Here’s a rundown of Thursday and Friday’s Class 4A playoff results in the Big Country:
Category: Stephenville Yellow Jackets
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYOFF FORECAST: BCP carries 33 teams into Week 13, but how many will move on?
LAST WEEK: 36-5, .878
SEASON TOTAL: 513-103, .832
As we enter Week 13, the Big Country Preps coverage area still has 33 teams from 1A through 5A with a playoff pulse, including a handful with decent shot at a state championship.
However, as we all know, things begin to get much tougher when you get to the area round and unless I miss my guess, we’ll see around 15-17 of our area teams eliminated by Saturday.
The good news is, we should have 16-18 clubs playing over the Thanksgiving holiday, which is a pretty solid number for what will be the 14th week of the season.
So without further ado, let’s dive in.
Here’s this week’s playoff forecast:
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hico’s Powell takes this week’s accolade
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.
2023 BIG COUNTRY PREPS BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: The area’s top teams in each class throughout the BCP coverage area
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.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 11 REPORT: Yellow Jacket outduel Waco La Vega; Alvarado clinches fourth seed
Stephenville 23, Waco La Vega 14 — The Yellow Jackets used a dual threat 360 yards to get past La Vega in the regular season finale for both clubs.
SHS (8-2, 4-0) pounded out 151 yards rushing and threw for 209 to lock up the No. 1 seed.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Wylie, Cooper clash in burgeoning rivalry game
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.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 10 REPORT: Stephenville inches close to district title with win over Alvarado
Stephenville 34, Alvarado 7 — Ryan Gafford threw for 209 yards and three scores to lead the Yellow Jackets (7-2, 3-0) to an easy win over Alvarado.
Tristian Gentry, the Big Country’s leading receiver, was the top target, hauling in seven catches for 161 yards.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Bulldogs, Bearcats meet with district title in the balance
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 Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 24)
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.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I Week 9 Report: La Vega, Stephenville both score wins
Waco La Vega 49, Alvarado 28 — Bryson Roland rushed for 244 yards and three scores to lead La Vega to an important win over Alvarado.
The Pirates (5-3, 1-1) built a 28-7 first-half lead, then held off a late Alvarado rally to collect the win.
BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Yellow Jackets beat China Spring at its own game, outslug Cougars 31-21
STEPHENVILLE — In a game some expected to be a shootout, the Stephenville Yellow Jackets used some old-fashioned power football to hand China Spring a 31-21 loss in the Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
Tate Maruska rushed for 125 yards and two scores and Ryan Gafford was 13 of 18 for 175 yards to lead Stephenville (6-2, 2-0), which overcame an early 7-0 deficit to earn its fourth straight win.
China Spring (6-3, 2-1), which saw a three-game winning streak snapped, was held to a season-low point total. Cash McCollum led the Cougars with 177 yards passing and three TDs. But ground-oriented China Spring was held to an uncharacteristically low rushing total of 119 yards, led by Kyle Barton with 63.
“I think their game plan was to run the football and chew up clock,” Stephenville coach Sterling Doty said of the Cougars. “Their first drive for a touchdown took up (seven) minutes of the first quarter. They wanted to slow it down, keep their defense on the sideline and use their rushing attack to their advantage.”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Stephenville hosts China Spring (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)
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.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Stephenville routs Waxahachie Life; China Spring edges La Vega
Stephenville 59, Waxahachie Life 19 — Ryan Gafford threw for 263 yards and two scores and Latrell Titus rushed for 167 yards and five TDs to lift SHS (5-2, 1-0) to an easy win over the Mustangs.
The Yellow Jackets rolled up 549 yards in total offense, while limiting Life to 280.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Hico hosts Dawson with high playoff seeds in the balance (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)
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.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I Week 7 report: La Vega, China Spring open league play with wins
Waco La Vega 56, Waxahachie Life 20 — Bryson Roland rushed for 141 yards and four scores and Jubulani Thornton rushed for 110 yards and two more TDs to lead La Vega (5-2, 1-0) to a win over Life in the district opener for both clubs.
Life (2-5, 0-1) was limited to 221 yards in total offense.
FEATURE: Gentry thriving as Stephenville’s biggest weapon
Down to its third-string quarterback and with its top running back banged up, Stephenville needed a play to be made last week in a tie game against Brownwood.
That Tristian Gentry was the Yellowjacket who stepped up, catching a bubble screen and scoring from 65 yards out with 5:53 remaining, should be no surprise to anyone.
A year after racking up 1,110 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, Gentry is well on his way to smashing those numbers during a junior season that also includes a commitment to Texas Tech.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: China Spring, Alvarado dominate, La Vega slips past Yoakum
China Spring 49, Cornerstone Christian 28 — The Cougars ran roughshod over Cornerstone (1-6), piling up 526 yards in total offense, of which 204 were on the ground.
China Spring forced five Cornerstone turnovers, including four interceptions to help seal the deal.
The Cougars (4-2) will face Alvarado on the road in their district opener on Oct. 6.
BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Stephenville wins fourth straight matchup with Brownwood
BROWNWOOD — On a Friday night where most of the football stadiums around the Big Country were silent, there was plenty of racket coming from Gordon Wood Stadium in the 83rd meeting between the Brownwood Lions and Stephenville Yellow Jackets.
Much of it came on a handful of key plays from the Yellow Jackets in a 27-17 non-district win as many of the teams around the area enjoyed a bye week ahead of district play.
Tristian Gentry had 122 yards receiving and one touchdown on only two catches to lead Stephenville (4-2), which rallied from 7-0 and 14-7 deficits on the way to handing Brownwood (5-1) its first loss of the year.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Yellow Jackets head to Brownwood to face archrival
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.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I Week 5 Report: Missed PAT creates escape hatch for Yellow Jackets in win over Rider
Stephenville 21, Wichita Falls Rider 20 — A missed fourth quarter extra point allowed Stephenville to leave Wichita Falls a winner on Friday.
Elijah Jackson scored on a 1-yard run with 4:07 to play to pull Rider to within a point. But an errant snap on the ensuing extra point doomed the Raiders (3-2).
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Sweetwater plays host to Clyde in battle of unbeatens
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.
PHOTO GALLERY: Wylie-Stephenville football (94 images)
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DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 4 REPORT: China Spring, La Vega score big wins, Alvarado, Waxahachie Life fall
China Spring 61, Waco Connally 41 — The Cougars (3-1) rolled up 468 yards in total offense, including 285 passing yards to beat Connally in a shootout.
While suffering its first loss, Connally (3-1) pounded out 355 yards rushing, but was unable to keep pace with a China Spring offense that ran 23 fewer plays than the Cadets.
GAME STORY: Wylie holds off Stephenville rally, spoils Yellow Jackets homecoming with 42-32 win
STEPHENVILLE — Leading Stephenville 35-10 early in the third quarter after scoring its fourth consecutive touchdown off the Yellow Jackets’ second turnover of the game, the Wylie football team seemed to be well on its way to a comfortable win Friday night at Tarleton Memorial Stadium.
In the end, though, it would take a pressure-packed touchdown drive in the final 5:50 and a victory-sealing interception in the end zone for the Bulldogs to finally breath easy with a thrilling 42-32 win.
Stephenville quarterback Ryan Gafford hooked up with Tristian Gentry for three second-half touchdown passes to trim a once-four score Wylie lead to 35-32 with just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. But after managing just one first down on their four previous possessions, the Bulldogs marched 74 yards in 10 plays on their last to fend off the SHS rally and spoil the Yellow Jackets homecoming.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cooper’s Bray takes this week’s top spot
When it comes to individual performances, there are big games and there are big games.
And then there’s what Cooper junior Daniel Bray did against San Angelo Central last week in leading the Cougars to their first win of the season.
The explosive tailback, who had been limited some in the first two weeks by a nagging ankle injury and the growing pains of a young offensive line, broke out in a historic way in that 53-45 victory over the Bobcats. By the time the game was over, he had rushed for a school-record 366 yards and seven touchdowns on just 21 carries, making a case for our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award that was too compelling to pass over — even in a week with a number of other monster performances.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 3 REPORT: ‘Jackets outlast Decatur in shootout, Alvarado, China Spring both win
Stephenville 56, Decatur 55 — Stephenville got more than 550 yards in total offense to outlast Decatur in a wild one.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 2-1 behind 412 yards passing and six TD strikes from Ryan Gafford. Tate Maruska added 145 yards rushing and two more scores.
PHOTO GALLERY: Stephenville-Abilene High volleyball (108 images)
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GAME STORY: No. 7 Stephenville netters too much for Abilene High in nondistrict sweep
Hosting the Stephenville Honeybees in its final match before Friday’s District 4-5A opener against Wylie, the Abilene High volleyball team couldn’t keep pace with Class 4A’s seventh-ranked squad Tuesday, falling 25-16, 25-23, 25-13 at Eagle Gym.
The Lady Eagles battled and had their chances to grab some momentum in Games 1 and 2, but ultimately the talented visitors were just too much to handle in a nondistrict sweep.
The victory improved Stephenville to 21-3 on the season with three more matches to play before the start of District 6-4A play on Sept. 26, while Abilene High fell to 7-17 with its sixth consecutive loss.
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 2 REPORT: Stephenville hangs on to top Everman
Stephenville 14, Everman 7 — The Yellow Jackets charted more than 500 yards in total offense with a balanced stat sheet.
Rushing for 286 yards and passing for 232, Stephenville (1-1) overcame three costly turnovers to hold off EHS and earn its first win of 2023..
DISTRICT 5-4A DIV. I WEEK 1 REPORT: Yellow Jackets fall in season-opening thriller
Midlothian Heritage 31, Stephenville 28 — Heritage produced 367 yards in total offense against a veteran Stephenville defense to edge the Yellow Jackets on the road.
The Jaguars stretched their lead to 31-21 with a fourth-quarter score before a 50-yard Stephenville scoring drive with seven minutes to play cut the gap to three.
STEPHENVILLE FEATURE: McKinney rehabs knee in time for senior season
STEPHENVILLE — Through seven games a year ago, Stephenville’s Camden McKinney was enjoying a productive junior season — one that may have been good enough to earn him All-Big Country Preps honors as one of the area’s top defensive ends.
Then it happened.
During a crucial district matchup with China Spring, McKinney suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, ending a promising season in an instant while forcing him to undergo surgery and a lengthy rehab process.
2023 STEPHENVILLE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Defense, skill are Yellow Jackets’ strong points
STEPHENVILLE — With 19 lettermen, seven defensive starters and a few key offensive returnees, the Stephenville Yellow Jackets should be able to reload in 2023.
Courtesy of an influx of young talent from a 9-1 JV team, SHS will have only one key question mark heading into this fall: its offensive line.
If the ‘Jackets succeed in rebuilding their offensive front, they will have the weapons to score points and the defense to protect them.
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. 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 4A Division I with the Stephenville Yellow Jackets. On Friday we will take a look at the Wylie Bulldogs, followed by the Cooper Cougars on Saturday.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2023 State LineMAN Championships (133 photos)
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GAME REPORT: Yellow Jackets fall in Games 2 and 3 as Randall takes regional title
MIDLAND — The Stephenville baseball team had reeled off 17 straight wins to come within one victory of reaching the Class 4A state tournament in Austin.
But on Friday in Midland, the Yellow Jackets saw their memorable run come to an end with consecutive defeats (2-0, 6-0) at the hands of third-ranked Canyon Randall in the Region I-4A title series at Christiansen Stadium.
Having already taken a 1-0 series lead with a 3-2 win over the Raiders in Game 1 on Thursday, the Yellow Jackets were poised to lock up the best-of-three regional title series and had two chances to do it.
GAME REPORT: Stephenville takes Game 1 in regional title series with Canyon Randall
MIDLAND — Luke Heller and Wacey Dill combined on a three-hitter while Nate Berry and Hayden Rudloff both provided RBI base hits to lift Stephenville to a 3-2 win over Canyon Randall in Game 1 of the Region I-4A championship series at Christiansen Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Berry singled home KB Bowman and Mason Weyers scored on a throwing error. They later expanded their advantage to 3-0 when Rudloff drove in Berry with a single.
PHOTO GALLERY: Stephenville-Midland Greenwood baseball regional semifinal playoff (128 images)
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GAME STORY: Elms’ gem, fast start carry Stephenville baseball back to Region I-4A finals
Sophomore left-hander Gabe Elms delivered a complete-game gem and his lineup gave him eight runs in the first three innings as the Stephenville baseball team cruised to a 9-2 win over Midland Greenwood in the second game of a best-of-three Region I-4A semifinal series.
That win, combined with a gritty 6-3 victory in Wednesday’s opener, completed a sweep of the Rangers, advancing the Yellow Jackets to the Region I-4A finals for the third consecutive year.
Saturday’s game, which was delayed by thunderstorms in the Abilene area, marked the 16th consecutive victory for SHS, which will take a 27-12-1 record into next week’s series against Canyon Randall (35-3).
GAME STORY: Heller, Stephenville gut out win over Midland Greenwood in series opener
Stephenville ace Luke Heller struggled to find a groove, and his lineup never really got comfortable at the plate against Midland Greenwood pitchers Jaxon Ramos and Ty Presley on Wednesday in Game 1 of a best-of-three Region I-4A semifinal series at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field.
But that didn’t keep the Yellow Jackets from grinding out a 6-3 victory over the Rangers to extend their win streak to 15 games.
Despite an uncharacteristically laborious start by Heller and a four-hit effort at the plate, SHS (26-12-1) scraped across four runs in the fifth inning to a spur a come-from-behind win and put itself in position to go for the sweep when the series resumes Saturday afternoon back at ACU.
PHOTO GALLERY: Stephenville-Graham baseball region quarterfinal playoff (150 images)
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GAME STORY: Stephenville uses nine-run sixth to rally past Graham, clinch series sweep
For 5½ innings Friday at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field, it looked as though the Stephenville baseball team was headed toward its first loss since early April.
Trailing District 6-4A rival Graham 5-1 in Game 2 of their Region I-4A quarterfinal series and struggling to get anything going against Steers ace Noah Jilek, the Yellow Jackets and their 13-game winning streak were in serious peril.
But after recording just three hits through the first five innings against Jilek, coach Justin Swenson’s team exploded for 10 hits during a nine-run sixth to flip the script in what would eventually be a dramatic 10-7 win. The victory, the Jackets’ 14th in a row, clinched a series sweep and earned SHS a spot in next week’s region semifinals against the winner of Canyon and Midland Greenwood.
GAME STORY: Heller, Stephenville dominant in 10-0 win over District 6-4A rival Graham
Junior left-hander Luke Heller was on his game, and the Stephenville lineup supported their ace with plenty of offense, scoring in every inning to top District 6-4A rival Graham 10-0 in Game 1 of a best-of-three Region I-4A quarterfinal series Thursday at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field.
Heller limited the Steers to just two hits in a five-inning shutout, and the Yellow Jackets bats took care of the rest, following one-run innings in each of the first three frames with bigger numbers in the final two to end the game early by run rule.
With a steady rain falling for most of the evening, Stephenville put constant pressure on Graham, closing an 11-hit offensive effort with a four-run top of the fifth that saw Kyler Bowman triple home a pair of runs before scoring himself on an error and Nate Barry blast a two-out homer to left for the game’s 10th run.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jernigan takes our final award for 2022-23
Our final Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the 2022-23 school year could have gone any number of directions.
We finally settled on Goldthwaite junior Lainey Jernigan, who swept both the girls 2A hurdles titles at the state meet last week.
Jernigan won the 100 hurdles in 14.62 and the 300 hurdles in 44.12. And the good news for GHS fans is, she’s coming back to defend both crowns next year.
STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Area Class 3A, 4A athletes claim 14 combined medals at state meet
Cover photo courtesy of Stephenville coach Kolt Kittley
AUSTIN —The UIL State Track and Field meet kicked off Thursday with Classes 3A and 4A competing at Mike Meyers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas, and the Big Country had a fairly strong showing.
The closest finish determining who would be on and off the podium came in the Class 3A girls 800 meter run where Ballinger’s Addison Martin ran the race in 2 minutes, 17.522 seconds, edging Holliday freshman Kenli Atwood by a microscopic 0.007 seconds after diving through the finish line in her final event of a storied career.
Martin’s podium finish, where she was just one-tenth of a second off what had been the top qualification mark, was one of 14 medal-worthy performances for area athletes.