With 1,505 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, it’s fair to say that Stephenville running back Zyler McClendon is having a special junior season.
Just don’t expect Yellow Jackets’ coach Sterling Doty to say he’s surprised by McClendon’s output.
“He got some good burn last year and he had a really good offseason,” Doty said as Stephenville prepares to face defending state champion Celina in the 4A Division I semifinals. “Sawyer (Wilkerson) graduated so he knew he had an opportunity to start and compete for carries.”

A stunning reversal in momentum saw Stephenville advance to the Class 4A DI state semifinals on Friday when the Yellow Jackets overcame a 21-7 second-quarter deficit with 34 uananswered points in a 41-21 win over Canyon West Plains at Lubbock’s Lowrey Field.
Big-time performances are the norm this year for the 13-0 Brock Eagles, who earned a trip to the Region I-4A DII championship game with last week’s 66-3 win over Seminole.
Not only is our Big Country Preps Player of the Week holding down the top spot with big numbers, but his performance in Graham’s 35-28 area round win over Lubbock Cooper Liberty was a virtual seminar on poise.
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.
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.
Stephenville 49, Brownwood 0 — For a complete report on this game, please read Brandon McAuliffe’s
What more can be said about the performance of Wall senior Landon York last week other than it was a model of efficiency?
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Waco La Vega 38, Brownwood 16
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.
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.
Wall 35, Brownwood 10 — Landon York hit 18 of 21 passes for 249 yards and three scores to keep the Hawks (2-0) unbeaten.
STEPHENVILLE — Mother Nature has no sense of nostalgia.
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.
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.
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.