Friday Football Previews
La Grange vs. Splendora
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: La Grange
Records: La Grange is 0-4 and Splendora is 1-3.
Of Note: It’s homecoming week for the Leps as they look for their first victory of the season against a Splendora team that is also struggling. Splendora won its first game of the season 28-7 over Cleveland, but has since lost three in a row including last week’s 62-0 defeat at the hands of Hamshire-Fannett. The passhappy Wildcats are averaging 25 throws and 158 yards per game through the air, but just 88 yards a game rushing. La Grange, meanwhile lost to Lago Vista 35-20 last week despite three rushing touchdowns from junior quarterback Clayton Cooper. The La Grange defense is allowing 52 points per game so far this season.
Last meeting: La Grange made the long trip to Splendora last year and defeated the Wildcats 38-7 as Jakobe Wilkerson scored three touchdowns and the Leps limited Splendora to just 93 total yards of offense.
Schulenburg vs. Thorndale
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Thorndale
Records: Schulenburg is 1-3. Thorndale is 0-4.
Of Note: These two teams have gotten off to slow starts in 2023, but a win in this district opener would turn everything around. Thorndale lost to Lexington, Granger, Riesel to start the season with none of the games closer than a 26-point margin, but they nearly got their first win of the season last week in a 38-31 loss to Iola. Thorndale is only one season removed from going 9-3 but they graduated a lot. Schulenburg was abuzz after beating Burton two weeks ago to snap a 13-game losing streak, but Poth brought the Shorthorns back to reality with a 48-7 victory last week. ‘Horns quarterback Aaron Janecek threw for 119 yards in that loss and Bryce Stoever ran for a teamhigh 51 yards last week.
Last meeting: Last season Thorndale defeated Schulenburg 36-7 as the Bulldogs forced four turnovers. Rodney Walton scored the only TD for the ‘Horns in that game.
Flatonia vs. Thrall
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Thrall
Records: Flatonia is 3-1 Thrall is 3-1.
Of Note: This is a district opener between a pair of teams that have had hot starts to the season. Thrall won their first three games before losing to Leon last week 20-14. The Tigers have a high-powered offense that is averaging 40 points a game this season. Flatonia, meanwhile, has made a habit of comebacks, rallying from deficits in each of the last two weeks to win by a touchdown over Nixon-Smiley and Falls City. The powerful Flatonia running game is led by Kobe Burton (301 yards this season and 5 TDs) and Keegan Green (271 yards this season and 2 TDs). Flatonia senior QB Cale Janecka threw for 196 yards and two second half TDs last week.
Last meeting: Flatonia pounded Thrall last season 62-20 as Fidel Venegas threw for 186 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 101 yards and three more scores on a night when Flatonia amassed more that 500 yards of offense.
District 12-4A
Cuero 3-0 Gonzales 2-1 Smithville 1-3 Giddings 1-3 Caldwell 1-3 La Grange 0-4
This week’s games:
Splendora at La Grange Lexington at Caldwell Yoakum at Gonzales Smithville at Lago Vista Cuero at Beeville Jones Navarro at Giddings * The entire district is off next week before beginning 12-4A play Oct. 6.
District 13-2A
Weimar 4-0 Holland 4-0 Thrall 3-1 Flatonia 3-1 Schulenburg 1-3 Hearne 1-3 Thorndale 0-4
This week’s games: Flatonia at Thrall Schulenburg at Thorndale Weimar at Holland Hearne is off