It is not often to have one of Louisiana's top teams face against a top team from Texas in football.
Ruston once again travels to Texas as it heads to Longview to face Stephenville in another neutral-site game.
The Bearcats are 4-0 and currently sit as the No. 2 team in the Sporting News Louisiana Top 25. The Yellow Jackets are the No. 25 team in the Sporting News Texas Top 25.
Last year, Ruston defeated the Yellow Jackets, 63-17, in Ruston.
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STEPHENVILLE 28, RUSTON 12 FINAL
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POSTGAME
Ruston came close to earning its third straight win against a Texas high school football team in as many weeks, but Stephenville avenged its 63-17 loss last season to stay unbeaten.
Stephenville shut the Bearcats out in the first half and did not allow them to get in the end zone until late in the fourth quarter.
Stephenville has a bye week next week before traveling to Marble Falls in district play. Ruston opens District 2-5A play against Ouachita Parish for its first in-state game since Week 1.
FOURTH QUARTER
-TOUCHDOWN RUSTON. The Bearcats are not going away as Hartwell hits Dalen Powell for a short touchdown pass. The extra point is no good. (Stephenville, 28-12).
-TOUCHDOWN STEPHENVILLE. Stephenville stops Ruston on the following drive and then goes on a methodical drive. McClendon runs it in from a yard out and the Yellow Jackets are 3:43 away from winning this game. (Stephenville, 28-6).
-TOUCHDOWN STEPHENVILLE. The Yellow Jackets answer though as Trenton Dennis takes the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Ruston 25. On the next play, Zyler McClendon runs for the 25-yard touchdown with the extra point being good. 9:06 left. (Stephenville, 21-6).
-FIELD GOAL RUSTON. Ruston forces Stephenville to punt again and Hartwell hits Josiah Morgan on a 40-yard pass to get to the red zone. The Yellow Jacket defense prevents another touchdown, but Ramos boots a 24-yard field goal to make it a one-score game with 9:22 left. (Stephenville, 14-6).
THIRD QUARTER
-FIELD GOAL RUSTON. Ruston forces the Yellow Jackets to punt and start going a bit up-tempo on offense. The faster pace works as the Bearcats finally get on the board with a Joaquin Ramos 32-yard field goal with 1:53 left in the 3rd. (Stephenville, 14-3).
-Stephenville senior Cash Kribbs intercepts Ruston quarterback Sam Hartwell on the Yellow Jacket 30 to end the Bearcats' first drive of the second half.
-The defensive battle continues with Stephenville punting on its first drive to to Ruston 24.
SECOND QUARTER
-TOUCHDOWN STEPHENVILLE. Jordan throws his second touchdown pass of the night -- a 22-yard pass to Brighton DeVivo -- to give the Yellow Jackets a two-score lead before the half. (Stephenville, 14-0).
-The Yellow Jackets have done a solid job keeping Ruston's offense at bay, despite the Bearcats getting good field position.
-Stephenville punts after its goal line stand, but Ruston has to punt right back -- pinning the Yellow Jackets on their one-yard line.
FIRST QUARTER
-Ruston's ensuing drive takes it to the Yellow Jacket one-yard line, but the Yellow Jackets hold on a goal line stand to preserve the lead.
-Stehpenville threatens to make it a two-possession game, but Bearcat linebacker Keilan Davis intercepts a pass on the Ruston two-yard line.
-TOUCHDOWN STEPHENVILLE. On Ruston's second drive, Dalen Powell fumbles on the Bearcat 19 to give Stephenville great field position. One play later, Yellow Jacket quarterback Trot Jordan found Jhett Banuelos for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The extra point is good. (Stephenville, 7-0).
-Both teams open the game trading three-and-outs. The Yellow Jackets sack Ruston quarterback Sam Hartwell to force a punt, while the Bearcat defense returns the favor.
PREGAME
- Ruston tight end Ahmad Hudson, the top 2027 tight end in Louisiana, is not playing in tonight's game.
- Live from Stephenville, Texas, as Ruston takes its second trip to Texas this season to face Stephenville in a matchup of top ranked teams from Louisiana and Texas.
ABOUT RUSTON (4-0)
The Bearcats have participated in the last three LHSAA Prep Classics -- winning the Division I non-select title in 2023.
Ruston improved to 4-0 last week after a 49-21 win against Midland Legacy (Texas). Bearcat senior running back Dalen Powell has been a consistent force in his first four starts -- rushing for 176 yards and two touchdowns last week. For the season, Powell has ran for 686 yards and eight touchdowns.
ABOUT STEPHENVILLE (5-0)
Stephenville is off to a 5-0 start after defeating Waco La Vega, 64-28, last week.
The Yellow Jackets are led by junior quarterback Trot Jordan, who has passed for 996 yards and 13 touchdowns. Zyler McClendon leads the running game with 664 yards and nine touchdowns.
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