By Rob Tate
SportCast Media
Nederland (3-1, 1-0) at Dayton (2-2, 0-1)
The details: 7 p.m. Friday, Bronco Stadium
History: This will be the 14th meeting between the Broncos and the Bulldogs since 2004. Nederland has won six of the last seven meetings, including a 34-30 result last year. Dayton beat the Bulldogs in 2022.
Key player for Nederland: Senior linebacker Albert Simon has been a force for the Bulldogs. Over the summer, Simon committed to North Texas. He had 127 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior.
Key player for Dayton: Senior defensive back Aaron Wright had a massive effort in Friday’s game at Montgomery. Wright made 18 tackles (13 solo) and broke up four passes. A bonus Bronco player to watch is senior defensive back Ashanti Allen, who broke up three passes against Montgomery and made 11 tackles (seven solo).
Stat attack: Junior linebacker Merkle Judge has had his head on a swivel and has accumulated 68 tackles in four games. Judge has 12 tackles for loss and five sacks on the year. He also intercepted that late pass against Crosby to seal the win in Week 1.
Notables: Dayton returns home after three straight road games and the bye week in September … Home has already been good to the Broncos after beating Crosby there in Week 1 … Dayton trailed by just six points heading into the fourth quarter with Montgomery last Friday in the District 8-5A Division II opener before the Bears scored four unanswered touchdowns … Three Broncos split time at quarterback as starter Jerry Prieto Jr exited the game at halftime with an injury … Nederland punished Splendora 63-12 Friday night to open district play … The Bulldogs scored four touchdowns in the first quarter … In Nederland’s three wins this season (Lumberton, West Orange-Stark, Splendora), it has allowed just 26 points, including a shutout of Lumberton in Week 1 … The Bulldogs’ lone loss came against 4-1 Silsbee in Week 3.
DISTRICT 8-5 DIVISION II STANDINGS
Team, District Record (Overall Record)
Huntsville, 1-0 (3-1)
Nederland, 1-0 (3-1)
Montgomery, 1-0 (4-0)
Port Neches-Groves, 1-0 (4-0)
West Fork, 0-1 (1-3)
Dayton, 0-1 (2-2)
Lake Creek, 0-1 (2-2)
Splendora, 0-1 (2-2)
