RISING TO THE TOP OF THE PACK

CLASS 1A SIX-MAN ROUNDUP: Seventh-ranked Iredell Dragons soar past Bluff Dale, Kopperl falls to Three Way in District 11-1A, DII; Walnut Springs stung in District 9-1A, DI shootout

Thanks to the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment last February shaking things up, Bosque County no longer has a district all its own. In fact, Bosque County’s five six-man football squads find themselves spread out across three districts in two divisions for the first time since 2014.

But when it comes to the Battle for the Bosque, District 11-1A, Division II gets us as close as we can get to a straight up, head-to-head fight for bragging rights featuring the Class 1A, Division II’s seventh-ranked Iredell Dragons, the Kopperl Eagles and the Morgan Eagles sharing a district with two outsiders — the Bluff Dale Bobcats and the undefeated Three Way Braves, who dropped down from Class 1A, DI for this season.

As the pre-season district favorite, state-ranked Iredell (2-0 in district, 6-2 overall) remains the team to beat. And last week’s resounding 83-36 victory over Bluff Dale did nothing to dispel that. And in this season’s battle for Bosque County supremacy, the Dragons (2-0, 6-2) will visit last season’s surprising Kopperl (0-1, 4-2) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Eagles will be coming off a disappointing 58-8 loss to undefeated Three Way (2-0, 8-0).

“We just need to carry this momentum into this week and just keep working hard to finish out these next two games,” Iredell coach Luis Guereca said. “If we just do our job and stay disciplined, we will give ourselves an opportunity against Kopperl.”

On the other hand, Kopperl will be facing elimination from playoff possibilities in what amounts to a must-win game for the Eagles looking for their second straight postseason appearance.

“Iredell is a top 10 team, so we are going to have to play the game of our life to beat them,” Kopperl head coach Ken Davis said. “No mistakes and just good hard-nosed football, and we will see what happens.”

Coming off an open week, Morgan will resume district competition this week as the Eagles (0-1, 2-5) play host to the Bluff Dale Bobcats (0-2, 4-4) at 7 p.m. Friday. Bluff Dale will be coming off a 83-36 loss to the seventh-ranked Iredell Dragons (2-0, 6-2).

“Bluff Dale may be coming off a tough loss, but they’re a solid team with a balanced offense, and we expect them to come into this game looking to bounce back,” Morgan head coach Alan Berrio said. “Their record doesn’t define the kind of competition they bring.

“For us, it’s about executing on both sides of the ball, and controlling the pace. It’s going to be a hard-fought game, but we’re ready for the challenge and excited to defend our home field. After the open week, I feel confident that the team has had time to recover, refocus and work on key areas for improvement. I believe this week gives us a strong opportunity to make a statement as we resume district play.”

Making the move up to Class 1A, DI for the first time since 2014, the Walnut Springs Hornets stand on the brink of postseason elimination In District 9-1A, DI. The Hornets (0-2, 3-5) will playing host to the undefeated and 17th-ranked Avalon Eagles (1-0, 7-0) at 7 p.m. Friday on Senior Night. The Eagles will be coming off a convincing 64-14 victory over the Milford Bulldogs (1-1, 4-4).

“Avalon comes in undefeated Friday evening, but we’ll regroup and be ready for them,” Walnut Springs head coach Richard Dyes said. “We’ll see how we do in practice this week. We’ll need a great effort, but we’re certainly capable of just that.”

After being forced to forfeit their second games of the season, the Cranfills Gap Lions (0-2, 0-8) hitting the road to take on the Evant Elks (1-1, 2-5) at 7 p.m. Friday hoping to make the first step toward wrapping up the season on a positive note. Evant will be coming off a resounding 54-6 victory over the Mullin Bulldogs (0-2, 2-6) in District 14-1A, DII action, while the Lions forfeited to the third-ranked Oglesby Tigers (2-0, 6-2).

“We had too many kids get sick this week, which led to a forfeit unfortunately,” Cranfills Gap head coach Josh Raulston said. “It’s just another unfortunate event to add to the list this season. Hopefully, our guys heal up and get their mind right to finish the year right. I think this season has taken a toll on all of us mentally, and it’s really showing character in these last couple weeks.”

IREDELL 83, BLUFF DALE 36

Junior Cole Heutzenroder ran for five touchdowns and threw for another while junior Caleb Garland caught three touchdown passes and ran for another score as the seventh-ranked Iredell Dragons surged past the Bluff Dale Bobcats in a District 11-1A, DII matchup last Friday.

“As I expected, Bluff Dale gave us everything they had,” Guereca said. “Early on, it was back and forth. Our team was able to be resilient and push through the rollercoaster ride we were going through in the first half. We cleaned up several things in the second half, and we were able to pull away.

“I’m proud of our team on the way we respond after a few critical mistakes we made. In the end, we got the win, and that’s always the goal.”

With the Dragons mixing it up to accumulate 423 yards of total offense, Heutzenroder finished with a game-high 208 yards rushing while competing three of six passes for 42 yards. Garland rushed for another 100 yards, while hauling in three catches for 46 yards. Freshman Corter Sweat competed three of five passes for 34 yards and two scoring strikes, while junior Adan Aguilar Diaz rushed for two more touchdowns.

Defensively, Garland led the Dragons with 10 tackles, followed by Heutzenroder with eight takedowns and Zach Mitchell with six, while junior Caden Sweat added four tackles and two fumble recoveries.

“We are able to stay on the gas pedal on both sides of the ball,” Guereca said. “Our defense got us some turnovers, and the offense was able to stay consistent throughout the night. Special team had a good night as well.”

THREE WAY 58, KOPPERL 8

In a matchup that could end up having postseason implications in District 11-1A, DII, the Kopperl Eagles never got off the ground against undefeated Three Way as the Braves stormed to an decisive 58-8 victory last Friday night.

“Three Way came to play and dominated from start to finish,” Davis said. “We had a few spurts where we looked pretty good, but could only punch it across once. I counted at least five dropped passes and a couple more maybes. It’s hard be successful on offense when you are continually facing a third-and-long or fourth-and-long all night long.”

After Three Way quickly scored on its opening possession, it looked like Kopperl would make it a shootout by marching down the field on 13 plays. But the drive stalled on the Brave one-yard-line. Three Way promptly scored again and never looked back.

Senior Christian Falk hit senior Kevin Eilers on a 25-yard scoring strike for Kopperl’s only score of the game. Falk finished with 97 yards rushing on 15 carries.

“The Eagles played hard the whole game and never quit,” Davis said. “Obviously, we wanted a different outcome, but the guys gave it their all.”

COVINGTON 72, WALNUT SPRINGS 50

Despite senior Josue Ontiveros throwing four touchdown passes, the Walnut Springs Hornets came up short last Friday night, falling to the Covington Owls, 72-50, in a District 9-1A, DI offensive showcase.

In the losing effort, the Hornets compiled 424 yards of total offense as Ontiveros completed 12 of 21 passes for 178 yards, connecting with junior Ashton Shuemake on two touchdown tosses, along with senior Jesse Lamb and senior Dawson Gomez on two more scoring strikes.

“I thought we gave a pretty good effort most of the night,” Dye said. “We’re still kind of embattled with the injuries that we’re probably not going to get much relief from any time soon. I thought Covington played well, and I give Coach Steele credit for that.”

Lamb led the Walnut Springs ground game by gaining 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns, followed by sophomore Jesus Rodriguez with another 105 yards and a score.

“I thought we had a pretty good offensive game,” Dye said. “Jesse and Jesus both carried the ball very well, and our blocking was pretty good most of the night. Josue threw well, and we got a lot out of Ashton Shuemake with two touchdown catches and Dawson Gomez with the long one ending the first half.”

Defensively, Ontiveros led the Hornets with nine tackles, followed by Rodriguez with seven, Gomez with six and Lamb with four.

“We might have been a little tentative, at times, on defense,” Dye said. “But the injuries have forced us to put folks in different positions in different weeks. But that’s part of the game. Our leading tacklers were our secondary folks.”

Photos by WENDY OROZCO & SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS