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Bryson Cowboys dealing with injuries before district

Mon, 10/15/2018 - 3:00 pm
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    Marcos Espoinoza (21) carries the ball during last Friday’s loss to Crowell at Cowboy Stadium with Taylor Tyson (27). Espinoza is one of many Bryson players who have gotten many reps lately due to injuries. The Cowboys are coming off a bye Friday and host Saint Jo in district opener on Oct.19. Leader photo by Travis Martinez
sports@grahamleader.com

Injuries are causing a havoc on the Bryson Cowboys season thus far as the team heads into district.

The Cowboys struggled in the second half Friday falling to a talented Crowell team 79-31. The Cowboys trailed just 32-31 at intermission before being outscored 35-0 in the third quarter to fall in their final non-district contest.

Head coach Jason Briles challenged his young team by facing one of the most difficult schedules in six-man. Bryson’s 2018 non-district schedule was filled with talented teams. The six teams the Cowboys faced in the early portion of the schedule averaged eight wins in 2017.

“Absolutely our schedule gets easier,” Briles said. “We have been through a gauntlet and we schedule that way for a reason so that they are prepared mentally and physically for the games that matter. However, you hope to avoid injuries but sometimes it’s unavoidable no matter who the competition is.”

The Cowboys began the season with 25 players but due to the rash of injuries, the squad is down to just nine available.

In the defeat last Friday, Bryson fumbled the ball 12 times, losing four, while the Wildcats fumbled just once. The Cowboys didn’t record their first first down of the second half until the game clock was under a minute left in the third quarter.

Crowell (5-1) was led by Michael Reeves’ 150 yards on the ground while Harley Hammond led Bryson (2-4) with 98 yards on nine carries. Dillon Orr hauled in three catches for 60 yards. Hammond is one of the playmakers Bryson has leaned heavily on in the early portion of the schedule with a team-high 514 yards rushing and six TDs. The Cowboys are in the mi...

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