By JONATHAN HULL
Sports Editor
COAHOMA — To say the Ballinger Bearcats simply have the Coahoma Bulldogs number on the gridiron might be an understatement.

The Bearcats (2-4, 0-1) and Bulldogs (3-3, 0-1) face off at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ballinger with each squad still looking for its first win of the District 7-2A season.

Based on recent results, that could be a daunting task for the Bulldogs. Coahoma and Ballinger have played five times since 2005 with the Bearcats winning each matchup decisively. The closest deficit for Coahoma in those games was 15 points. The average margin of victory for Ballinger is 36-12.

In fact, the Bulldogs haven't registered a win over Ballinger since 1979, despite having played the Bearcats 13 times since that victory.

However, Ballinger, which went undefeated in the district last season, is finding it difficult to slow down its opponents so far this season. The Bearcats are fresh off a 49-22 loss to Wall last week. Wall was able to rush for more than 300 yards against Ballinger, which has been a common theme for the Bearcats' opposition this season.

Ballinger has given up 2,000 yards rushing through six games — an average of 333.3 yards a game. Offenses have averaged nearly 9 yards per carry against the Bearcats.

That's welcome news to a Coahoma team that has struggled to develop its ground game. In last week's 37-26 loss to Jim Ned, Coahoma managed just nine yards rushing on 16 carries.

The passing game is working for Coahoma, though, behind the strong arm of senior Josh Paniagua. Paniagua has passed for 1,445 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions.

He's racked up most of his yards by throwing to wide receivers Ray Gutierrez and Lupe Abrego, who each have more than 400 yards receiving.

Ballinger is also led by its quarterback. Junior A.J. Keesee, who is the son of Head Coach Aaron Keesee, had completed more than 60 percent of his passes for 1,554 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. Keesee has also rushed for 210 yards and three more touchdowns.

Keesee's favorite target has been fellow junior Spencer Ryan, who has 486 yards and seven touchdowns on 27 receptions.