Friendswood quarterback Josh Brister threw three touchdown passes and the Mustangs defense smothered Texas City in a 31-6 Week 1 victory Friday, Aug. 28, at Henry Winston Stadium.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak in the Galveston County rivalry and improved Friendswood to 13-11 all-time against the Stings, The Daily News reported. The two programs had not met since the 2023 season.

Sophomore receiver Jackson Owens set the tone. Late in the first quarter, Owens laid out for a diving 43-yard catch along the sideline to spark Friendswood's first scoring drive. Brister found him moments later on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left in the quarter for a 7-0 lead.

"Yeah, he's a young buck, he's a sophomore, but that play didn't surprise me because that's just kind of how he is," head coach Jordan Johnson said of Owens.

The Mustangs kept building in the second quarter. Kicker Noah Clegg hit a 20-yard field goal after receiver Austin Cain hauled in a 31-yard catch over the middle. A botched Texas City punt snap then handed Friendswood the ball at the Stings' 2-yard line. Running back Tripp Bateman punched it in on the next play for a 17-0 halftime lead.

Brister stretched the margin in the third quarter with a 12-yard scoring strike to Nate Roher, capping a nine-play, 72-yard drive. He added a 22-yard touchdown to Peyton Lowe to make it 31-0 with 2:49 left in the period. Brister finished 14-of-29 for 210 yards.

Texas City running back Rashod Henry broke the shutout with a 64-yard touchdown run. Henry carried 16 times for 147 yards and later set up the Stings inside the Friendswood 10, but the Mustangs defense held on a turnover on downs. Defensive lineman Judson Stephens recorded a sack and a fumble recovery.

Johnson said the performance reflected weeks of preparation, noting he was pleased with how practice habits translated to the field.

The season opener also offered a preview of a tougher road ahead. Friendswood's new District 11-5A-I includes Richmond Randle and Iowa Colony, two programs that met in the Region III-5A-II championship game each of the past two seasons, according to a Daily News preview. The Mustangs host Iowa Colony in Week 6 and Randle in the regular-season finale.

Friendswood hosts crosstown rival Clear Brook at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Henry Winston Stadium.