Article by Greg Jaklewicz
Watch The Game @WylieBulldogProductions
A Clash of Firepower and Defense
A team that scored 70 points last week takes on a team that has given up two touchdowns in three games this week in Stephenville.
The Wylie Bulldogs and Stephenville Yellow Jackets continue a series that most recently has been dominated by the home team, one of the best programs in Class 4A, Division 1.
The unbeaten Jackets, ranked No. 4 in the state by Dave Campbells’ Texas Football, are host to the Bulldogs at brand-new Art Briles Stadium. It’s the second game at the new facility; Stephenville blanked Everman 45-0 on opening night two weeks ago.
The stadium seats 7,500. It’s the first true home field for the school, which has played at other stadiums, including Tarleton State University’s home field, over the years.
The teams are playing on a homecoming again, and it’s the visitor who comes out on top the past four years.
The Yellow Jackets were not a football powerhouse until Briles arrived. His tenure, which included four state titles, changed everything.
During the Wylie vs. Stephenville series, Stephenville has won two state championships, lost twice in the state semifinals and captured six district titles.
The Yellows ran the table in 2021, going 16-0. They downed Austin LBJ 38-21 to win the Division I title.
In 2012, Stephenville (15-1) won 15 straight games en route to the 3A, Division I championship, pounding El Campo 70-35 in the finale.
Stephenville moved to Class 4A, Division 1 in 2014, when the UIL added the Class 6A division.
The Jackets were 2-3 in 2013, when they fell 44-6 to Kilgore in the Class 3A, Division 1 finals, and 12-3 in 2017, losing 33-20 to Kennedale in the semis.
And so, Wylie is facing a major challenge in its final game before beginning district play.
A lot to like last week
There wasn’t much that Wylie coach Clay Martin could complain about after last week’s 70-14 blowout win over Lubbock Coronado to cap 2025 homecoming activities.
Every player on Wylie’s lengthy roster got into the game. And, for most, not just mop-up duty. For example, backup quarterback Jonah Holmes played the entire second half, handing the football to what looks to be a deep group of running backs. He threw only once but engineered his team effectively.
“Getting to play is always exciting but those guys went in and played hard and executed, to a person. That says a lot about the buy-in for this team,” Martin said. “I was just proud that everyone, when they got their opportunity, went in and did the best they could.”
Senior starting running back Julius Laine scored three times and ran for 88 yards before giving way to junior Cooper Jones, who ran for a career-high 128 yards. In fact, that equaled the 128 yards by Laine in Game 1.
Quarterback Jardin Karleskint threw for his first two touchdown passes of the season. Both went to Blaze Ruffin.
Wylie played again without offensive threat Dylan Regala, but senior Wyatt Kidman played well again with some key catches. When Regala returns from an injury, having Kidman will make the Bulldogs more of a passing threat.
Defensively, Wylie gave up just 156 yards, 98 of that on two pass plays to the Mustangs’ talented wide receiver Campbell Stanek.
The Bulldogs D was dominant all night, even when Martin took out his starters.
What Martin liked most
Fast start. Wylie scored 24 points – 15 before Coronado ran a play. For the second time in three games, the Bulldogs scored on their first possession.
Special teams gamble. The short kickoff after scoring was something coaches believed Coronado’s return alignment would allow.
Line play. Offensive and defensive lines established control, something that was missing in the loss at Monterey.
Epic drive. A 17-play march that lasted a full quarter before ending in victory formation.
“It would make the game a lot shorter,” Martin joked. “Be eating pizza a lot quicker.”
Scouting Stephenville
Stephenville rides tradition into every season. Fans expect big things from the Yellow Jackets.
“We’ve had some epic games against them over the years,” Martin said. One was the 2022 game in which 105 points were scored as Stephenville won 56-49 at Wylie.
“They are good year-in and year-out,” he said. “It’s a great pre-district game for us. They do a lot of things that can expose you if you don’t execute.”
Defense leads the way
Lineman Kolton Dearth (6-3, 315) and linebacker Hunter Butchee (6-2, 220, 161 tackles, 10.5 sacks) headline a defense with 10 returning starters.
Other standouts include Nolan Griswold, C.J. Spellmeier, and Caleb Taylor.
Offense with options
RB Zyler McClendon: 78, 210, and 89 yards rushing in three wins.
QB Trot Jordan: 213 yards and 3 TDs in opener; 6 TD passes vs. Godley.
WR Hud Price: 100 yards and 3 TDs in Everman game.
“You have to defend a lot of things when you play a Stephenville football team," Martin said.
Series scores
Wylie and Stephenville first played in 2010. The Yellow Jackets have won nine of 13 games, including six of the last seven.
2024: Stephenville 49, Wylie 27
2023: Wylie 41, Stephenville 32
2022: Stephenville 56, Wylie 49
2021: Stephenville 37, Wylie 7
2020: DNP
2019: Stephenville 34, Wylie 0
2018: Stephenville 41, Wylie 28
2017: Stephenville 33, Wylie 20
2016: Wylie 44, Stephenville 3
2015: Wylie 24, Stephenville 14
2014: Wylie 21, Stephenville 7
2013: DNP
2012: Stephenville 59, Wylie 28
2011: Stephenville 42, Wylie 14
2010: Stephenville 33, Wylie 21
Dawg bites
Stephenville’s new stadium is named for Briles, who coached there from 1988-99 and won four state titles.
Coronado once had Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson, whose offense put up 70+ points multiple times in 2020.
High school football now has a two-minute timeout, similar to the NFL’s two-minute warning.
Wylie AD Mike Fecci shared the Bulldogs finished No. 24 in the Lone Star Cup, the district’s first top-25 finish in 5A. Stephenville finished No. 21 in 4A.
Cooper Jones finished with 99 rushing yards against Coronado – he wasn’t put back in just to get 100.
District 2-5A standings
Non-district
Team | W | L | Pts. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WF Memorial | 3 | 0 | 106 | 68 |
Wylie | 2 | 1 | 116 | 38 |
Am. Palo Duro | 2 | 1 | 83 | 17 |
Lub-Cooper | 2 | 1 | 100 | 63 |
Plainview | 2 | 1 | 113 | 124 |
Ab. Cooper | 1 | 2 | 97 | 99 |
WF Legacy | 1 | 2 | 45 | 136 |
Week 3 results
Wylie 70, Lubbock Coronado 14
Amarillo Palo Duro 35, Canyon 7
San Angelo Central 40, Abilene Cooper 35
Lubbock-Cooper 20, Amarillo Tascosa 14
Plainview 41, Hereford 39
Frenship 61, Wichita Falls Legacy 14
Wichita Falls Memorial 37, Fort Worth Dunbar 20
Week 4 schedule
Friday
Wylie at Stephenville
Amarillo Palo Duro vs. Amarillo High
Lubbock Coronado at Abilene Cooper
Lubbock-Cooper at Frenship
Plainview at Dumas
Randall at WF Legacy
WF Memorial at Andrews