Sports

Firing buckshot from the outset, Stephon “Buck” Townsend dashed untouched 82-yards with the opening kickoff to trigger a 35-point first quarter and Ennis went on to thump Crandall, 54-9.

Big 5 football in Eastern Ellis County nears a sweet encore, with all five teams qualifying for the playoffs for a second consecutive season. But it requires some wins this week to punch their ticket. Here are the stories for the quintet.

A year ago his season ended with a broken leg at the Ford Center’s The Star in Frisco. After rehab and overcoming with a great off-season, senior Payton Chapman was the star on Friday at Lion Memorial Stadium.

Italy won their fourth game in a row, 28-14, over Dawson (6-4, 3-2), but still need to beat Marlin to clinch the District 8-2A championship in HC Craig Horn’s third year.

Making a living with a ball-control ground game and a bend-but-don’t-break defense, Ferris (5-3) outlasted Venus, 44-26, last Friday in Bricktown. It was the team’s fourth win in five games.

On a crisp, full moon night No. 1 ranked Ennis rode roughshod through a good but out-manned Royse City (2- 2) team, 71-18, in the first District 8-5A zone game for each. Ennis, now 4-0, tore a paper-doll like defense for seven touchdowns on seven possessions to build a 43-18 halftime lead.