The Brownwood Lions (3-5, 1-2) beat Gatesville 38-7 at homecoming for their first District 13-4A Division II win. A Friday win over winless Waco Connally (0-8, 0-3), plus a Salado victory over Gatesville, would secure their 18th consecutive playoff trip. The game is set for 7 p.m. at Mac Peoples Stadium.
Head coach Jeryl Brixey said the team is not taking Connally lightly. "Connally is struggling and it's a game we feel like if we play at the level we're supposed to play at, we should win this game," Brixey said. He added that struggling teams have beaten good teams that were not ready to play.
In the win over Gatesville, the Lions gained 349 yards of total offense. Quarterback Riggs Gray threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score. Trent Buffington rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown. Hudson Deen returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown. The defense held Gatesville to 274 total yards, and Brixey praised its play.