STERLING CITY, TX — The Sterling City Eagles may have gone 1-9 last season, but they were state quarterfinalists the last time they played at the six-man level.
So there’s a real sense of excitement around the small town northwest of San Angelo as the Eagles return to six-man after four years away in 11-man.
Sterling City had a respectable run in 11-man with three trips to the playoffs and even a postseason win in 2022.
But they were a state power in six-man, including a state title in 2020, and those fond memories bring hope that better times are heading Sterling City’s way.
“Now that we’re dropping back down to six-man, I think everyone feels like we can compete on a level playing field again. There’s obviously a buzz around town,” new head coach Dale Pustejovsky said. “People are excited, and I think they’re glad to be back. I know the kids are glad to be back, and the coaches are glad to be back in six-man. It’s a super exciting time right now for sure.”
Pustejovsky arrives in Sterling City after working the last three years as an assistant at Blackwell. He was previously the head coach at Buena Vista from 2018 to 2022, where he compiled a record of 23-29.
Pustejovsky has also been an assistant at Strawn and Penelope.
He played six-man at Abbott, where he graduated in 2001 after leading the Panthers to the state quarterfinals. He was a second-team all-state running back.
He inherits a Sterling City team that returns three starters on both sides of the ball from last year.
Pustejovsky envisions his offense running more tight sets, though going to the spread is an option if needed.
Junior Kash Morgan is slated to be the team’s starting quarterback.
“He’s seen quite a bit of time there so far, and he’s done a good job,” Pustejovsky said. “There are things we’ve got to get better at and build off, of course.”
Senior Wrace Blackwelder is set to be the top running back after earning second-team all-district honors last year. Other options as ball carriers include Vance Davis, who was also a second-teamer, along with Sheldon Coxey, Garrett Coxey and Demarcus Johnson.
“We’ve got a few guys in the backfield, and each one in my opinion kind of brings a little different aspect to the game. Each one is valuable in different ways,” Pustejovsky said.
As far as receiving options, Lincoln McElroy and Beau Holley are the leading candidates.
Center Miles Orsak is the anchor of an offensive line that is going through the difficult transition from the 11-man game.
“They’re having to learn a different way of blocking and learn the rules on how we do our blocking and schemes. So they’re just going through the learning phase right now,” Pustejovsky said. “I do think with the size we have and maybe the depth as well that it’s maybe something that could benefit us later on in that area.”
Defensively, Blackwelder “makes plays everywhere,” Pustejovsky said. Other leaders on that side of the ball include Davis, the Coxey brothers, Johnson and Morgan.
“The guys on offense are kind of the same ones on defense,” Pustejovsky said.
For all the excitement about the return to six-man, Sterling City didn’t land in the easiest of districts. The Eagles were picked by Texas Football to finish third behind state-ranked Water Valley and Menard and ahead of Irion County, Veribest and Eden.
“Is our district tough? Yeah, for sure it is. I think it’ll be a dogfight for all of us involved,” Pustejovsky said. “I think the thing for us is not focusing on what others are doing, because we can’t control that. …
“I think the kids feel confident right now and they’re excited. They know what we want to do and how to do it, and they know what it takes for the most part. These kids were around when they were making those deep runs. … We’re working to get ourselves in the playoffs and then go from there.”
Sterling City will play its first six-man game since the 2021 quarterfinals — a 44-41 loss to eventual state champ Westbrook — when the Eagles host Grandfalls, the No. 10-ranked team in 1A Division II, on Friday, Aug. 28.
Sterling City will then travel to play Westbrook (ranked No 21 in 1A D-I) the next week. Other nondistrict games include May (No. 16 in 1A D-I), Robert Lee (a 1A D-I state quarterfinalist from last year) and Rankin (No. 1 in 1A D-I).
Sterling City Eagles
2026 schedule
Aug. 28 Grandfalls
Sept. 3 at Westbrook
Sept. 11 May
Sept. 18 at Robert Lee
Sept. 25 at Rankin
Oct. 2 OPEN
Oct. 9 at Irion County*
Oct. 16 Veribest*
Oct. 23 at Menard*
Oct. 30 Eden*
Nov. 6 at Water Valley*
*District 8-1A Division I game
MORE: West Texas Football 2026 District Predictions
MORE: Top 10 Quarterbacks to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Running Backs to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Wide Receivers to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Offensive Linemen to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 20 Defensive Players to Watch in West Texas in 2026
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: