Football Recap: Easton Malone's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Merkel over Hawley

Merkel lost against Hawley back in September of 2024, and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Friday. The Badgers received a blow as they fell 51-34 to the Bearcats. While losing is never fun, the Badgers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 832nd, while the Bearcats are ranked 374th).

Several Badgers players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Easton Malone, who rushed for 88 yards and one score, and also threw for 163 yards and a pair of TDs. Malone also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, picking up a sack and making 11 total tackles.

Having lost for the first time this season, Merkel fell to 2-1. As for Hawley, they now also have a winning record of 2-1.

Merkel didn't take long to hit the field again: they've already played their next match, a 66-6 victory against Cross Plains on the 19th. As for Hawley, they have also already played their next contest, a 52-34 loss against De Leon on the 19th.