Breckenridge Texan

By Brant Thurmond/Breckenridge Texan

In 2024, the Tolar Rattlers played spoiler for the Breckenridge High School homecoming game, handing them a 42-6 loss, and in this year’s matchup on Friday, Sept. 26, the Buckaroos returned the favor, winning 19-12 in Tolar’s homecoming game.

With the win, the Buckaroos improved to 2-3 overall heading into the open week prior to the start of district play on Oct. 10. Friday night’s game closed out the non-district portion of the 2025 season Friday.

Buckaroo wide receiver Ryan Waller evades the Tolar defense in Friday night’s game. Click here to see more pictures from the game. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The Bucks now have a two-game winning streak for the first time since 2023 when they started the season 5-0.

The momentum the Bucks are establishing was one of the many high points in Friday’s game against the Rattlers for head coach Casey Pearce.

“It’s not a 3-2 start, but it’s a start in the right direction,” Pearce said. “Nobody is going to give us a shot in the district race, so we are going to have to go prove to people again that we are a contender. This football team is a different football team than we have had. They are hungry, and it means something to show up on Fridays.”

The district race will not be easy by any means for the Buckaroos with Sweetwater, Jim Ned, Comanche, Clyde and San Angelo TLCA being the district opponents.

“(District) 3-3A are not slouches and we are not a slouch, so we fit right in with that crowd,” Pearce said. “Let’s see what we can go do. Let’s see if we can go play for a gold football. You got to do it one week at a time and you can’t think about anything else. We got to worry about us and we got to worry about Clyde. That’s it.

“You can’t look down the road or assume somebody’s going to beat somebody,” he continued. “We got to go take care of our piece. That’s playing our rear end off in Clyde, Texas. It’s going to be tough, but I’ll take this group wherever we need to go.”

Joseph Juneau, one of Breckenridge’s three quarterbacks, prepares to throw the ball in the Tolar Rattlers Stadium on Sept. 26. Two of the game’s touchdowns were passes from Juneau to Ryan Waller. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

In Friday’s game against the Rattlers, it was the Buckaroo defense once again that held its own against a Tolar team that has averaged 22 points per game and scored 33 points the week prior in a loss to District 3-3A foe Comanche.

“When you can get four and outs, that’s like getting a shutout. You don’t get many of those opportunities this day and time,” Pearce said. “I’m proud of those dudes’ effort, and I’m proud of the way they are coming on. We gave up a few balls down the field early…you know gave them a chance, but for us to come down here and stop their running attack was a big deal. The energy we are playing with is different. So much different.”

Offensively, the Buckaroos leaned on the offensive line to create some running lanes for the running backs, which they did with a high level of efficiency most of the game.

“Being able to run the football with these dudes, it means something,” Pearce said. “That offensive line, those eight dudes are coming together. It’s been different every week and it’s continued to improve.”

The opening drive for the Buckaroos in Friday’s game ended in a punt.

Tolar moved the ball deep into Buckaroo territory to the eight-yard line, but the Buckaroo defense held strong with a sack by Ryan Waller on second down. Two plays later, Waller came away with an interception to end the Rattlers’ opening drive.

A fumble was the result of the ensuing Buckaroo drive after a 15-yard gain by Jaime Cruz, and on the first play of the next Tolar possession, Britton Rice connected with Noah Boulanger for a 47-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was no good, making the score 6-0 with 3:01 remaining in the first quarter.

Three plays into the next Buckaroo possession, Boulanger intercepted a pass from Buckaroo quarterback Joseph Juneau and returned it to the Bucks’ three-yard line.

The Rattlers attempted a 29-yard field goal, but the kick was no good as the Buckaroo defense came away with another stop.

In Friday night’s game against the Tolar Rattlers, Buckaroo running back Jaime Cruz, pictured above, accounted for 30 of the 88 yards rushing the ball and broke free for a nine yard-run and a 21-yard run on consecutive plays. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Breckenridge answered with an 11-play 80-yard touchdown drive that took 5:49 off the second quarter clock as Juneau connected with Waller on a 28-yard touchdown pass. Josiah Acosta connected on the PAT, giving the Bucks a 7-6 lead with 6:11 left in the second quarter.

The score remained 7-6 at halftime as neither team scored in the final 6:11.

Both teams were forced to punt on their opening drives of the third quarter, before Tolar put together a 10-play 65-yard drive that was aided by three facemask penalties on the Buckaroos and capped off with a two-yard touchdown run by Cayden Abrego. The two-point conversion was no good, giving the Rattlers a 12-7 lead with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter.

Another interception by Tolar was the result of the ensuing Buckaroo drive, but the defense came away with another stop on fourth down.

Following the defensive stop, the Bucks moved the ball 88 yards in nine plays on a drive that saw Juneau connect with Waller on a 40-yard pass and an 11-yard pass in back-to-back plays.

Cruz accounted for 30 of the 88 yards rushing the ball and broke free for a nine yard-run and a 21-yard run on consecutive plays.

Juneau found Waller once again in the endzone for a six-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was no good, giving the Bucks a 13-12 lead with 6:19 left in the fourth quarter.

The Buckaroo defense forced a punt after just three plays and was forced to punt, as well, following the same result.

However, Tolar was unable to field the punt cleanly and muffed the punt, allowing Gunnar Pearce to recover.

Two plays and 10 yards later, Hayden Mendoza ran into the endzone for a six-yard touchdown run. The PAT by Acosta was no good, making the score 19-12 with 2:45 left in the game.

The Rattlers picked up only 12 yards (on first play) on the next drive as the Buckaroo defense forced three straight incomplete pass attempts and Glen Thibodeaux sacked the Rattler quarterback on fourth down.

With 1:56 remaining in the game, the Bucks were unable to pick up a first down, giving the ball back to Tolar with one minute and no timeouts remaining to go 93 yards to possibly tie the game.

The Buckaroo defense dug their heels in the ground once again and did not allow the Rattlers to move the ball in a positive direction, ensuring the win for Breckenridge.

Click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery from the game in Tolar.

District 3-3A Results

*District Opponent in Bold

Jim Ned (4-1) 48
Holliday (4-1) 20

Comanche (3-2) 34
Early (1-4) 7

Clyde (4-1) 54
Muleshoe (2-3) 49

Wall (5-0) 35
Sweetwater (1-4) 0

Merkel (4-1) 58
San Angelo TLCA (0-5) 12

Oct. 3 Matchups

• San Angelo TLCA vs San Angelo Grape Creek

* All remaining district teams are open on Oct. 3.

Oct. 11 District 3-3A Matchups

• Breck at Clyde
• Sweetwater at San Angelo TLCA
• Comanche at Jim Ned

The Pride of Breckenridge – Buckaroo Marching Band and the color guard entertained the crowd during halftime in the Tolar Rattlers Stadium Friday night. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Breckenridge head football coach Casey Pearce gets a congratulatory hug from his wife, Monica Pearce, after the win Friday night in Tolar. Monica is the assistant principal at Breckenridge Junior High School. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Hayden Mendoza, Buckaroo running back, jumps over a Tolar Rattler in Friday night’s game. Mendoza scored the final touchdown of the night with a six-yard touchdown run. Click here to see more photos from the game. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Click here to see more news on the 2025 Buckaroo football season