One of the most challenging preseason schedules the Harris Ratings Weekly Class 4A Division II No. 17 Brownwood Lions have endured in recent years starts with a repeat of the 2025 season opener – a trip to Class 5A Division II Abilene Wylie.

Kickoff for the 2026 season opener – and a rematch of last year’s 25-0 Wylie triumph – takes place at 7 p.m. Friday at Hugh Sandifer Stadium.

“I’m excited to see what a real game looks like for us,” said Lions second-year head coach Jeryl Brixey. “Last year when we went over there I told the kids before we played that I knew at the end of the game we were going to have to get better, but I didn’t know if we would play our guts out for 48 minutes no matter what the score was. The scoreboard doesn’t matter until the game is over, you just have to play your heart out every single play, regardless. I preached last year don’t worry about what’s on the scoreboard, and I’m going to preach that same thing, but I do believe this year our kids are going to play their guts out for 48 minutes, they’ve worked too hard.”

The Lions, coming off a 7-5 record and a fourth consecutive bi-district championship in 2025, have already scrimmaged Class 4A Division II No. 6 Brock (14-1) and Class 4A Division I No. 12 Alvarado (12-1), and will now tangle with Wylie (5-5), reigning 4A Division I state champion and top-ranked Stephenville (16-0), 4A Division I No. 3 Springtown (12-1), 4A Division II No. 12 Graham (9-4), and 4A Division I China Spring (3-9) in pre-district competition.

“I would love for us to 5-0 through non-district,” Brixey said. “If we do that it will be an outstanding accomplishment. We’re going to go out with a plan to win every game and let the chips fall where they may. When we come out of that we won’t have any questions about where we need to improve or if we’re actually truly good.”

The Bulldogs return seven offensive and eight starters from last year’s .500 squad, as head coach Clay Martin’s team fell short of the postseason in 2025.

Among the returnees back on offense are receiver Blaze Ruffin (36-767,9 TDs receiving; 2 kick return TDs); quarterback Jadin Karleskint (1,572 passing yards, 15 TDs, 3 interceptions; 205 rushing yards, 2 TDs); receiver Dylan Regala (40-382, 3 TDs receiving; 59 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 1 kick return TD); and running back Cooper Jones (322 rushing yards, 3 TDs). The defense is led by linebacker Bo Kates (123 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery); linebacker Cooper Hill (101 tackles, 13 for loss, 4 sacks); linebacker Carter Nelson (73 tackles, 5 for loss); safety Brody Martin (35 tackles, 1 interception); defensive lineman Jayden Naemi (43 tackles, 2 for loss); and Ruffin (14 tackles, 2 interceptions) in the secondary.

“Wylie is Wylie, they’re going to be solid at every position,” Brixey said. “Their kids are going to play hard and be well-coached and they’re not going to beat themselves. So how do you beat a team whose kids are good football players, they play hard and are well coached? You have to have kids who are good football players, they play hard and are well coached and you push your kids to where maybe they play a little harder than them, and do things a little more right than them, that’s where you find the win. Winning is found in the margins by doing the things that other people maybe aren’t doing, or that you can do a little better.”

Offensively, the Lions enter the season with only four starters returning – linemen Jackson Rainey and Rylan Martin, running back Trent Buffington (775 rushing yards, 9 TDs), and receiver Conner Cornelius (23-375, 5 TDs). Riggs Gray takes over at quarterback; Layton Greer, Bowen Slack, Judah Lee and Julio Fletes will see time on the line; Brody Bolton, KeShaun White, Rush Tharp, Sirr Beam and Aiden Jimenez will see snaps at receiver; Isaac Gonzales and Hudson Fry will share duties at fullback; and Garrett Wilkerson and Jack Bauchman will man the tight end positions.

“We’ve got to see our offensive line execute, see what they’re supposed to see and put themselves in position with their footwork and their bodies to block and do a good job,” Brixey said. “Our kids are good enough if we get a body on a body we’re going to be OK. It’s just making sure assignment-wise we are doing what we need to do and are seeing what we need to see. Things that gave us fits last year, I think we’re farther along this year with our offensive line that I think we’ll be able to handle some of that stuff better and have a better showing than what we had a year ago.

“As far as our passing game, we just need to be patient. Riggs is coming along and really doing a good job and not pressing and not trying to do too much. Basically take what you’re supposed to take, see what you’re supposed to see, go through your progressions and go where your read tells you to go with the football.

Our running backs are going to have to run hard and take care of the football, so if we don’t turn the ball over and we don’t get dumb penalties we’ll put ourselves in a good position.”

The defensive side of the ball boasts the most experience for the Lions with ends Christian Gray (63 tackles, 11 for loss, 10 sacks) and Hayden Fulkersin (14.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 2.5 sacks), along with tackle Maddox Mendoza  (12 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack) all returning, along with linebacker Isaac Gonzales (86 tackles, 9 for loss, 5.5 sacks). Meanwhile, Wyatt Wolf (91.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 interceptions), Sirr Beam (39 tackles, 1 for loss, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery), Nick Rodriguez (39 tackles, 1 for loss, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery), and Aiden Jimenez (14 tackles) saw significant time in the secondary in 2025. Newcomers include Hudson Fry at inside linebacker and Hudson Deen at the joker position, and Hutton Malone rounds out the secondary as a safety.

“Defensively we’re going to have to cover and we’re going to have to tackle when people throw the ball,” Brixey said. “Wylie is throwing the ball a little more than they did a year ago. A year ago they had a big back and just tried to pound the ball with him. This year they’re trying to open it up a little bit more. They also have some young kids on offense like us that have played a little bit. When people throw the ball all the time you can get them in some long yardage situations, but then you have to be able to get out of those long yardage situations. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

While a season-opening victory would certainly be welcomed, Brixey cautioned the result of Friday’s contest – whatever it may be – shouldn’t have a bearing of the rest of the Lions’ season.

“A win would be good for our confidence, but I don’t want us to come out with a win and think that we’re world beaters,” Brixey said. “Winning this game is important, but getting better is what we’re really looking for. I don’t believe if you win this one it somehow vindicates you. You can stop and enjoy the wins when the season’s over. If you win a game and you’re walking off the field beating your chest, that can hurt you just as much as anything. You have to walk off that field regardless of how it goes and get back to work, especially when you play the people we play in our non-district schedule. You may have had the biggest win of your life, but unless it’s in the state championship game, you better get your mind on the next game. Living in the past and basking in the sun of that victory can cost you the next game. If we play well and win the game, we’ll enjoy it for about eight hours, then we’re going to move on and get ready for the next one. That will be our mentality until we’re done.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, the Lions are 8-point underdogs, while Dave Campbell’s Texas Football favors Wylie by 7 points.