Ellis County Sports Your source for Ellis County Sports News
By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports
Previews, score predictions, stats, standout players and recaps will be added throughout the weekend. All computer projections are compiled by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
As always, fans can catch a full recap of all things Ellis County athletics every Monday night from 6-7 p.m. on KBEC 1390AM/99.1FM and online at elliscosports.com during “The Press Box.”
CLASS 6A
No. 25 (3-0, 0-0) WAXAHACHIE 49, (0-3, 0-0) Grand Prairie 7 — FINAL
Waxahachie continued its utter dominance of the non-district schedule by routing Grand Prairie, 49-7, Friday night inside the Gopher-Warrior Bowl.
The Tribe released the throttle in the second quarter yet still limited the Gophers to just 204 yards of total offense. Grand Prairie finished the game with negative-11 rushing…. READ THE RECAP AND HISTORY OF THE 3-0 START HERE!
Week 1 in 101st Battle of 287: Read the full recap and check out the photos here!
Up Next: Waxahachie will move into District 7-6A play against (0-3, 0-0) Cedar Hill. The Longhorns have fallen to Rockwall (34-12), Arlington Martin (44-6) and Carroll (47-6).
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie.
The Indians have outscored their opponents 141-16 on the season, while the Longhorns have been outscored 125-24.
CLASS 5A
(3-0, 1-0) MIDLOTHIAN 32, (2-1, 0-1) Killeen Shoemaker 27 — FINAL
Midlothian opened its District 4-5A slate with one heck of a trek to Killeen. The Panthers then used a big second half to pull out the victory.
Senior quarterback Chad Ragle completed 11-of-his-15 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scores was an 80-yard pitch-and-catch to junior Bryant Wesco (8-143, 2 TDs).
Jordon Richburg led the Panther rushing attack with 11 carries for 114 yards (10.4YPC) and two touchdowns.
Ny’Tori Burnett (7 total tackles) and Cole Martin (6, 1TFL) anchored the defensive effort that surrendered 433 total yards.
Last Time Out:
Up Next: Midlothian will face (1-2, 0-1) Waco. The Lions defeated WT White, 45-27, but suffered losses to Fort Worth Southwest (20-6) and Granbury (45-3). Waco dropped from Class 6A to 5A Division I following the bi-annual realignment.
(3-0, 1-0) Lake Belton 48, (2-1, 0-1) RED OAK 47 — FINAL/OT
A blocked extra-point attempt in overtime set the stage for heartbreak in Red Oak on Friday evening. The Hawks ultimately fell to the Lake Belton Broncos in their District 4-5A opener, 48-47.
Jaylon Robinson threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. Jairrus Nicholson (4-131) grabbed two of those scores, while Warren Roberson (73 yards) and Brayden Robinson (16) grabbed the other two.
The effort helped Red Oak to nearly 400 yards of total offense in the opening half (398) and a 35-21 lead.
The Hawks eventually outpaced the Broncos 536 total yards to 476, only to be outscored 27-14 in the second half.
Last Time Out: Red Oak began the season with victories against Leander Rouse (47-21) and Buda Johnson (41-34).
Up Next: Red Oak will host Killeen Shoemaker at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Billy Goodloe Stadium.
(*-) Colleyville Heritage 23, (0-3, 0-0) Ennis 20 — FINAL
Last Time Out:
Up Next:
No. 9 (2-1, 0-0) Waco La Vega 14, (2-1, 0-0) MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE 41 — FINAL
No. 9 Waco La Vega mustered just 83 total yards of offense in the first half against the Midlothian Heritage Jaguars on their homecoming night. The once-storied Pirate ground attack had just 58 of those yards against a stout Jaguar defensive front seven.
Heritage led 27-0 at the break.
The Jaguars eventually outpaced the Pirates 397 total yards to 197 for a resounding 41-14 victory.
Senior quarterback Kaden Brown completed 13-of-his-16 passes for 182 yards and 4 touchdowns to no interceptions. Xavie Moten (5-113) hauled in three of those touchdown passes. TJ Pride (4-28) caught the fourth.
Mason O’Neal led the Jaguars with 15 carries for 92 yards and a score. Brown added a rushing touchdown on one of his nine carries for 47 yards.
Last Time Out: 4A A No. 1 Stephenville defeated Heritage 49-42 in week one. The Jaguars fell to then-2nd ranked Stephenville in Week 10 of the 2022 season, 38-27. The Yellow Jackets went on to win the 4A Division I state championship.
Up Next: Heritage will officially begin its first season in Class 5A with the District 5-5A opener against (0-3, 0-0) Burleson. The Jon Kitna-led Elks have been outscored 134-68 on the season, having suffered losses to Burleson Centennial (42-13), Frisco Lone Star (38-3) and Weatherford (54-52).
Kickoff at Midlothian ISD Multipurpose Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A
(1-1, 0-0) LIFE WAXAHACHIE 50, (0-3, 0-0) Ferris 37 — FINAL
Life Waxahachie used a bye in week one to better evaluate itself and its talent. Following a tough loss to Athens, it appears second-year head coach Micah Stanley made the right decision.
Kordell Berry rushed for a new program-best in Life Waxahachie’s victory over Ferris on Friday.
The junior running back simply blew by the Yellow Jacket defense to the tune of….READ THE RECAP AND CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY HERE!
Last Time Out:
Up Next:
CLASS 3A
(1-2, 1-0) MAYPEARL 55, (0-3,0-1) Dallas A+ Academy 18 — FINAL
First-year head coach Adam Olson picked up his first career win Friday evening. It just so happened that, following a heartbreaking overtime loss, Olson’s first victory came in his first district game.
The Panthers are now 1-0 in District 7-3A.
Last Time Out: The Panthers previously fell to Fort Worth Western Hills (54-53) and Eustace (28-21). Both games were decided late in the fourth quarter.
Up Next: The Panthers will take a bye on Friday, Sept. 15 before heading into a district showdown against perennial power (2-1, 1-0) Grandview. Kickoff for that game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 in Maypearl.
(3-0, 0-0) PALMER 21, (1-2) Palestine Westwood 12 — FINAL
Last Time Out: Palmer has defeated Venus (63-20) and Grand Aline (30-0) to open the season. Oddly enough, the Venus Bulldogs snapped their 25-game losing streak this past Friday with a 54-7 victory against Dallas Jefferson. Venus is a city split between Ellis and Johnson Counties.
Up Next: The Bulldogs will continue non-district play Friday against (3-0) Rogers in one of 31 games featuring unbeaten teams across the state of Texas. Their first District 13-3A game will be at home Friday against Rogers. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
(0-1, 0-0) ITALY 7, (*-*) Mart 68 — FINAL
Last Time Out:
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CLASS 1A
(2-1, 0-0) AVALON 41, (*-*) Coolidge 48 — FINAL
Last Time Out:
To read the full recap or check out the stellar photo gallery from Week 1, click here!
Up Next:
(*-*) Calvert X, (1-0, 0-0) MILFORD X— Final (Thurs)
Last Time Out:
Up Next:
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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith
tsmith@kbec.com
