Here’s a complete rundown of Thursday and Friday’s Class 4A playoff results in the Big Country:
Category: Stephenville Yellow Jackets
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 11 REPORT: Stephenville, Brownwood close regular season with wins; Lampasas takes a brief vacation
Stephenville 49, Burnet 0 — Trot Jordan threw for 222 yards and three scores and rushed for 53 yards and another TD as Stephenville improved to 10-0.
Zyler McClendon was another key contributor, rushing for 120 yards and two scores.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Goldthwaite’s Owen Campbell earns this week’s accolade
It’s been a good while since a Goldthwaite Eagle snagged our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award in any sport. But sophomore Owen Campbell obliterated that streak with a fabulous effort in a 61-0 rout of Meridian on Friday.
His performance came on both sides of the ball, beginning with 12 carries for 144 yards and four touchdowns from his running back position.
Defensively Campbell charted eleven tackles, including seven solos, four assists and an interception from the GHS secondary.
“Owen had a tremendous game on Friday where he contributed to our win,” coach Andy Howard said. “He made a huge impact in all three phases of the game. He plays a huge role for us every week on defense, offense and on special teams.
“He continues to grow and improve as a player every week. I am proud of Owen but proud of everyone around him as well.”
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 10 REPORT: Yellow Jackets, Badgers both notch wins; Burnet enjoys a night off
Stephenville 49, Brownwood 0 — For a complete report on this game, please read Brandon McAuliffe’s game story.
Stephenville improved to 9-0 and 3-0 with the win; Brownwood dropped to 5-4 and 2-1.
SHS clinched the district title with the win.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Stephenville shuts out Brownwood for program-record sixth straight win in series
BROWNWOOD — Since the start of the current decade, the Battle for 377 has been extremely one-sided with the Stephenville Yellow Jackets claiming the first five matchups by an average of 31.2 points per game.
In Friday’s Big Country Preps Game of the Week, the No. 2-ranked Yellow Jackets continued their recent dominance over Brownwood with a 49-0 win at Gordon Wood Stadium, clinching the District 4-4A Division I championship in the process.
Stephenville’s previous longest winning streak in the 85-game series history was four games from 1948-1951, which was matched again from 1999-2002. Friday night also marked just the sixth shutout for the Yellow Jackets in the series’ history.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall quarterback Landon York snags this week’s accolade
What more can be said about the performance of Wall senior Landon York last week other than it was a model of efficiency?
Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week shredded Grape Creek in a 48-0 district win to clinch the District 4-3A DII championship.
Along the way, York connected on 18 of 21 throws for 246 yards and get this: seven touchdowns. That means one out of every three throws resulted in points.
How good of a night did he have? How about a ridiculous quarterback rating of 294.1?
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 9 REPORT: Brownwood, Stephenville both win to set up district showdown
Brownwood 38, Burnet 7 — Judson Coalson threw for 116 yards and two scores and Levi Pearson rushed for 63 yards and another TD to lead Brownwood to an easy win on the road.
Leading 24-7 at the break, the Lions (5-3, 2-0) put the game away with two unanswered second-half scores.
It was the fourth straight win for Brownwood as Burnet dropped to 3-6 and 1-2.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Who will get to Arlington? Let’s look at it as a horserace
It’s mid-October, the weather is cooling, we have a pretty good idea of what our top football teams are and as tradition would have it, now is the time when we start talking about everyone’s postseason chances.
Having covered the Big Country since 2006, I’ve been through seasons when we’ve sent five or more teams to state championship games. And in general, we almost always send at least two, so championship chat around the water cooler isn’t unrealistic at this point.
That said, it’s time to take a quick peek at those teams that I believe have the best chance of playing for a state title in December at AT&T Stadium.
We’ll break it down into three categories: Favorites (those I expect to see in Arlington), contenders (those who might get there) and longshots (those who can get there if things line up just right).
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Stephenville remains unbeaten; Lampasas wins
Stephenville 65, Marble Falls 7 — The Yellow Jackets (7-0, 2-0) raced out to a 49-0 lead by the break before coasting home for the win.
Trot Jordan threw for 161 yards and four scores at Carter VanZandt rushed for 86 yards and two TDs to lead Stephenville.
Marble Falls dropped to 3-5 and 0-2.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 7 REPORT: Brownwood hands Lampasas its first loss; Burnet tops Marble Falls
Brownwood 42, Lampasas 39 — Judson Coalson threw for 295 yards and five scores as Brownwood knocked off previously unbeaten Lampasas at Gordon Wood Stadium.
The Lions finished with 428 yards in total offense to improve to 4-3 and 1-0.
Let by Bryson Roberts, who threw for 126 yards and four TDs, the Badgers slipped to 6-1 and 0-1.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
GAME STORY: Stephenville starts fast, never lets up in homecoming rout of Wylie
STEPHENVILLE — Hosting Wylie for homecoming Friday at Art Briles Stadium, the Stephenville football team put on a heck of a show for those in attendance, dominating every phase in a 52-13 win over the Bulldogs.
The Yellow Jackets started fast, scoring two touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the game, and were never threatened after in growing their lead to 31-7 by halftime and 45-13 by the start of the fourth quarter.
SHS outgained Wylie 442-251 for the game, limiting the visitors to just 36 yards rushing on 26 attempts in improving to 4-0 on the season.
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.
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.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I WEEK 2 REPORT: Wall hands Brownwood a 25-point loss; Stephenville routs Everman
Wall 35, Brownwood 10 — Landon York hit 18 of 21 passes for 249 yards and three scores to keep the Hawks (2-0) unbeaten.
Leading 21-3 heading into the fourth quarter, Hawks put the game away with a pair of fourth quarter scores.
The Lions (0-2) were limited to 169 yards in total offense, including 69 yards rushing on 27 carries.
GAME STORY: Yellow Jackets win easily in lightning-shortened debut of Art Briles Stadium
STEPHENVILLE — Mother Nature has no sense of nostalgia.
If she did, she wouldn’t have interrupted a special night in Stephenville that saw the christening of Art Briles’ Stadium and Mike Copeland Field in a 45-0 win for the Yellow Jackets over Everman.
While Zyler McClendon was rushing for 132 yards and two scores and backup quarterback Hud Price was delivering a pair of touchdown passes, weather intervened with two lightning delays and intermittent showers, eventually leading to an early finish (agreed to by both coaches) with more than six minutes left in the game.
“Before the first (lightning) delay, I thought this place was electric,” Stephenville coach Sterling Doty said. “The place was full on the home side, we had some great momentum and then we got popped.”
FEATURE: Stephenville’s Dearth carrying on the family name
Football holds a special place in the Dearth family’s heart.
James Dearth played in the NFL for more than a decade mostly with the New York Jets, specializing as a long snapper but also catching a few passes as a tight end.
His oldest son Kendall was a standout offensive lineman who played at Tarleton State. And now his youngest son is beginning his senior season as one of Stephenville’s key starters.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Comanche senior crosses 500-kill milestone while helping CHS to tourney win
Photo provided by Randy Day
Milestones catch our eye when selecting our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, as do great weekly performances. But when both occur at the same time, you can rest assured that player will be in the running for the top spot.
This week the spotlight goes to Comanche senior outside hitter J’Lee Salinas, who not only helped the Maidens to the Heart of Texas Tournament Championship in Brownwood, but she also hit the 500-kill milestone in process.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. I REPORT: Yellow Jackets dominate Heritage behind great defensive effort
Stephenville 28, Midlothian Heritage 7 — Trot Jordan threw for 212 yards and three scores and the Stephenville defense limited Heritage to 251 yards in total offense to lift the Yellow Jackets to a win in their season opener.
Zyler McClendon led SHS on the ground with 78 yards and one TD on 20 carries. Caden Monk was the most popular target for Jordan, hauling in four catches for 140 yards and another TD.
EVAN REN: Top games worth traveling for during the 2025 football season
Got the truck started yet?
Ready to jump on one of those farm-to-market roads to watch high school football into the late hours on a Friday night?
You’re not alone.
And, as tradition would have it, I tip my cap to those of you who will be hitting the trails each week in search of pigskin. My method: a preseason menu of sorts.
Each week for the next 11 weeks, Big Country Preps will be searching for its Game of the Week, and we’re already looking ahead. We now present our preliminary list of Big Country Games worth traveling for, but keep in mind: the following list is subject to change as surprises and disappointments emerge.
And as we all know … surprises and disappointments always emerge.
So, without further delay, here is our list of Big Country games worth traveling for in 2025.
I’ll see you on the road.
STEPHENVILLE FEATURE: Art Briles Stadium prepping for its grand opening
STEPHENVILLE — After roughly 18 months of construction and 119 years of waiting, Stephenville High School will officially have a home of its own for football in 2025.
Art Briles Stadium, a $40 million facility surrounding Mike Copeland Field, will have its grand opening of sorts on Sept. 5 with a home date against long-time rival Everman. While the venue has already played host to Stephenville’s 2025 graduation ceremony and will host a scrimmage with Brock on Aug. 21, the big night is reserved for Everman — one of five regular season games to be played there this year.
“Everybody is really excited,” coach Sterling Doty said. “Stephenville has never had its own home. We always rented Tarleton out. We began playing football in 1906, so this is our first opportunity to have our home team at a home game on a turf that has blue and gold on it.”
2025 STEPHENVILLE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Yellow Jackets could field Big Country’s top defense
STEPHENVILLE — For decades, the Stephenville football program has been known as a quarterback factory that can consistently be counted on to score with the best 4A teams in Texas.
And while that may eventually prove to be the case again in 2025, this year could produce something that the media often overlooks: dominating defense.
COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Stephenville Yellow Jackets … four days to two-a-days
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. 20. 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 Aug. 4, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2025 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.
Today, we take a look at the Stephenville Yellow Jackets.
Evan Ren’s 2025 Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (the hardest-working baseball and softball players in the area)
OTHER 2025 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL Superlative Awards (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc)
- ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL: First-Team Selections
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL: Second-Team Selections (plus honorable mention)
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: Superlative Awards (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc)
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: First-Team Selections
- ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: Second-Team Selections (plus honorable mention)
Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Saturday and Sunday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2025. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring.
This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.
The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.
It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.
Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the Big Country had to offer during the 2025 season.
The players below are listed in no particular order.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: First-Team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: Second-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
2025 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Baseball Team
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s baseball selections, please click the links below.
2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: First-team Roster
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps Second-Team Softball Selections (w/ honorable mention)
- All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team (the best freshman and sophomores in the area!)
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: Second-team Roster (w/ honorable mention)
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps First-Team Softball Selections
- All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team (the best freshman and sophomores in the area!)
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
2025 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Softball Team
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s softball selections, please click the links below.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps First-Team Softball Selections
- All-Big Country Preps Second-Team Softball Selections
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Brownwood girls claim team title; Wall boys narrowly miss out
Cover photo courtesy Brian Hodnett
AUSTIN — The 2025 UIL state track and field meet got underway on Thursday at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium, and the Big Country is bringing home some hardware.
The Brownwood Lady Lions made the most of their trip to Austin, claiming the Class 4A girls team championship on the strength of their three relays.
The Wall boys came “painfully close” in the words of track coach Craig Slaughter to giving the Big Country Preps area a second team title as the Hawks’ 64 points left them just two points behind Holliday in the Class 3A boys team standings.
Even so, Slaughter said that Wall’s relay teams, both boys and girls, all set personal records in an “incredible day.”
AREA BASEBALL STAT LEADERS (Final stat report for 2025)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through May 1.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
PHOTO GALLERY: Stephenville-Big Spring softball bi-district playoff (30 images)
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Stephenville-Big Spring softball bi-district playoff (30 images)”
GAME STORY: Stephenville outlasts Big Spring in bi-district sweep of the Lady Steers
ABILENE — It took more than five hours of combined play for Stephenville and Big Spring to settle their bi-district issue on Friday at Bulldog Field, with the Honey Bees taking consecutive wins to move into the area round.
Following a well-played, 6-3 Stephenville win in Game 1, the night cap saw a far sloppier performance by a pair of tired clubs, with the Honey Bees topping Big Spring 22-7 to lock up the series.
Stephenville (17-13-1) now advances to face either Springtown or Fort Worth Southwest at a site and time to be determined. Big Spring closed its season at 12-12.
“When you start this thing with the first pitch at 5:30 and it being 11 p.m. on the last out it makes for a long day,” Stephenville coach Chase Cleland said. “But that’s what doubleheaders in postseason are for — to see who can outlast the other one and try to play the cleanest ball you can play.”
Final Area Softball Stat Leaders (through April 24)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 24:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through April 24)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 24.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Jones holds down the top spot yet again
At Big Country Preps, we pride ourselves on sharing the love as much as possible. But Wall senior Briggs Jones has been so spectacular of late, that he’s making that difficult.
Jones has not only taken our Big Country Preps Player of the Week for a second straight time, but for a third time this year and a fourth time in his athletic career.
CLASS 4A REGIONAL TRACK ROUNDUP: Brownwood girls take team title, area athletes earn 23 medals at I-4A meet
LUBBOCK — The Brownwood girls won a team title and Stephenville finished second behind Canyon on the boys side over the weekend to headline a strong effort by programs and athletes from the Big Country Preps coverage area at the Region I-4A track meet.
The Lady Lions earned 113 points to run away from the competition at Lowrey Field, topping second-place Canyon by 38 points and third-place Canyon Randall by 53. The Stephenville boys, meanwhile, finished with 76 points to fall 15 shy of Canyon for the team championship.
Those efforts highlighted a successful meet that saw area athletes claim 23 total medals — 13 on the girls side and 10 on the boys.