Ozona's Villarreal Could Break 3 State Records This Season

OZONA, TX — The Concho Valley is home to a running back who is rushing for a historic season and has a golden opportunity to break three state records.

Of course, this is about Ozona running back Christian Villarreal. Last season, he put up respectable numbers. In nine games, Villarreal rushed 160 times for 1,438 yards and 17 touchdowns. For any running back, those are good numbers.

But this season, with a monster offensive line in front of him, Villarreal has rushed for 2,848 yards and 43 touchdowns on 169 carries.

Against Colorado City last week, Villarreal had a real chance to set the single-game rushing yard record, which is currently held by Matt Gadek, who rushed for 599 yards against Plano East in 2017. With the encroaching thunderstorms, the district matchup between Ozona and Colorado City was cut short. That did not stop Villarreal from putting up unbelievable numbers.

The game was called with about 9 minutes left in the third quarter, and Villarreal had already rushed for 380 yards and seven touchdowns. At that pace, he would have set the new single-game rushing record.

The Lions still have two games left before the playoffs, one against Forsan and the other against Christoval. Both of those teams have had their struggles recently and, while 600 yards is insane, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

The big record everyone is talking about is the single-season rushing record set by Kenneth Hall, the Sugar Lang Express, in 1953. Hall rushed for 4,045 yards and currently, Villarreal is 1,197 yards away from tying it. The shortened game last week certainly hurts him but, if he can get over his average in both upcoming games, he has a chance just in his secured games.

One record that not many are talking about is the single-season rushing touchdown record. Jonathan Gray, who played for the Aledo Bearcats and the Texas Longhorns, has the record with 65. Villarreal has 43, and should he put up seven in each of the last two district games, he would hit the playoffs with 57, only eight short of tying the record.

As of now, the Ozona Lions look like they’ll match up in the opening round of the playoffs with the Anson Tigers, who are no slouch. They are 6-2 overall and 1-2 in district in a tough district with Hawley, Cisco and Stamford.

Ozona plays at Forsan at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.