Friday Night Rewind: Top Football Games and Performances From Week 1

SAN ANGELO, TX — Here are the best games, biggest wins and top performances from Week 1 of the high school football season in West Texas and the Concho Valley:

Best game: Wall-Canyon West Plains

The Wall Hawks had all they could handle in their first game as defending state champs. But after giving up a touchdown on the first play of the game, they eventually rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Canyon West Plains 42-35. The comeback was complete when Gunner King found Braylon Nelson for an 11-yard TD pass with just 33 seconds remaining. King threw for 415 yards and four TDs in his debut against the No. 10-ranked team in the state in 4A Division I. What a start to the season for Wall.

Biggest win: San Angelo Central

The Central Bobcats took down Abilene High 28-23 to kick off their season. It was a statement win against the No. 18-ranked team in the state in 5A D-I. Central had lost three in a row to its longtime rival — including the previous two season openers — but the Bobcats won the 100th all-time meeting to take a 48-47-5 advantage in the series.

Biggest surprise: Sterling City

Maybe Sterling City’s 66-27 win over Grandfalls shouldn’t have come as a surprise considering the Eagles’ previous six-man success. But they hadn’t played a six-man game since 2021, and Grandfalls was ranked No. 10 in the state in 1A D-II. It was a heck of a return to the six-man game for Sterling City.

Most impressive win: Mason

The No. 5-ranked Mason Punchers were about as dominant as you can be in a 58-0 win over Reagan County. They had 495 yards of offense — 234 through the air and 261 on the ground — while locking down the Owls to only 32 yards. We knew this team was going to be dangerous, and they lived up to the hype in their season opener.

Case for the Defense: San Angelo Lake View

With quarterback Chris Alvizo back for a third year, the Lake View Chiefs scoring points seemed like something you could count on. But the defense stepping up with six turnovers was an encouraging sign in their 41-19 win over Fort Stockton. If Lake View’s defense can continue to perform at a high level, the Chiefs could deliver another memorable season.

Strong in Defeat: Brady

The Brady Bulldogs lost 32-29 last week to Comfort, but they rallied from a 24-15 deficit in the third quarter to take the lead in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats won it late. Brady also had two 100-yard rushers in Johnny Roque and Benjiman Valdez. The Bulldogs look like they’ll again be a solid team this fall.

Top performances

Zey Johnson, San Angelo Central: Had 19 carries for 139 yards in a win over Abilene High

Micah Smith, San Angelo Central: Threw for 184 yards and two TDs on 15-of-22 passing and ran for a TD in a win over Abilene High

Jesse Smith, San Angelo Central: Had five catches for 97 yards in a win over Abilene High

Gavin Johnson, San Angelo Central: Had five catches for 51 yards and a TD in a win over Abilene High

Chris Alvizo, San Angelo Lake View: Threw for 231 yards and three TDs on 19-of-38 passing in a win over Fort Stockton

Chris Rodela, San Angelo Lake View: Had six catches for 95 yards and two TDs in a win over Fort Stockton

Juan Ramirez, San Angelo Lake View: Had 11 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in a win over Fort Stockton

Connor Williams, San Angelo Lake View: Had 10 tackles, five tackles for loss and a blocked punt in a win over Fort Stockton

Isaiah Fuentes, San Angelo Lake View: Returned an interception for a TD in a win over Fort Stockton

Gunner King, Wall: Threw for 415 yards and four TDs on 26-of-37 passing, and added a TD run in a win over Canyon West Plains

Gunner Garza, Wall: Had 21 carries for 110 yards and a TD, and had six catches for 76 yards in a win over Canyon West Plains

Jager Thompson, Wall: Had six catches for 99 yards in a win over Canyon West Plains

Evan Boehle, Wall: Had four catches for 85 yards and a TD in a win over Canyon West Plains

Hudson Surber, Wall: Had five catches for 83 yards and a TD in a win over Canyon West Plains

Braylon Nelson, Wall: Had two catches for 41 yards, including the game-winning TD with 33 seconds remaining in a win over Canyon West Plains

Slayton Hallmark, Wall: Had 14 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup in a win over Canyon West Plains

Cohen Ethridge, Menard: Had four carries for 88 yards and three TDs in a win over Bronte

Maddox Saiz, Menard: Had 6.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in a win over Bronte

Wyatt Clemens, Ballinger: Threw for 245 yards and four TDs on 9-of-17 passing in a win over Eastland

Pierson Nord, Ballinger: Had three catches for 104 yards and a TD in a win over Eastland

Hunter Kresta, Ballinger: Had two catches for 84 yards and a TD in a win over Eastland

Brody Wilde, Ballinger: Had three catches for 54 yards and two TDs in a win over Eastland

Branson Lacy, Water Valley: Had 13 carries for 171 yards and four TDs, was 8-of-10 passing for 115 yards and a TD, and recorded 12 tackles in a win over Garden City

Lance Doss, Water Valley: Had four carries for 71 yards and three TDs, and intercepted a pass in a win over Garden City

Cole Baker, Water Valley: Returned an interception for a TD in a win over Garden City

Brody Walts, Garden City: Had 18 carries for 103 yards and a TD, and threw a TD pass in a loss to Water Valley

Jay Borrego, Ozona: Had 12 carries for 186 yards and two TDs in a win over Brackettville

Boston Pitts, Ozona: Threw for 192 yards and two TDs on 8-of-11 passing in a win over Brackettville

Andon Glosson, Ozona: Had four catches for 146 yards and two TDs, and recorded six tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, two QB hurries and two forced fumbles in a win over Brackettville

Jason Borrego, Ozona: Had three catches for 87 yards and a TD in a win over Brackettville

Danny Alfaro, Christoval: Had nine carries for 170 yards and four TDs in a win over Eldorado

Kash Bates, Christoval: Had eight tackles and three interceptions in a win over Eldorado

Haydin Collins, Winters: Had 24 carries for 118 yards and a TD in a loss to Shamrock

Malachi Wauqua, Robert Lee: Thew for 154 yards and a TD on 10-of-19 passing, and had 10 carries for 45 yards and a TD in a loss to Jayton

Jayden Welborn, Sonora: Had two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and added five catches for 128 yards and two TDs in a win over Miles

Aaron Segura, Sonora: Threw for 313 yards and two TDs on 20-of-26 passing in a win over Miles

Kane Brock, Miles: Had five catches for 88 yards and a TD, and added eight tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a QB hurry and a pass breakup in a loss to Sonora

Kaden Karmany, Miles: Had 11 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception in a loss to Sonora

Jayden Smith, Coleman: Had four catches for 60 yards and intercepted a pass in a win over Grape Creek

Chantz Adams, Coleman: Had 14 carries for 55 yards, and added 18 tackles and two tackles for loss in a win over Grape Creek

Ki’yan Matta, Coleman: Had 17 tackles, a forced fumble and a QB hurry in a win over Grape Creek

Craig Guelker, Blackwell: Had five catches for 167 yards and TD, along with five carries for 49 yards, and 11 tackles in a loss to Aspermont

Brayden Clayborn, Blackwell: Threw for 218 yards and four TDs on 9-of-21 passing, and had 14 tackles in a loss to Aspermont

Zade Linman, Blackwell: Had 18 tackles and caught two passes for 44 yards in a loss to Aspermont

Lorenzo Hight, Veribest: Had 11 carries for 154 yards and two TDs, and he was 6-of-6 passing for 54 yards and a TD in a win over Santa Anna

Jayden Saucedo, Veribest: Had four carries for 57 yards and two TDs, and added 10 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in a win over Santa Anna

Johnny Roque, Brady: Had 21 carries for 141 yards and a TD, three catches for 37 yards, and had 12 tackles and a tackle for loss in a loss to Comfort

Benjiman Valdez, Brady: Had 15 carries for 138 yards and a TD, and added a TD catch in a loss to Comfort

Ryder Balmos, Mason: Threw for 234 yards and five TDs on 11-of-13 passing in a win over Reagan County

Kingston Garza, Mason: Had three catches for 84 yards and two TDs in a win over Reagan County

Slade Buell, Mason: Had seven carries for 89 yards, and had two catches for 50 yards and a TD in a win over Reagan County

Luke Tharp, Mason: Had three catches for 59 yards and a TD, and added a TD run in a win over Reagan County

Jarrett Worrell, Mason: Had three carries for 83 yards and a TD in a win over Reagan County

Graden Lebow, San Saba: Had 11 carries for 72 yards in a loss to De Leon

Jason Everett, San Saba: Had 18 carries for 59 yards and a TD in a loss to De Leon