Three East Texas football games are scheduled for Thursday, October 21, 2026, including Brook Hill's pursuit of an extended undefeated streak in Bullard, and critical district contests for Van and Brownsboro.
Brook Hill (8-0, 2-0) will host Arlington Grace Prep (4-3, 1-1) at 7 p.m. at Young Field at Herrington Stadium, located at 22450 FM 2493 (Old Jacksonville Hwy.) in Bullard. Brook Hill enters the game after a decisive 64-8 victory over Grace Community last week, while Arlington Grace Prep secured a 37-7 win against Bishop Dunne.
Brook Hill has significantly outscored its opponents 406-105 this season, in contrast to Arlington Grace Prep, which holds a 168-166 scoring advantage over its opponents. The Guard offense is led by quarterback Zac Ryle, who has completed 93 of 130 passes for 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns, alongside 466 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on 48 carries. Running back Paul-Antoine Lapointe has contributed 1,207 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 100 carries. Defensively, George Cameron III has recorded 6 interceptions, 35 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
For Arlington Grace Prep, running back Noah Bonjour has rushed for 707 yards and 8 touchdowns on 88 carries. Quarterback Carson Lednicky has thrown for 812 yards and 5 touchdowns on 54 completions from 124 attempts. Wide receiver Carter Smith leads the team with 445 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns on 17 catches.
Historically, Brook Hill holds a 3-1 record against Grace Prep over the last three seasons, including a 47-21 win last season. Both teams have previously played Grace Community; Brook Hill defeated them 64-28 after the game was tied 14-14, while Arlington Grace Prep lost to Grace Community 39-21. Following this game, Brook Hill will travel to Dallas Bishop Dunne, and Arlington Grace Prep will host McKinney Christian.
In a district matchup, Brownsboro (3-4, 0-2) will visit Van (3-4, 0-2) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Van Memorial Stadium, located at 1085 N. Maple, Van. Both teams are seeking their first district victory of the season. Van has historically dominated the series, with a 36-15 record against Brownsboro, including winning the last 17 consecutive meetings. Last season, Van secured a 57-18 victory over Brownsboro.
Last week, Brownsboro suffered a 55-0 loss to Canton, and Van was defeated 49-7 by Madisonville. This season, Van has outscored its opponents 248-246, while Brownsboro has been outscored 258-141. Van's offense features quarterback Rawly Hinch, who has passed for 1,343 yards and 8 touchdowns on 97 of 156 completions, along with 848 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 96 carries. Running back and defensive back Parker Rainey has added 672 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 79 carries, along with 250 receiving yards on 8 catches. Brownsboro's key players include quarterback Lane Irwin, running back Aiden Mitchem, and wide receiver Brayden Pinnell. Next week, Brownsboro will play at Rusk, and Van will be at Athens.
In Center, the Roughriders will host Gilmer at 6:30 p.m. at Roughrider Stadium, 685 Roughrider Drive. Center is looking for its first win of the season. Gilmer, coming off a 58-56 loss to Pittsburg last week, faces Center, which lost 42-7 to Pleasant Grove.
Gilmer has outscored opponents 344-284 this season, posting high scores of 54, 64, 48, 49, and 33 points in its five wins. Center has been outscored 261-94. Gilmer's offense is led by Zade Taylor, who has recorded 764 passing yards and 7 touchdowns on 54 of 85 completions, alongside 971 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 88 carries. Running back Tayveon Horne has accumulated 928 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 137 carries.
For Center, Joseph Mitchell has thrown for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 of 47 completions, and rushed for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns, in addition to securing 4 interceptions on defense. Easton Wulf has contributed with 122 of 49, 233 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception through the air, and 110 rushing yards with 3 touchdowns. Zy Villegas has carried the ball 62 times for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Gilmer has a notable playoff history, reaching the postseason in each of the last 25 seasons, including a Class 4A Division II state title in 2023. Center has also made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. The two teams have met five times in the playoffs, with Gilmer winning all contests, including a 20-14 victory in a Class 4A Division II first-round game in 2024 and a 69-42 win in the 2023 first round. Looking ahead, Gilmer will host Carthage, and Center will host Pittsburg.
