Big numbers are always great to have when we decide the winner of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award. Solid numbers across multiple tasks are even better.
That was the case with this week’s spotlight player, Buck Powell, of Hico, who helped the Tigers to a 47-14 rout of Maud in the Class 2A DII bi-district round on Friday.
With a new season of boys high school basketball poised to begin, it’s time to take a look at what the Big Country will produce on the court.
Below you will find our top teams in each classification in the Big Country Preps coverage area, from Big Spring in the West, to Brock in the east and from Brady in the south to Munday in the north.
Our rankings of the top teams in each class are given, along with a season outlook, cataloguing our expectations for each club.
Here’s our preview. We’ll see you on the road.
Comanche 46, Eastland 7 — The Indians ran for 295 yards, getting 100-yard games from Colt Schwertner and Sawyer Wilkerson to pull away from the Mavericks for a lopsided win.
Comanche (6-4, 3-2), which got 125 yards and two touchdowns from Schwertner and 109 yards from Wilkerson, led 25-0 by halftime and was never threatened after the break. Layden Welch also had a productive day for the Indians, passing for 89 yards and two TDs while rushing for 39 yards an another score.
LAST WEEK: 47-5, .903
SEASON TOTAL: 438-91, .827
With the column hitting at more than 90 percent accuracy last week, we now close the regular season on the upswing and with something uncommon: A local Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
While our weekly picks column generally highlights the top area game outside of the Abilene city limits, this week seems to call for us to stay at home with rivals Wylie (6-3, 3-1) and Cooper (4-5, 3-1) fighting for sole possession of the No. 2 seed in District 2-5A Division II.
NOTE: This will be our final installment of Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders for the 2023 season
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday 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.
Comanche 48, Merkel 0 — The Indians rushed for 330 of their 436 yards, getting big games from Sawyer Wilkerson and Colt Schwertner in a blowout win over the Badgers.
Wilkerson finished with 139 yards and two touchdowns while Schwertner added 102 yards and one TD to lead Comanche (5-4, 2-2), which built a 28-0 lead by halftime.
LAST WEEK: 44-7, .862
SEASON TOTAL: 391-86, .820
It really didn’t take long for people to start talking about the Hawley – Stamford matchup in 2023. In fact, this one was on our calendar as a possible Game of the Week before the season even started.
Who will win? That depends on who you speak with. Our Twitter poll is split virtually down the middle and even the computers see this one as a near tossup.
Stamford (7-0, 4-0 District 4-2A DII) enters this game scarcely challenged, rolling over the opposition by an average tally of 45-8. Hawley (6-2, 4-0), on the other hand, comes in with some battle scars after a brutal schedule featuring Jim Ned, Lubbock Roosevelt and Albany.
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday 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.
Comanche 60, Dublin 13 — Layden Welch ran for 98 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 154 yards and two more scores to help the Indians snap a four-game losing streak with a thorough victory over the Lions.
Sawyer Wilkerson added 98 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Colt Schwertner (8-79), Kazdon Thedford (2-68) and Ezequiel Medrano (1-20) also rushed for touchdowns as Comanche improved to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in district play.
LAST WEEK: 40-8, .833
SEASON TOTAL: 347-79, .814
As Week 9 of the 2023Texas High School football season gets underway, there are multiple high-profile games that would qualify as our Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
But we’re settling for a rare Thursday night matchup at Tarleton State University where seventh-ranked 4A DI Stephenville (5-2, 1-0) will play host to fourth-ranked China Spring (6-2, 2-0) in a game will give the victor sole possession of first place in District 5.
Picking who wins it may come down to throwing darts, but I do believe China Spring has one key advantage.
Eastland 23, Merkel 20 — The Mavericks raced out a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, stretched it to 23-6 by halftime and held on for dear life from there to knock off the Badgers in a district thriller.
Isaiah Hays passed for 166 yards and a touchdown for Eastland (2-5, 1-1), which got rushing touchdowns from Eddie Medina and Cayden Alford and strong receiving days from Jay Oznick (9-87) and Preston Rose (2-59, 1 TD).
LAST WEEK: 41-7, .854
SEASON TOTAL: 307-71, .812
Big Country Preps makes a point of sharing the love and we look for opportunities to take our Game of the Week to as many different places that make sense each year.
Yet since our inaugural season in 2018, a rebuilding Hico football team missed our spotlight game for five straight seasons.
That drought ends this week when BCP visits Hico for the first time as the Tigers (5-2, 2-1 District 10-2A DII) host Dawson (5-1, 2-0) in a crucial matchup with high seed implications.
Merkel 47, Dublin 21 — The Badgers kicked off district play with a comfortable win over the Lions, getting 145 yards and three touchdowns passing from Maddox O’Malley and 181 yards and a TD rushing from Connor Willyerd in the process.
Rayson Houston (1-59 receiving), Kaden Blubaugh (3-44) and Bryant Jones (2-37) all caught touchdown passes from O’Malley, who added 34 yards and another score rushing in the win. Merkel (5-1, 1-0) finished with 496 yards of total offense, rushing for 287 to go with 209 yards through the air.
LAST WEEK: 37-3, .925
SEASON TOTAL: 266-64, .806
Contrast in styles games make for excellent entertainment and are usually high on our list of potential Big Country Preps Games of the Week.
Friday we have such a matchup when Clyde (5-0) travels to Vernon (5-0) in the District 3-3A DI opener for both clubs. Clyde and its power spread offense capable of running or throwing the ball well, against a run-based multiple attack used by Vernon that seems almost out of the 1950s.
Both clubs are good at what they do. Both are physical and both are fully aware of how important this league opener is. In fact, this may end up ranking as one of the more physical Games of the Week we’ll see in 2023.
LAST WEEK: 46-12, .793
SEASON TOTAL: 229-61, .789
More often than not, Big Country Preps makes an appearance at the annual Stephenville-Brownwood matchup. Because more often than not, it produces a game worthy of one of Texas’ top rivalries.
This year is no exception as Stephenville travels to famous Gordon Wood Stadium for the Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
Eastland 21, Jim Ned 19 — Isaiah Hays passed for 259 yards and a touchdown and Cayden Alford rushed for a pair of scores to lift the Mavericks to an upset win over the Indians.
Preston Rose had a huge day receiving, hauling in four passes for 127 yards and a TD for EHS (1-4), which outscored Jim Ned 14-12 in the final quarter to earn its first victory of the season.
LAST WEEK: 44-11, .800
SEASON TOTAL: 183-49, .788
Some weeks are just loaded with competitive area games and Week 5 of the 2023 season falls squarely into that category.
This week’s menu features six or seven games that under normal circumstances, would qualify for our Big Country Preps Game of the Week. This forces us to push some great matchups aside to select our spotlight game.
This week, we go with a battle of unbeatens — Class 3A Division I Clyde (4-0) at Class 4A Div. II Sweetwater (4-0) — at the famed Mustang Bowl at SHS.
Merkel 54, Bangs 37 — Connor Willyerd and Maddox O’Malley rushed for 171 and 164 yards, respectively, as the Badgers ran over and around the Dragons for a comfortable win.
Willyerd had one touchdown and O’Malley rushed for four as Merkel (3-1) finished with 389 yards on the ground as a team. Braxton Duden (4-60 rushing) also had a rushing TD for the Badgers, who got 98 yards passing and one score from O’Malley and 72 yards and two touchdowns receiving from Kaden Blubaugh.
Comanche 57, Early 0 — Layden Welch passed for 266 yards and four touchdowns and Colt Schwertner rushed for 264 yards and a score to fuel the Indians to a blowout win on a day standout running back Sawyer Wilkerson was limited to three carries by an ankle injury.
Welch, who hit Kyler Beaty six times for 136 yards and two TDs, also ran for 28 yards and two scores as Comanche improved to 3-0.
Merkel 34, Stanton 7 — The Badgers overcame a slow start, scoring 34 unanswered points over the final three quarters to rally from a 7-0 deficit after the first.
Maddox O’Malley passed for 234 yards and a touchdown and added another TD on the ground to lead Merkel (2-0), which also got 116 total yards from Connor Willyerd (14-72 rushing; 4-44 receiving) and strong receiving days from CJ Walcott (3-105, 1 TD), Bryant Jones (2-68, 1 TD) and Kaden Blubaugh (2-66, 1 TD).
Comanche 37, Brady 8 — Sawyer Wilkerson ran for 189 yards and two touchdowns, while Layden Welch passed for 163 yards and three scores and rushed for 51 yards and an additional TD to fuel the Indians to comfortable win over the Bulldogs.
Behind those two and receiver Kyler Beaty, who hauled in five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, Comanche (1-0) built a 25-8 lead by halftime and was never threatened after the break.
DUBLIN — A veteran, cohesive offensive line can cure a lot of ills on a football field. And in the case of a youthful, confidence-seeking team from Dublin, the Lions may go as far as their offensive front can take them in 2023.
Coming off a 2-8 campaign that saw the Lions fielding as many as 10 sophomores due to injuries, DHS has now taken a step up on the maturity ladder. But most importantly, Dublin will start five players along its offensive line who started a year ago, which on paper, translates into fewer mistakes, fewer penalties, better pass protection and a better push up front.
If all of this holds true, the Lions will have a shot a taking a step forward this fall.
DUBLIN — After slugging their way through an injury-plagued 2-8 record last season, the Dublin Lions are hoping that experience will pay dividends in 2023.
Though the Dublin club is still relatively young, with several juniors expected to see playing time, DHS returns 18 lettermen with seven offensive and six defensive starters among them.
“We had about 10 sophomores who got a lot of playing time last year,” Dublin coach Greg Hardcastle said. “So now they’re juniors and they’re a year older and we’re expecting them to improve, as well as some of those seniors who played a bunch as juniors last year.”
Continue reading “2023 DUBLIN FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Young Lions hoping to spring a surprise”
Day 2 of Big Country Preps’ 2023 Photo Tour is now in the books, with six more days of shooting yet to come from practice fields throughout the area.
Here are but a few of the images collected Tuesday:
Continue reading “Scenes from Big Country Preps Photo Tour Day 2”
Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.
We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.
Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on July 31, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2023 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.
We continue in Class 3A Division II with the Dublin Lions. On Monday we will take a look at the Eastland Mavericks, followed by the Merkel Badgers on Tuesday.
Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Dublin Lions … 15 days to two-a-days”
The Brock boys track teams clinched its third consecutive region championship Saturday at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Stadium, and for the second year in a row, the Eagles’ stiffest competition came from Breckenridge.
Brock took first at the Region I-3A meet, tallying 70 team points over the two-day competition, while the Buckaroos finished with 55 points, edging third-place Vernon (54) for their second runner-up finish in as many years.
Those performances headlined a successful meet for area competitors, which saw athletes or relay teams from the Big Country Preps coverage area claim 26 total medals — 14 on the boys side and 12 on the girls. That list featured 15 automatic qualifying bids to the state meet May 11-13 in Austin, including 10 total gold medals.
Clyde’s Payton Phillips is no stranger to our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award. She’s no stranger to gold medals either.
And for the third time since last year, the CHS senior has captured our weekly accolade — this time with an armful of hardware.
In her latest performance, Phillips won four separate district championships and took silver in a fifth at the District 6-3A track meet.
NOTE: This will be our final Player of the Week column for 2022. It will return on Monday, Jan. 9.
It’s always a significant accomplishment to chart a double-double. But when one averages a double-double over the course of five straight games, you begin to put a blip on the area radar screen.
Munday senior Jaxon Bowman did precisely that last week, helping the Moguls to a 5-0 record and the tournament championship at Blackwell. Aside from averaging 11.2 points per game, the senior grabbed a whopping 13 boards per contest to along with a combined 12 steals as Munday improved to 12-2.
After highlighting the Big Country’s top guards and forwards the past two nights, we now take a look at the area’s best big men.
For the final installment in our three-part boys basketball position rankings series, we rank the Big Country’s top 10 post players.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through our rankings, and make sure to check back for all our boys and girls basketball coverage this season.
After kicking off our boys basketball position rankings series on Tuesday with the guards, we now shift our attention to the forwards.
For the second installment in our three-part series, we rank the area’s top-10 players at that position for 2022-23.
We hope you enjoy our list.
With boys basketball season beginning this week, it’s time to shine a spotlight on some of the players you’ll be reading about throughout the 2022-23 season.
For the first installment in a three-part series that will cover all positions on the area boys basketball scene, we’ll be taking a look at the Big Country’s top guards, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch this winter.
We hope you enjoy reading through our list.
Comanche 49, Eastland 7 — The Indians wrapped up a perfect run through district play with a blowout win over the Mavericks, rushing for 285 yards in the victory.
Comanche (9-1, 5-0), which led 29-0 by halftime and took a 35-0 lead into the fourth quarter, got 194 yards and two touchdowns rushing from standout sophomore Sawyer Wilkerson, while quarterback Layden Welch passed for 100 yards and one touchdown and ran for 80 yards and two more scores.
After focusing on the top guards and forwards the Big Country has to offer the past two nights, it’s time to shift our attention to the paint.
For the final installment in our three-part position rankings series, we list our top-10 post players for the 2022-23 season.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through these rankings, and make sure to come back next week when we’ll feature the top boys basketball players in the Big Country.