoe (14-3), Kermit (51-0) and perennial power Albany (15-12).
Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Coahoma defense among top area surprises”
DISTRICT 14-2A DIV. I WEEK 4 REPORT: San Saba, Holland score wins while Gordon surprises
San Saba 56, Katy St. John XXIII 7 — The Armadillos had an easy time with St. John XXIII, rushing for 463 yards as a team.
Luke Tharp accounted or 296 of those yards with four touchdowns to help the Armadillos improve to 2-2.
DISTRICT 4-3A DIV. II WEEK 4 REPORT: Coahoma, Merkel, Stanton and Wall earn Week 4 wins
Coahoma 15, Albany 12 — The Bulldogs earned an always-tough win at Albany (3-1) by limiting the Lions to only 131 yards in total offense.
CHS in the meantime, finished with 268 total yards, led by Austin Joslin, who threw for 167 yards and two TDs.
Coahoma improved to 4-0 with the win.
Anson 26, Haskell 8 — Hunter Teichelman threw or 260 yards and two TDs and Levi Diaz rushed for 86 yards and two more scores to lead Anson (4-0).
DISTRICT 7-2A DIV. II WEEK 4 REPORT: Hamlin carries district torch in an otherwise tough week
Hamlin 48, Munday 14 — The Pied Pipers improved to 3-1 with a convincing win over Munday.
Isaiah Hutchings threw for 222 yards and two scores to lead Hamlin. Reece Rainey led Hamlin on the ground with 116 yards and two scores on only eight carries.
The Moguls fell to 3-1.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 4 REPORT: Comanche, Jim Ned, Breckenridge and Clyde notch wins
Comanche 36, Tolar 33 — Ladainian Smith rushed for 141 yards and three scores and Zaden Tello rushed for 103 yards and another TD to help Comanche even its record at 2-2.
Tolar (2-2) was led by Briton Rice, who threw or 259 yards and three scores.
Comanche will next see action when it travels to Early next Friday. Tolar will play host to Breckenridge on the same evening.
Goldthwaite (2-1), idle — The Eagles enjoyed an open date on Friday night. 
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 4 REPORT: Glen Rose falls to Waco Robinson in nail-biter
Waco Robinson 41, Glen Rose 40 — The Rockets improved to 3-1 with a win over Glen Rose (0-4).
Robinson amassed 515 yards in total offense, including 293 yards rushing. Evan Moreno led the way for the Rockets with 277 yards rushing and three scores.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 4 REPORT: Brownwood falls to La Vega
Waco La Vega 38, Brownwood 16
The Pirates limited Brownwood to only 148 yards in total offense and seven first downs to improve to 3-1.
La Vega rushed for 224 yards via committee and got 202 yards passing and three scores from Kourtney Parr.
Brownwood (1-3), was led by Judson Coalson with 99 yards passing.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: De Leon scores convincing win over Hawley
DE LEON — Both schools have Bearcat mascots. Both wear maroon and both entered Friday’s Big Country Preps Game of the Week with 2-1 records.
The similarities, however, ended there.
De Leon dominated their guests from Hawley in a 52-34 win that saw DHS substitute liberally after building a 44-14 lead through three quarters.
FEATURE: UTEP-bound Matlock has developed into a triple-threat weapon for Brock
BROCK — Ask Brock two-way senior Colt Matlock which position he prefers to play — wide receiver or safety — and he may have to think it over for a while.
Ask the Brock coaching staff where the 18-year-old is better-suited to play and you may find yourself waiting again.
The final say might be determined by the coaching staff of the University of Texas at El Paso, where Matlock has committed to play beginning next season. At present, the Miners plan to use him as a safety. But the option of using him at receiver or as a weapon on special teams will always be there.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Hawley travels to De Leon
LAST WEEK: 54-17, .760
SEASON TOTAL: 161-46, .777
Not all weeks are created equal in high school football, and this week is a good example of it.
There are at least 5-10 games that could easily fit as our Big Country Preps Game of the Week. But at the end of the day, you have to submit your choices and move on.
Our top choice: Hawley (2-1) taking on De Leon (2-1) in a matchup between two clubs that are capable of deep playoff runs.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tolar quarterback takes the top spot
Since losing their season opener to Peaster (34-0), the Tolar Rattlers (2-1) have not only managed to improve, but they’re rapidly gaining momentum to go with that progress.
Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, Briton Rice, is a part of that, having thrown for 197 yards and four scores in last week’s 42-18 win over Millsap. This, after missing a week with an injury.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Brownwood, Comanche, Bangs, Forsan and Winters chalk up first wins
Believe it or not, there is a huge difference between a 1-2 start and an 0-3 start — especially when that victory comes in Week 3.
So when a team has dropped its first two games, the players are facing a crossroads — one with momentum which is one win away from hitting the .500 mark. Or, one with an emotional hole to dig themselves out of — three games under .500 with no momentum and a battle to retain their confidence.
A number of teams in the Big Country Preps coverage area reached this crossroads on Friday, with Brownwood, Comanche, Bangs, Forsan and Winters all scoring wins.
DISTRICT 10-2A DIV. II WEEK 3 REPORT: Goldthwaite takes the Battle of the River
Goldthwaite 49, San Saba 34 — The Eagles quickly built a 35-7 halftime lead in the 108th “Battle of the River” before holding off a late San Saba rally attempt.
Aidyn Lee rushed or 119 yards, threw for 76 and accounted for five TDs to lead the Eagles, who improved to 2-1 with the win.
San Saba (1-2) was led by Luke Tharp, who rushed for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
DISTRICT 14-2A DIV. I WEEK 3 REPORT: Armadillo rally falls short at Goldthwaite
Goldthwaite 49, San Saba 34 — The Eagles quickly built a 35-7 halftime lead in the 108th “Battle of the River” before holding off a late San Saba rally attempt.
Aidyn Lee rushed or 119 yards, threw for 76 and accounted for five TDs to lead the Eagles, who improved to 2-1 with the win.
San Saba (1-2) was led by Luke Tharp, who rushed for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 3 REPORT: The entirety of District 4 is swept in Week 3
Brownwood 34, Glen Rose 28 — Judson Coalson threw for 174 yards and two scores to help the Lions (1-2) earn their first win of the season.
Brownwood led 34-7 late in the second half before holding off a Glen Rose rally attempt that saw the Tigers chart three straight TDs in the fourth quarter.
Ryder Ribitzki was the top weapon for Glen Rose, catching five passes for 78 yards and two scores.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 3 REPORT: Brownwood gets first win of 2025, Stephenville improves to 3-0
Brownwood 34, Glen Rose 28 — Judson Coalson threw for 174 yards and two scores to help the Lions (1-2) earn their first win of the season.
Brownwood led 34-7 late in the second half before holding off a Glen Rose rally attempt that saw the Tigers chart three straight TDs in the fourth quarter.
Ryder Ribitzki was the top weapon for Glen Rose, catching five passes for 78 yards and two scores.