SAN ANGELO, TX-- While Texas high school football made it’s triumphant return Thursday night, Friday night will be the first games of the 2018 season in the Concho Valley.
We will be out at games across the area each and every Friday, covering the teams that matter to you.
With the return of football season, we wanted to predict the outcome of games across the area tonight.
No. 3 Mason @ No. 14 Wall
This game should be the hottest ticket Friday night.
Both teams know it will be a playoff-type atmosphere for the first meeting between the two schools since 2005.
Both teams are relatively even when it comes to tradition.
Over the last 10 years, each team has posted over 100 wins.
However, Mason has an advantage with six returning starters on each side of the ball. That comes from a defense that was incredibly stingy last year, allowing just north of five points per game.
Wall returns four starters total, three of which are on the defensive side.
It would be expected that Wall will have to acclimate a little bit given the circumstances.
An atmosphere like this game, however, could bring out the best in each team.
Both teams also run the ball a lot and like to control the clock. That means this game could come down to turnovers and one turnover could sway the game.
Mason 35, Wall 31
Killeen Shoemaker @ Central
The Bobcats return to San Angelo Stadium to start their 100th season of football.
It’s no secret that the Bobcats are dominant at home. After all, they’re 23-0 at home since 2013.
The Bobcats know Shoemaker will be a litmus test for their discipline.
The Grey Wolves hung 42 points on the Bobcats last year, the most of any regular season opponent in 2017.
With their offense gelling well through offseason and fall camp, that will be the focal point for the Bobcats. They need to get out to a good start on offense to help a young defense relax and play loose.
Look for Bobby Pena and Sam Goodloe to show a solid 1-2 punch and the receiving corps to make some big plays downfield.
It likely won’t be a perfect win, but the Bobcats should extend that regular season home winning streak to 24.
Central 45, Shoemaker 28
Ballinger @ Brady
It’s year two for Brady’s Shay Easterwood and Ballinger’s Chuck Lipsey
Year one was rough for the Bulldogs, but that baptism-by-fire season brought a lot of maturity for Easterwood’s squad.
That will benefit the Bulldogs in 2018 and should make them a playoff contender in District 13-3A DII. It helped them earn a place in the Texas 7-on-7 tournament in the summer, too.
They’ll be able to spread the ball out and lighten the load on 1,000-yard rusher Ryan Decker.
However, Ballinger has depth and versatility.
Former Bulldog quarterback Tyler Vaughn transferred to Ballinger and gives the Bearcats three solid options at quarterback with Edgar Nunez and Cody Harral.
If Vaughn directs the offense, that puts two of Ballinger’s best athletes, Harral, a natural receiver, and Nunez, in another skill position. However, Nunez has a little more experience in Ballinger’s offense compared to the sophomore transfer.
Regardless, that depth should be a big factor in the opener.
Ballinger 38, Brady 28
TLCA @ Eldorado
Both Eagle squads are on the up. Both teams feel capable of challenging for a playoff spot.
TLCA looked real good against a tough Iraan team in their final scrimmage of the year last week.
They’ll lean on all-around athlete Kaiden Kirkland offensively and defensively again this year. TLCA will need another guy or two to step up, however, to ease the workload of Kirkland.
That may come up front with 290-pound lineman John Holguin.
Holguin will be asked to protect Kirkland offensively and terrorize opposing backfields up the middle.
Eldorado also boasts some size with 6-foot-4, 295-pounder Emiliano Hernandez. They also have Albert Arispe who measures in at 6-foot-2, 258 pounds.
The Eagles also get quarterback Kevan Covarrubiaz back from an injury that sidelined him most of last season. He is one of the best athletes on Eldorado’s sideline
With the experience the team got playing without him, second-year head coach Michael Johnson is confident in his team.
Expect a close one between these teams.
Eldorado 34, TLCA 31
Other games across the Concho Valley:
McCamey @ Irion County
McCamey 28, Irion County 21
Miles @ Ranger
Miles 35, Ranger 14
Rising Star vs Bronte, Saturday, Sept. 1, at Rochelle
Bronte 75, Rising Star 60
Stanton @ Reagan County
Reagan County 42, Stanton 28
Sonora @ Ozona
Sonora 45, Ozona 28
Lake View @ Lamesa
Lake View 38, Lamesa 20
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