BIG LAKE, TX — Coming off their first undisputed district title in 31 years, the Reagan County Owls weren’t able to keep the momentum rolling last fall.
A huge hit from graduation and a senior class with only four players helped drop the team to a 3-7 record.
Head coach Kyle Brown said a young team last year was also bit by the injury bug, and they weren’t able to handle the adversity.
With nine returning starters on offense and eight on defense, this year looks “completely different,” Brown said.
“We have 14 seniors and 15 juniors, and all of them have varsity playing experience,” Brown said. “So you’re talking about a team that’s more physically mature but also more mentally mature.
“Every year, there’s going to be some adversity, and I feel like this group will be able to handle it much better than last year. You’re only as good as your leaders, and we have great leadership on this team.”
Among the returners is quarterback Marquis Vargas, who threw for 1,430 yards and 16 touchdowns last year as a junior.
After what Brown called a great offseason with nearly perfect attendance in the weight room, Vargas is ready to take the next step.
“He’s gotten stronger and faster, and he has 10 games under his belt,” Brown said. “He did some good things last year, but one thing he struggled with was taking care of the ball. I feel like he’s going to be a player with his feet this year, he’s going to make better decisions and just be a better leader. And he was a good leader last year, but having that experience, I’m expecting Marquis to have a really good year.”
Vargas will also return his top receiver, senior Dominic Johnson.
“He’s definitely our go-to target. He’s been on varsity since he was a sophomore, and he has the capability to make big plays,” Brown said.
Brothers Caison and Carter Graves are also options in the passing game. Caison is a tight end, while Carter is a receiver.
In the backfield, senior Hector Rios returns at running back after earning second-team all-district honors. Brown said he’s an “explosive” back who rushed for 583 yards, almost all of which came in the final four games when he moved into the feature role.
Senior Levi Martinez has been another solid running back, Brown said, while junior Jason Reyes — an area qualifier in the 100-meter dash — gives the team a speed threat.
“I feel like we have capable receivers and backs to surround Marquis with,” Brown said.
Up front, the Owls return four starting offensive linemen, led by Kellan Saucedo (5-11, 250), who earned second-team all-district honors as a sophomore.
Christian Saucedo (6-2, 300) is another returner with big-time size, along with Rodrigo Bernal (5-9, 240), who is a “really good powerlifter with a high motor,” and Gavin Reyes (5-9, 185), who started every game last year as a junior.
Senior Sergio Salazar (5-10, 200), who has been starting since he was a freshman, is moving to tight end to give the Owls an even more dominant blocking presence.
“We’re about as good up front as we’ve been in the past six years,” Brown said. “We’ve got kids with lots of games under their best. We’ve got a little bit of size, and we’ve got guards with great feet that can get out and pull.
“Now we’ve got to stay healthy. But what we have out there right now, I really like.”
The strength of Reagan County’s defense will be its linebackers — Johnson, Rios, Kix Bales and Julio Vasquez.
Andrew Lopez, who benches 365 pounds, is a powerful anchor on the defensive line.
The secondary is led by the speedy Reyes at cornerback and Carter Graves at safety who “understands the game and is always in the right spot.”
“We’re not as experienced on the defensive side as far as the number of snaps, and we’ve moved some positions, so it’s a work in progress. But I feel like we’ve got a bunch of kids who are going to be stronger and faster and be a lot more aggressive on the field,” Brown said.
After tying for the district title in 2022 and winning it outright in 2024, the Owls finished tied with Colorado City for last place in 2025.
Reagan County is picked to finish sixth out of seven teams in District 4-2A Division I by Texas Football, but Brown sees it as a “wide-open race.”
“I really think there’s multiple teams in this district that could surprise everyone and be the district champ,” Brown said. “On paper, it’s Ozona, but I feel like there’s multiple teams in the running. And I feel like if we continue to progress, we could be one of those teams that could possibly be up there at the top.”
Reagan County Owls
2026 schedule
Aug. 28 at Mason
Sept. 4 Grape Creek
Sept. 11 at Miles
Sept. 18 McCamey
Sept. 25 Ballinger*
Oct. 2 at Forsan*
Oct. 9 Colorado City*
Oct. 16 at Christoval*
Oct. 23 Sonora*
Oct. 30 at Ozona
Nov. 6 OPEN
*District 4-2A Division I game
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