SAN ANGELO, TX-- The 2018 high school football season is around the corner. Every team is starting with the same, clean record and the same dream of finding a way to win it all in Arlington come December.
With that dream in mind, we wanted to explore why each 11-man football team in the Concho Valley might and might not win a State Championship in 2018.
Class 6A
Central Bobcats (2017: 11-1, Area Finalist):
The Bobcats return a stacked offense from their 2017 campaign.
Recent Texas Tech commit Maverick McIvor will be at the reins once again for the Bobcats. In the backfield he’ll have some much needed help in junior running back Bobby Pena and senior Sam Goodloe, who transferred in from Reagan County in the spring.
In front of McIvor, he has a behemoth offensive line that returns four of the five starters from a year ago. This group of Kurt Klausner, Gunner Couch, Rowdy Garza and Oscar Nino is arguably one of the best offensive lines the Bobcats have ever had.
Brodrick Howard and Daylon Green will return to be the anchor of the Bobcat defense and linebacking corps.
But the Bobcats return just three starters on the defensive side of the ball, meaning they will need some guys to step up on defense.
The potential playoff route for the Bobcats could also tell the tale of whether or not Central wins their first title since 1966.
If the Bobcats can claim the District 3-6A crown or finish as the top team in the division, their path in either Division I or Division II is favorable. A second place finish means the Bobcats could run into the buzzsaw called Arlington Martin, who boasted a dominant offense in 2017.
It’s also worth noting the Bobcats have not gotten past the Dallas-Fort Worth teams in the playoffs the last five years.
Considering how DFW teams are the main populous in Regions I and II, that’s basically like saying water is wet or that west Texas is arid.
Class 4A Division I
Lake View Chiefs (2017: 0-10):
Thanks to UIL’s 2018-2020 realignment which put the Chiefs in the four-team District 2-4A DI, the Chiefs are already in the playoffs. To win a State Championship you have to first make it to the playoffs.
But the Chiefs will tell you they aren’t satisfied with just getting to the dance.
Senior Kendall Blue will be starting at quarterback for the first time. Lake View head coach Hector Guevara says Blue will be the team’s catalyst, citing the senior’s leadership ability and the fact that he’ll touch the ball every play and make critical decisions for the Chiefs.
Guevara also got his first full year with his team, which makes a lot of difference in the development of a program.
But the Lake View program is still developing. There will be some tremendous strides made in 2018 for the Chiefs, however.
Class 3A Division I
Wall Hawks (2017: 12-1, Regional Semifinalist):
When you think of playoffs at the Class 3A level, no. 7-ranked Wall is usually one of the first teams to come to mind. They haven’t missed the playoffs in nearly a decade.
The 2018 season will also give the Hawks a tough schedule which will likely help mold a team that returns one offensive starter and three defensive.
Senior Gage Weishuhn and Tate Jones will anchor the defensive line and give the Hawks a good chunk of experience on the defensive side of the ball.
However, with just four returning starters, the fewest among District 3-3A DI, it will be a battle for the Hawks to get back to Arlington.
Also, District 3-3A DI brings teams like Breckenridge and Clyde who are on the rise after making the playoffs last year. Eastland will also prove to be another test for the Hawks, who will face the likes of state powers Mason and Sonora in non-district.
The Hawks are also staring down another potential playoff meeting with rival Brock, who returns a stacked team that made it to Arlington last year.
Class 3A Division II
Ballinger Bearcats (2017: 3-8, Bi-District Finalist):
The Bearcats return seven starters on each side of the ball from their playoff team a year ago. Among those returners are arguably the two most crucial for Ballinger, running back Cooper Bean and quarterback Edgar Nunez.
Last year, Bean accounted for 750 rushing yards and 135 tackles for the Bearcats in head coach Chuck Lipsey’s first year.
The Bearcats also get a competitive eight team district in 4-3A DII. Of those eight teams, six, including Ballinger made a playoff appearance last year.
While the competitiveness of the district could help Ballinger reach new heights, they will still have to face good teams like Cisco and Merkel in the regular season with powers Canadian and Childress glaring at them in the playoffs.
Coleman Bluecats (2017: 3-8, Bi-District Finalist):
The Bluecats get experience back in the trenches and at linebacker for the 2018 season. Trench play is where games are won and lost.
Coleman also got valuable experience in the playoffs where they lost to Sonora in the Bi-District round of playoffs.
However, the Bluecats may not be ready to take that step with the slew of teams they face in the same district as Ballinger.
Grape Creek Eagles (2017: 1-10, Bi-District Finalist):
The Eagles look to have their guy at the helm with Tanner Thiel being promoted to head coaching duties.
With 15 starters returning for Grape Creek, 2018 looks promising.
Keaton Prather will anchor the Eagle’s secondary after recording six interceptions a year ago.
But for the Eagles to have success they will need running back John DeLuna to shoulder the load and a quarterback to step up.
The Eagles lost star running back Austin Ortegon to graduation. Ortegon was a state qualifier in track.
Backtrack to 2016. The Eagles had Austin Barron captaining their offensive ship and posted video game-like numbers with Ortegon by his side before transferring to Central in 2017.
In order to make a deep run, the Eagles will need a duo like that to step up in 2018, where the Eagles are in a district with Ballinger and Coleman.
TLCA Eagles (2017: 3-7):
TLCA made great strides from 2016 to 2017 under Brent Rider.
They were winless in 2016 then won three games in 2017 and kept it close in a number of ball games last year.
Running back and linebacker J.R. Wilson returns after an explosive campaign a year ago. The Eagles also return Mr. do-it-all Kaiden Kirkland, who was a quarterback, defensive back and kicker in 2017.
The Eagles will also keep experience on their line with John Holguin returning.
But TLCA will return just five offensive starters, with a good portion of that coming up front.
There’s still work to do for TLCA.
Reagan County Owls (2017: 5-6, Bi-District Finalist):
The Owls got moved out west, way out west in this year’s realignment.
They were placed in the four-team District 1-3A DII with Alpine, Crane and Anthony, which is the town north of El Paso on the border of New Mexico and Texas. That is grueling travel for an away game.
But the four team district means the Owls are already in the playoffs, like Lake View.
Seven returning starters for the Owls means there won’t be much of a learning curve.
Quarterback Justin Chavez returns to direct the offense, while lineman Tristan Ortiz is poised to wreak havoc on opposing teams after setting a state powerlifting record in squat.
But waiting on the Owls in the playoffs could be anyone from Colorado City to Abernathy to Idalo to Coahoma, all solid teams who made the playoffs a year ago.
Sonora Broncos (2017: 12-1, Regional Semifinalist):
Out of all the teams in the area, Sonora is arguably the most stacked heading in to 2018.
The eighth-ranked Broncos return eight offensive starters, nine defensive starters and 28 of their 35 lettermen from last year.
They won’t have star quarterback Kaden Cordell, who put up gaudy numbers in 2017, but will have Brian Van Winkle. Head coach Jeff Cordell is excited about what Van Winkle brings to the table in 2018.
Van Winkle will also have playmaker Wesley Dutton out wide. Dutton accounted for 1,007 receiving yards last year and is the top returning receiver in the state.
Also working in the Bronco’s favor is size on the line. When speaking to coach Cordell the other week, he was almost giddy talking about his big men with Blayze Sykes likely anchoring the offensive line and Jansen Morris anchoring the defensive line.
However, the Broncos were moved to District 13-3A DII in Region IV, the other side of the playoff bracket from what they’re used to. So they avoid the likes of Canadian and Childress, who knocked the Broncos out last year. But they will get the likes of state power East Bernard in the region and possibly a date with defending champ Newton, who also return the core of their team from last year.
Brady Bulldogs (2017: 0-10):
Last year was rough for a young Bulldog team.
They played with primarily underclassmen with little to no varsity experience and it showed on the field in head coach Shay Easterwood’s first year at the helm.
But the Bulldogs return 10 starters on each side of the ball and 19 of their 24 lettermen from last year. That core group grew up a lot last season and that experience will show in a wide open District 13-3A DII.
The Bulldogs, who also have a spot in the Texas 7-on-7 state tournament, returns quarterback Tyler Vaughn from last year. Ryan Decker also returns after a dominant season with 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
But Brady was a run-heavy team in 2017, so, unless they have moved to a balanced or a spread offense, the 7-on-7 state tournament won’t have much correlation to the Bulldog’s 2018 season.
The Bulldogs still have a lot of growing to do with a young team, but should challenge for a playoff spot.
Class 2A Division I
Mason Punchers (2017: 13-1, Regional Finalist):
The Punchers were close to a return to Arlington in 2017, but ran into one of the tougher Refugio teams the state had seen.
In 2018, however, the Punchers, led by head coach Kade Burns and 12 returning starters, could have the best chance at making it to state.
Their crucial pieces are returning after a stellar 2017. Quarterback Otto Wofford, All-State selection and District MVP Jake Cockerham and fellow running back return to Mason’s backfield after accounting for more than 3,900 yards of offense in 2017. Wofford and Cockerham also accounted for 56 touchdowns.
While Mason returns those parts of an offense which averaged 43 points per game last year, it will be their defense which gets the Punchers to Arlington in 2018.
Mason allowed an average just north of five points per game in 2017. The Punchers allowed 38 points in their loss to Refugio in the Regional Finals, one point more than they allowed in their 13 previous games.
If you were to say Mason will be the most dominant defense in the state for 2018, you would have a valid argument.
The Punchers also get one of the toughest districts in Class 2A. The six-team District 14-2A DI features five playoff teams from a year ago. The lone team not to make it to the playoffs last year? Harper.
There’s also not much standing in Mason’s path to Arlington. But they will likely meet Refugio in the playoffs, which means each team will rise up to the challenge.
Junction Eagles (2017: 3-8, Bi-District Finalist):
Rob McAdams’ first year at Junction saw bright spots with the Eagles making it to the playoffs.
The Eagles return five starters on each side of the ball with 13 returning lettermen from their 24 last year.
Of those five returning offensive starters, none is more important than wide receiver Kyle Lumpkins.
Lumpkins, the brother of recent Angelo State high jumper, Kaitlin, is a towering figure at 6-foot-8. He has size that is rarely rivaled at the 2A level.
If Junction were to make it further than they ever had, it would be on the back of Lumpkins through a relatively easy region, barring a meeting with Refugio.
Junction, however is part of that same tough district as Mason, which could be a dual-edged sword for the Eagles.
On one hand, it could give them the experience needed to make that deep playoff push while, on the other, the competitive nature and parity of District 14-2A DI could mean an early end for the Eagle’s season.
Class 2A Division II
Christoval Cougars (2017: 4-7, Bi-District Finalist):
The Cougars threw a freshman into the role of starting quarterback last season and things worked out well.
Brayden Wilcox, the aforementioned freshman last year, accounted for 23 total touchdowns and 2,127 total yards in 2017. Wilcox was also a star defensively for Christoval with four interceptions.
But one player doesn’t necessarily mean a team will go to state. The Cougars return 15 lettermen and 10 starters from last year.
Linebacker Payton Polk will be crucial to the Cougar’s success on defense after recording three sacks last season and running back David Fava will be integral to mixing up the offense for Christoval in 2018.
Should Christoval make it to the playoffs out of District 8-2A DII, which features five playoff teams from last year, waiting on them will be a stacked District 7-2A DII with the likes of Albany, Hamlin and Roscoe.
Eldorado Eagles (2017: 2-8):
The Eagles saw their share of ups and downs in Michael Johnson’s first year at Eldorado.
With the growth the Eagles saw in 2017, where they narrowly missed a playoff berth, it’s safe to say Eldorado is a playoff contender in District 8-2A DII.
Much like district rival Christoval, the Eagles return 15 lettermen. Where the Eagles differ from there rival to the north is the 15 returning starters (7 offensive, 8 defensive).
Any success had by Eldorado will be attributed to their front line. Albert Arispe, a 260-pound lineman, will anchor the offensive and defensive lines for the Eagles in 2018 and likely create some running room.
But the Eagles are trying to take more to the air and they will get Kevan Covarrubiaz and Cesar Garcia back in 2018. Covarrubiaz missed last season due to injury and will compete with Garcia for the starting spot. If whoever the starting quarterback will be gets into a rhythm, the future is bright for the Eagles.
However, they must still handle District 7-2A DII should they make it.
Irion County Hornets (2017: 4-7, Bi-District Finalist):
The Hornets are in a minor changing of the guard with Lee Harvey being promoted to head coaching duties.
Last year, Nathan Chacon was set to take over the quarterback duties for the Hornets. This year it looks as though he will move to the running back position, which will still be great for Irion County.
Chacon is a leader for this team and getting him touches is integral to the team’s success.
But Irion County was hit hard by graduation. They lost 10 of their 16 lettermen last year.
That will be a tough mountain to overcome for Irion County, not to mention District 7 waiting in the wings.
Menard Yellowjackets (2017: 9-3, Area Finalist):
Menard is poised to make a deep run this year with more than three quarters of their team coming back from their Area Round run last year.
Running back Christian Salazar is back after a phenomenal season where he rushed for 1,750 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns.
It was evident last year that Salazar has the ability to score from just about anywhere. But for any good backfield to have success, there must be a solid front blocking for them.
Menard has that in their line, with 6-foot-5, 310 pounder Mason Stanley anchoring their line.
Expect another explosive season for Menard because of that.
While they can make a deep run in the playoffs, they will still eventually have to face a team like Munday or Wellington, who are state powers.
Miles Bulldogs (2017: 2-9, Bi-District Finalist):
The Bulldogs get some new blood with Charles Boles taking over after Chad Currie stepped down.
Boles brings a winning tradition from Lindsay, where he enjoyed five winning seasons, three district championships and six playoff berths in his six seasons coaching the Knights.
He inherits a team with 15 lettermen returning and a total of 14 starters returning.
That number includes star running back and defensive back Mason Bryan, who accounted for 2,000 all-purpose yards and 85 tackles. He will be looked at to be the catalyst for the Bulldogs.
Quarterback Jared Flores will need to step up in order for Bryan to not shoulder the entire offensive load and Miles to make a run.
However, the District 8-2A DII schedule for the Bulldogs is going to be a gauntlet with all the familiar faces and Region II is just as much of a gauntlet.
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