PREVIEW: Undefeated Sonora Broncos Take on Hungry Reagan County Owls this Friday

SONORA — The undefeated Sonora Broncos are taking on the Reagan County Owls this Friday in the second game of high school football district play.

Last season, the Owls got the better of the Broncos, 24-21. This season, Sonora returns with a vengeance and their starting quarterback, Jaime Buitron, who returned from a knee injury early in two-a-days. Over the three games Buitron has played in, he has gone 14-22 for 342 yards, five touchdowns to no interceptions. The junior signal caller that stepped up in Buitron’s place, Juan Castillo, went 35-57 for 530 yards, two touchdowns to one interception while Buitron recovered.

Edgar DeLuna took on a much larger role on offense and has taken over many games this year with 101 rushing attempts for 1,564 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. Other backs in the Bronco’s stable include Eli Pruneda (23-206-1) and Josh Lozano (30-195-4). Castillo added in 331 yards on the ground as well.

Through the air, junior Kam Aguero has been the to-go guy with 20 catches for 390 yards and five scores with DeLuna catching 12 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown and Tristan Ford adding four catches for 112 yards.

The Broncos have dominated on the ground with over 2,000 yards this season so far and passing for 714 yards altogether.

Defensively, DeLuna has done what he has always done. He leads the Broncos in tackles, 79, tackles for loss, 13, interceptions with three, and four caused fumbles. He also is tied for first in sacks with two. Lozano and Cason Boggs are second and third 45 and 31 respectively in tackles. Jose Guerra and Owen Jones are tied with 27.

In sacks, Dailen Luna, Jaedon Chavarria, Boggs, and DeLuna each have two sacks on the season so far and Ford, Lozano, and Logan Mayfield each have one. Roberto Rodriguez, Lozano each have two interceptions and Boggs and Caleb Sanchez each have one pick.

The Owls are coming off a district loss to the Forsan Buffaloes, 42-12. On the year, junior quarterback Kason Brown has gone 87-162 for 1,348 yards, 18 touchdowns to six interceptions. Brown also leads the team in rushing yards with 468 yards and six touchdowns and running back AJ Avalos is second with 268 yards and two touchdowns.

Out wide, Raymond Saldibar has 23 catches for 500 yards and nine touchdowns. Kason’s brother, Jarrett Brown, has 14 catches for 264 yards and four scores and Nick Franklin has 15 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Avalos has chipped in 18 catches for 219 yards and one score.

For the Owl’s defense, Ruben Bernal leads the team with 61 tackles and in tackles for loss with 12. Avalos is second with 47 tackles and Lyric Holland has 45.

Two players are tied in the lead for sacks with three, sophomore Joel Jimenez and senior David Correa. Holland has two sacks and Jarrett Brown, Alfredo Hildalgo, and Angel Hernandez have gotten to the quarterback once.

Reagan County has four interceptions this season so far, junior Chris Johnson with two and Avalos and Saldibar each have one.

These two teams are meeting up again this Friday, October 13, 2023, in Sonora at 7:00 p.m.