Week 11 Concho Valley HS Football Preview

SAN ANGELO, TX — It feels like high school football just started, but the final week of the 2019 regular season is already upon us, and boy will it be a good one.   Christoval and Eldorado’s heavyweight bout for the district championship highlights the schedule. Those two are a combined 17-1 and have been on a collision course for each other all season.

SA Central is also gearing up for its most important game of the year against Haltom in what is a play-in game for the playoffs.  Win and you’re in. Lose and you’re season is over. In addition to those two games, Sonora, Lake View, and a couple others are playing for important playoff seeding.  No one wants to make the playoffs and play an undefeated #1 seed in the first round.

Mason and Wall would both secure sole district championships with wins this week, too, so there is a lot to get excited for.  Click here for every district’s standings going into the week and here for last Friday’s scores.

SA Central 5-4 at Haltom 4-5 (Friday at 7:00, Birdville ISD Complex)

Haltom edged out LD Bell last Friday to keep their postseason hopes alive thanks to a late touchdown run by quarterback Adam Hill.  The win was the Buffalos’ second in the district and enables them to challenge Central and Weatherford for the final playoff spot.  The Kangaroos are also 2-3 and play last place Bell this week.  All three teams could finish 3-3, so in order to avoid the possibility of being the odd man out, Central must win.  If they win, then they are guaranteed to finish third in the district.

Lake View 3-6 at Big Spring 1-8 (Friday at 7:00, Memorial Stadium)

This may be the Chiefs’ best chance at victory since getting their last win seven weeks ago.  Big Spring (1-8, 0-2) does not have an impressive record, but they have had a very challenging schedule.  The Steers have played three still undefeated teams, #4 Midland Greenwood, #2 Wall, and #5 Dumas, and the other six have a combined record of 31-23.  If they had been able to win a couple of those games, then they would seem like more of a threat, but they have not been competitive hardly at all. They allow opposing offenses to score 42 points per game while scoring only 9 themselves.  Their tightest margin of defeat was 25-6 against 5-4 Pecos.

Lake View will still make the playoffs regardless, but a win before they start could give the Chiefs enough momentum at the right time to make a postseason run.  A win or loss would also be the difference between a third and fourth place finish in the district, a distinction that has playoff matchup implications.

Wall 9-0 vs. Early 3-6 (Friday at 7:30, Hawk Stadium)

Wall will be chasing regular season perfection and sole possession of the district championship against last place Early this week.  The Hawks escaped from Breckenridge with a 20-6 win behind solid efforts from backups.  QB Drew Morrison stepped in for an injured Mason Fuchs and performed well.  The junior ran for 79 yards and a touchdown.  He also distributed the ball well in Houston Guy’s option offense.  Six different backs combined for 206 yards, Bryson Ballard led them with 56. 

All three touchdowns were scored by defensive players that were moved to offense because of injuries, DB Colton Diebitsch, LB Drew Morrison, and LB Bryson Ballard.  There will be no rush to get Fuchs and Chase Rios back on the field before competition improves.  Wall is too talented and Early should be no trouble.

Ballinger 7-2 at TLCA 1-8 (Friday at 7:30, Lake View Stadium)

The Bearcats have seemingly found their man in junior quarterback Tyler Vaughn.  Vaughn completed all five of his passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns in Ballinger’s 63-7 whooping of Coleman.  Since losing their only two games this season, Ballinger has reeled off four wins in a row.  This week will be the same.  TLCA has not scored an offensive touchdown in five weeks. Since their only win of the season, 8-6 at Grape Creek, the Eagles have been outscored 218-0. 

Grape Creek 1-8 vs. Anson 6-3 (Friday at 7:30, Eagle Stadium)

Cisco asserted its 4-3A DII dominance with a 34-7 win over second place Anson Friday night.  The loss was the Tiger’s first of the district season, and gives Cisco the chance to take the district championship for themselves against Bangs this week.  Anson, now 5-1 in the district, will be able to shore up a second place finish against the last place Eagles this Friday.  Grape Creek lost to Merkel 34-18 for their sixth straight loss.

Sonora 4-5 at Brady 4-5 (Friday at 7:30, Bulldog Stadium)

Sonora was firing on all cylinders against Johnson City in their week 10, 58-21 win.  Broncos’ running backs Wilson Johnson and Oscar Gutierrez had 258 and 164 yards, respectively, in addition to three touchdowns a piece.  Sonora’s defense played very well with two interceptions returned for six.  They also kept Johnson City stuck at seven points until the end of the fourth quarter. 

The win sets up a likely three-way tie for second place in the district.  Comfort has clinched the championship, but Brady (3-1), Blanco (2-2), and Sonora (2-2) could all finish 2-4 depending on who wins the Brady/Sonora and Blanco/Johnson City games.  All three teams have secured a spot in the postseason, but which spot that is exactly is still up for grabs.

Mason 7-2 at Sabinal 0-9 (Friday at 7:30, Yellow Jacket Stadium)

The Punchers have allowed just six points since their narrow escape from Brackett four weeks ago.  In those three games, the offense has put up 158 points.  Things are clicking in Mason at just the right time, and Sabinal will give them one last chance for a tune up before they try and repeat as state champs.  On the other side of things, the Yellowjackets are firmly planted at the bottom of the 14-2A DI standings and are still winless after ten weeks.  They have not lost by fewer than 10 points.

Christoval 9-0 at Eldorado 8-1 (Friday at 7:30, Larry Mitchel Stadium)

Easily the most anticipated matchup of the week, undefeated Christoval and one-loss Eldorado are sure to put on a show for the 8-2A DII District Championship Friday evening.  Both teams brushed their competition aside last week with Christoval running by the now 6-3 Miles Bulldogs 55-13 while Eldorado shutout Menard 61-0.  

The offenses will be the biggest talking point as they both average more than 43 points per game, but the defenses will be the difference maker.  Eldorado has shutout its past three opponents and has the athletes to contain Christoval quarterback Brayden Wilcox.  Take this how you will, but Eldorado’s only loss of the season was in early September at Winters 26-20.  Three weeks after that game, Christoval went into Winters and won 34-24. Be sure to check back with us for a full preview of this game later in the week. 

Miles 6-3 vs. Rocksprings 3-6 (Friday at 7:30, Bulldog Stadium)

As mentioned above, Miles dropped its third game of the year in convincing fashion to Christoval.  The Bulldogs could not stop the dangerous Christoval ground game, and both quarterback Brayden Wilcox and running back Josh Fava picked up over 130 yards rushing each.  They also combined for six scores, two for Fava and four for Wilcox. Miles is solidified as a postseason contender and will most likely improve to 7-3 after Friday’s game against Rocksprings.  The Angoras are 0-3 in the district and have been shutout a whopping five times through nine games this season

Water Valley 4-5 vs. Highland 5-4 (Friday at 7:30, Diddle Young Field)

After starting the season 4-2, the Wildcats have struggled of late and lost their last three.  The Wildcats fell at Westbrook in week 10 36-22. They do have a chance to finish .500 on the season with a win against Highland this week.  The Hornets are in a similar position and have not won since beating Westbrook 44-38 in week 8. Water Valley is in sole possession of last place in the five-team district with an 0-3 record.  Highland and Westbrook are in the third and fourth spot with one win each.

No one is on bye this week.