Here are the Big Country’s passing leaders through Week 8:
Volleyball statistical leaders (through Oct. 22)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout 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.
FEATURE: Multi-talented Maidens raising the standard, expectations for Comanche volleyball program
Photos courtesy of Krista Wilcox
After earning a playoff spot for the first time in nearly a decade last fall, the Comanche Maidens volleyball team is already a lock for postseason play in 2025.
Though Comanche fell in three sets on Tuesday to perennial District 8-3A champion Peaster, the Maidens are 27-8 overall and 9-4 in league play. Riding a five-game win streak to open district, they set a highly competitive tone that helped them clinch back-to-back playoff berths under second-year coach Krista Wilcox.
Even so, Wilcox said there is a big difference in how her team is approaching a prospective run into November compared to the way they did it in 2024.
GAME STORY: LaCoix shines for Wylie in Senior Night sweep of crosstown rival Abilene High
Being honored as the lone senior on the Wylie volleyball team, Avery LaCroix made her final home match a memorable one Tuesday evening, putting on a Senior Night show in a 25-13, 25-10, 25-13 win over crosstown rival Abilene High.
The versatile hitter put up a team-high 11 kills with a remarkable .688 hitting percentage while contributing a team high-tying three blocks (1 solo, 2 assists) to fuel a dominant effort for the Lady Bulldogs, who stayed unbeaten in District 4-5A play heading into a huge match at Wichita Falls Memorial on Friday.
The victory, which improved WHS to 31-7 overall and 7-0 in league action, was the 11th in a row for coach Shay Cox’s team, which has a chance to secure its second consecutive district title with one more win.
SIX-MAN REWIND: Ira topples Westbrook, Perrin-Whitt holds off Bryson in action packed Week 8
A common knock on six-man football is that it doesn’t yield many upsets or tight margins. Well, Week 8’s most high-profile games featured both.
Not only did we see Ira score what have been the upset of the year over Westbrook in our “Six-Man Lookahead” Game of the Week, we also got a 72-70 barn-burner between Perrin-Whitt and Bryson that saw the Pirates hold off one of the season’s most exciting comebacks.
It’s time now to relive those games — and more — in this week’s “Six-Man Rewind” column. We hope you enjoy this look back at Week 8 and encourage you to check out our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page for more information on your favorite team(s).
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Forsan’s Hayden Bowlin takes the top spot
Forsan senior Hayden Bowlin had a career night last Friday and picked up our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award in the process.
To begin with, the FHS QB rushed for 280 yards and five scores in last week’s 60-27 win over Colorado City. Aside from that, he threw for 59 yards, he returned a punt 75 yards for a sixth TD and had a 34-yard kickoff return to give him 389 all-purpose yards and 36 of FHS’ points.
WEEK 9 FAN POLLS … Pick this week’s 11-man winners!
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we offer fans the chance to pick the winners of all games involving our local and area football teams. The results of these weekly polls, which will close at 5 p.m. each Thursday, will be included in our weekly Pick ‘Em Panel.
Here are the games for Week 9:
Continue reading “WEEK 9 FAN POLLS … Pick this week’s 11-man winners!”
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 2-5A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Abilene High crushes LHS; Tascosa runs over Monterey
Abilene High 73, Lubbock High 0 — The Eagles outgained the Westerners 445-32 and got three non-offensive touchdowns, including a pair of fumble return scores for nose guard Jayden Starks in a blowout win on homecoming.
Tristan Beal passed for 169 yards and a touchdown, Brayden Henry had scores passing and rushing, and Ethan Joyner () and Josh Castillo () both went over 100 total yards in the win, which saw Abilene High (6-2, 4-0) build a 59-0 lead by halftime.
DISTRICT 2-5A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Cooper outlasts Plainview; Memorial routs Wylie; Palo Duro rallies past LCP
Abilene Cooper 56, Plainview 43 — Jaden Carrillo accounted for 380 total yards and five total touchdowns to fuel the Cougars to a two-touchdown road win over the Bulldogs.
The senior quarterback passed for 203 yards and two TDs and ran for 177 yards and three more scores, while Peyton Ewing (18-134, 2 TDs rushing) and Zaylon Johnson (8-127, 2 TDs receiving) also had big games for Cooper (5-3, 3-1).
PHOTO GALLERY: Wichita Falls Memorial-Wylie football (49 images)
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Wichita Falls Memorial-Wylie football (49 images)”
DISTRICT 8-2A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Santo runs away from Chico; Collinsville, Muenster cruise
Santo 54, Chico 14 — Dillan Branham ran for 126 yards and a touchdown and had two kickoff return touchdowns, while Jackson McKinnerney added 62 yards and three scores on the ground to lead the Wildcats to a lopsided win over the Dragons.
Michael Lockwood and Justin Hollingsworth also had rushing scores for Santo (6-1, 2-0), which closed the game with 41 unanswered points to rally from an early 14-13 deficit.
DISTRICT 6-2A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Haskell runs over Archer City; Electra, Petrolia stay hot with wins
Haskell 44, Archer City 18 — Haegen Pinkerton ran for 262 yards and four touchdowns, and Ethan Camacho ran for 125 yards and two scores to fuel the Indians to a convincing win over the Wildcats.
Haskell (5-3, 3-1), which ran for 402 yards as a team on just 30 attempts, raced out to a 20-0 by the end of the first quarter to take control of the contest early.
DISTRICT 3-2A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Bowlin leads Forsan past C-City; Ozona, Christoval also claim wins
Forsan 60, Colorado City 27 — Hayden Bowlin ran for 280 yards and five touchdowns and passed for 59 more yards to lift the Buffaloes to a comfortable win over the Wolves.
Ashton Ellis added 124 yards and two scores for Forsan, which ran for 425 yards as a team in improving to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in district play.
DISTRICT 5-3A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: De Leon shuts out Coleman, Hamilton blanks Ballinger
De Leon 58, Coleman 0 — Heston Jobe passed for 240 yards and four touchdowns while adding a fifth touchdown on the ground to fuel the Bearcats to a lopsided win over the Bluecats.
Adan Salinas added 67 yards and two TDs rushing, and Bryce Burkeen (4-85, 1 TD) and Jake Cooper (5-69, 2 TDs) had productive days receiving the ball as De Leon (5-2, 2-0) built a 46-0 lead by halftime.
DISTRICT 14-2A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: San Saba upset by Thorndale, Mason and Johnson City both win
Thorndale 28, San Saba 24 — 
The Bulldogs (4-3, 1-1) earned a surprising district win on the road as a 16-point underdog.
Luke Tharpe led the Armadillos in a losing effort with 202 yards rushing and two scores.
San Saba saw a three-game winning streak snapped with the loss, falling to 4-3 and 1-1.
DISTRICT 5-3A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Early shuts down Clifton; Brady, Tolar earn victories
Early 28, Clifton 3 — Caden Wilson passed for 144 yards and two touchdowns, and the Longhorns defense limited the Cubs to just 80 yards of offense to improve to 2-0 in league play with a dominant effort against CHS.
Early (3-4 overall) finished with just 222 total yards, but that was enough to build a 14-3 halftime lead and create separation from there for the lopsided win.
DISTRICT 10-2A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Bremond, Chilton, Mart, Wortham all win
Bremond 47, Goldthwaite 0 — The Tigers rolled up 452 yards in total offense to top Goldthwaite on the road.
Tank Scott rushed for 102 yards and three scores and Sam Kasowki threw for 201 yards to lead Bremond which improved to 7-0 and 4-0.
Goldthwaite fell to 4-3 and 2-2.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Brock blasts Mineral Wells; Graham cruises past Bridgeport
Brock 55, Mineral Wells 7 — Holt Frazier passed for 334 yards and four touchdowns, and Colt Matlock received for 134 yards and two scores to lead the Eagles to a lopsided win over the Rams.
Dash Lindsey (8-85, 2 TDs rushing; 1-17, 1 TD receiving) and Bryer McDonald (8-72, 2 TDs) also had productive days for Brock (7-0, 2-0), which also got 60 yards and a TD receiving from Davis Lee.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Glen Rose, Dunbar and Benbrook win in Week 8
Glen Rose 56, Hillsboro 14 — Judd Connally threw for 265 yards and one score and Tyson Sullivan rushed for 125 yards and four TDs to lead Glen Rose (2-5, 2-0) to its second straight win.
The Tigers will play host to Venus next Friday.
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 1-4A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Fort Stockton too much for Snyder; Greenwood routs Monahans
Fort Stockton 49, Snyder 15 — Gerry Diaz passed for 284 yards and four touchdowns, hitting jaden Sotelo three times for 150 yards and three scores, to fuel the Panthers to a blowout win over the Tigers.
Diaz also ran for 98 yards and a pair of TDs in the win, which saw Fort Stockton (5-3, 1-1) take a 21-0 lead after a quarter and increase that to 35-0 by halftime.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: All teams idle in preparation of start of league play
Big Spring (4-2), idle — Like everyone else in this league, the Steers had the week off to prepare for the start of district play next week.
Big Spring, which has won four of its last five games, will open 3-4A DI play next week with a home game against Andrews.
DISTRICT 4-3A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Wall shuts out Coahoma; Grape Creek downs Stanton
Wall 58, Coahoma 0 — Wall’s Landon York kept his hot hand, hitting 17 of 24 throws for 333 yards and two scores to help Wall to an important league win over Coahoma.
Brady Neal led Wall (8-0, 2-0) on the ground with 107 yards rushing and three scores.
Limited to only 158 total yards, Coahoma fell to 6-2 and 1-1.
DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Stamford tops Anson; Hawley and Cisco coast
Stamford 28, Anson 21 — Stamford entered this game as an underdog in the view of many, but left as the victor after forcing four Anson turnovers.
Limited to only 185 yards in total offense for the night, the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-1) still managed to build a 28-6 first-half lead before hanging on for the win.
Despite piling up 371 yards in total offense and outgaining Stamford by nearly 200 yards, Anson (5-2, 0-2) dropped its second straight game after a 5-0 start.
DISTRICT 7-2A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Hamlin, Cross Plains, Albany victorious
Hamlin 21, Roscoe 14 (OT) — 
Hamlin rushed for 239 yards via committee in a tough overtime win on the road. Reece Rainey led the Pied Pipers (6-1, 2-0) with 85 yards rushing on four carries and one TD.
It was the sixth straight win for Hamlin since a season-opening loss to Anson.
Roscoe (1-6, 1-1) was led by Jace Arnwine, who threw for 136 yards, rushed for 19 and accounted for two scores.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Jim Ned, Sweetwater, Clyde score Week 8 wins
Jim Ned 49, Breckenridge 7 — Cash Gwinn threw for 186 yards and three scores and Aiden Ellis rushed for 127 yards and another TD as Jim Ned earned its fourth straight win.
The Indians quickly built a 42-7 first-half lead before coasting to the finish.
Breckenridge fell to 2-5 and 0-2.
GAME REPORT: Carrillo shines again as Cooper pulls away late for 56-43 win at Plainview
PLAINVIEW — Jaden Carrillo passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 177 yards and three more scores to lead Cooper to a 56-43 win over Plainview on Friday at Greg Sherwood Memorial Stadium.
Peyton Ewing added 134 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and Zaylon Johnson received for 127 yards and two scores as the Cougars used a 28-point fourth quarter to break open a game that was tied after each of the first three periods.
The wild victory improved Cooper to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in District 2-5A Division II play, keeping coach Aaron Roan’s squad within a half-game of league leader Amarillo Palo Duro (6-1, 3-0) with two games to play.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Bangs tops Hico 28-27 in classic nail-biter
HICO — Upon examining the videotape of the Big Country Preps Game of the Week, both the Bangs and Hico coaching staffs will no doubt, find dozens of different ways they could have won or lost their matchup on Friday.
As fate would have it, the Bangs Dragons left Tiger Stadium as the victors, sneaking past Hico 28-27 behind a fake PAT kick-conversion pass from Cason Tidwell to Joaquin Rubio with 37 seconds to play. Even the game-winning play forced everyone to hit the rewind button twice, with both a successful Bangs PAT run and failed PAT kick wiped out by penalties, giving both teams a taste of victory before Rubio scored the actual game-winner.
Tidwell topped the stat sheet for both clubs, rushing for 205 yards and four scores on 24 carries on a night that saw Bangs (5-2, 2-0 District 5-2A DI) rally from two separate deficits —13-6 at the break at 27-20 in the fourth quarter.
Hico (4-3, 0-2) was led by Cole Heutzenroeder (15 carries, 132 yards, two TDs) and by Tyler Jackson, who was 7-of-15 passing for 113 yards and another score.
“I just told the kids ‘hey, you’ve got to want it more, because (Hico) wants it more than you do right now,'” said Bangs coach Colton Buzzard, whose team has now won five straight games after an 0-2 start. “That’s not the Dragon way. If we come out and want it more, it’s going to be really hard to beat us.”
GAME STORY: Abilene High rumbles to 73-0 homecoming win over Lubbock High
Facing off with an overmatched opponent in front of a homecoming crowd, the Abilene High Eagles were about as dominant as a team could be Friday, scoring 59 points in the opening half of a 73-0 win over Lubbock High at Shotwell Stadium.
AHS followed a 28-point first quarter with 31 more points in the second, while holding the Westerners to minus-25 first-half yards defensively on 29 plays — three of which ended in turnovers.
With a running clock in the second half, coach Mike Fullen’s squad finished off the shutout after halftime, turning a fourth takeaway into its third non-offensive touchdown to improve to 6-2 on the year and 4-0 in District 2-5A Division I play.
GAME STORY: Wichita Falls Memorial offense tops 500 yards in big win over Wylie
Wylie entered Friday night’s District 2-5A Division II game against Wichita Falls Memorial at Hugh Sandifer Stadium with the potential to be part of a three-way tie for the district championship in a few weeks as the league has featured shocking results on a weekly basis.
After a 45-14 loss to the Mavericks, the Bulldogs are now headed into their open week trying to find answers while knowing that a trip to the playoffs isn’t nearly the guarantee that it seemed to be Friday morning.
With Amarillo Palo Duro rallying past Lubbock Cooper and Abilene Cooper pulling away from Plainview on Friday, the Bulldogs (4-4 overall, 2-2 district) find themselves in third place in a massive logjam in the postseason race.
Plainview, Wichita Falls Legacy and Memorial are all tied for fourth place at 1-2 in district while the Lubbock Cooper is now 1-3.
FEATURE: First-year Cooper QB Carrillo far more than just an athlete taking snaps
When Jaden Carrillo was tabbed to be Cooper’s starting quarterback in the preseason, beating out fellow seniors Johnathon Rico and Jared Clancy for the role, it was likely eyebrow-raising news for some.
That’s because for most of his time as a Cougar, the speedy playmaker was catching passes, not throwing them.
Carrillo cut his teeth as a varsity football player at the slot receiver position, amassing 71 receptions for 657 yards and five touchdowns across his sophomore and junior seasons. But the senior three-sport standout has always thought of himself as a quarterback — and given the chance to man the position in his final high school season, he’s showing others exactly why.
FEATURE: Pinkerton thriving as catalyst of Haskell’s offense
Haegen Pinkerton isn’t a one-man show for Haskell’s football team.
But the junior quarterback is many things for the Indians this season. He’s a dual threat. He’s one of the best athletes in 6-2A Division II – if not the best.
He’s a three-year starter. He’s a hard worker and a leader. He makes an impact in multiple sports. And he’s motivated to lead Haskell to the playoffs after the Indians came up short last season.
SIX-MAN LOOKAHEAD: Westbrook-Ira game headlines Week 8 slate as district races heat up
We’ve reached Week 8, and playoff races are starting to take shape in our area six-man districts.
While most of our best matchups are still to come, this week’s slate, which is headlined by a marquee District 7-1A Division I clash between No. 8 Westbrook and fellow toughie Ira, has its share of intriguing games.
Without further adieu, let’s go ahead and jump into this week’s “Lookahead.” We hope you enjoy this preview of the week’s action and encourage you to check out our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page for more information on your favorite team(s).
Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 8)
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games, in addition to the results of our weekly fan polls for each matchup.
For those interested in voting, polls go up on Sunday night each week and close Thursday evening.
Disagree with our picks or the fan poll consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Bangs takes on Hico in our spotlight matchup
LAST WEEK: 53-7, .883
SEASON TOTAL: 335-79, .809
Week 8.
Can you believe it? I can’t, but every year it’s the same story. Two-a-days end, you blink and it’s Thanksgiving.
At any rate, Friday night will see us venturing to Hico for our Big Country Preps Game of the Week, with the Bangs Dragons (4-2, 1-0) facing the Tigers (4-2, 0-1) on the road in an important District 5-2A DI showdown that will almost certainly play a huge role in playoff seeding.
FEATURE: Senior playmaker Fisher brings steady leadership, consistent production to injury-plagued Mineral Wells offense
Pretty much across the football landscape, there is one opponent nobody wants to play. He doesn’t wear a uniform, and he comes in all manner of configurations. But ask any coach, and he will tell you a bite by the “Injury Bug” can be as devastating as any heartbreaking scoreboard defeat.
Or, as in the case of the Mineral Wells Rams, you can suffer multiple chomps, keep on shooing, and convert disaster into what still might have the promise of a successful season.
It certainly helps the Rams’ cause that the primary swatter is six-feet tall, weighs 180 pounds, runs faster than a speeding cornerback and is able to leap tall safeties to catch pretty much any ball thrown his way.
But (much) more on Jaidun Fisher in a bit. First, consider why the Mineral Wells receiver has been so important this year.
FEATURE: Wall volleyball eyeing District 6-3A title, deep playoff run in Branch’s first year as coach
Photos courtesy of Kimberly Branch
With its sweep of San Angelo TLCA on Tuesday, the Wall volleyball team ran its District 6-3A record to a perfect 10-0 and its overall mark to 29-7.
Yet, as impressive as those numbers are, the record is not the most remarkable stat of the year for the Lady Hawks.
While forging its identity as the 6-3A “team to beat,” Wall has dropped just one set in district play.
That astounding number, coupled with the fact that Wall faced a pre-district schedule that included a bevy of quality Class 6A and 5A opponents, has the Lady Hawks primed for what could be a special season.
Volleyball statistical leaders (through Oct. 15)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Wednesday at 7 p.m. throughout 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.
GAME STORY: Abilene High fends off upset bid from spirited Cooper squad in crosstown thriller
Coming into the second crosstown volleyball match between Abilene High and Cooper, the youthful Lady Cougars had yet to win a set in five District 4-5A matches. So when coach Kandice Williams’ squad had its rival down 9-2 in the fifth set Tuesday, there were a lot of surprised — and nervous — fans in Cougar Gym.
But after struggling to wrestle momentum from the feisty Lady Coogs for most of the match, thanks in no small part to a large and rowdy crowd, the Lady Eagles recovered just in time to avoid an upset loss, rallying for a 25-13, 24-26, 22-25, 25-17, 15-13 win to level their district record at 3-3.
The match was a far cry from the first meeting between the teams, which saw AHS breeze to a 25-8, 25-10, 25-12 victory at home. And after it, Lady Eagles coach Emily Gravitt was just happy to see her team escape with the hard-earned win.