BROWNWOOD, TX — The Brownwood Lions are gearing up for their biggest game of the season this week as the third ranked, defending state champion La Vega Pirates come to town.
Anticipated to be one of the best matchups this week statewide, #6 Brownwood and #3 La Vega are sure to put on a show for the 5-4A DI district crown. The Lions (8-0, 2-0) have had one of their best seasons in several years behind second year Head Coach Sammy Burnett and a defense that has allowed just seven points per game.
Friday night’s meeting will be a much steeper test than any they have had so far this season. La Vega, the reigning 4A Division I State Champions, are 7-1 and looking to repeat. The Pirates have been on a roll and won six straight since falling to #1 Argyle in the first week of September. La Vega was unable to slow down the still unbeaten Argyle offense and lost 49-35. In that game, Eagle quarterback Bo Hogeboom threw for four touchdowns and 238 yards while running back Tito Byce added 3 touchdowns and 207 yards.
Besides that loss, La Vega has not allowed more than 17 points in a game. Even against Stephenville, where 12 La Vega players missed at least the first half after being suspended following a bench-clearing brawl in the Liberty-Eylau game, they had no trouble winning 42-10.
The Pirates have been dominant, but so have the Lions. Through eight games, Brownwood has a point differential of 297-54. Their defense has pitched four shutouts. Offensively, it is a two-man show. Quarterback Drew Huff and running back Reece Rodgers have been the workhorses so far.
Rodgers has picked up 1,122 yards on the ground to go along with 17 touchdowns. He has only had one game with less than 100 yards. Huff, meanwhile, is a talented dual-threat quarterback who makes defenses pay with his arm and his legs. He has not surpassed 18 pass attempts in a game this season, but there has been no need to. The senior has compiled 1,233 yards through the air and 561 rushing.
Friday's game will be for the district championship, and La Vega wants to repeat. Brownwood, on the other hand, is looking to avenge last year's 57-19 loss to the Pirates and solidify their place among the state's best. The Lions have improved tremendously since last year's 4-6 finish. The eight game winning streak is impressive, for sure, but their strength of schedule has not been as rigorous as it will be in the playoffs. They have only played two teams with a record better than .500. The combined record of all their opponents is 26-38.
This game will be a chance for them to test their mettle and see where they stand before the playoffs start. That, along with the district championship trophy dangling above them, will have the Lion's well motivated. It is also their last home game of the season.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 in Gordon Wood Stadium.
Check back here Friday night for live score updates.
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