SAN ANGELO, TX — Here are our top five football games to watch this week in the Concho Valley and West Texas:
Ozona (3-4) at Sonora (5-1)
Separated by about 35 miles of Interstate 10, these longtime rivals have been playing nearly every year since 1922. Sonora holds a 57-36-4 advantage in the series, but Ozona has won the last two, including a 57-12 runaway win last year.
This year’s meeting projected to be the district-title game before the season, and while things haven’t exactly gone according to plan, there are still big implications riding on this matchup. Sonora is the co-leader in District 4-2A Division I, but it’s Ballinger that shares the lead with the Broncos. Ozona, meanwhile, has been in a battle to defend its title, beginning with a 44-26 loss to Forsan to kick off district play. The Lions have bounced back with wins over Colorado City and Christoval, and they could really get back in the title race with a win at Sonora.
Sonora is looking like the favorite to win the district after a 5-1 start to the year, including district wins over Colorado City and Christoval. The common opponents tell an interesting story. Sonora had a 54-19 win over Colorado City but barely got past Christoval, 40-32. Ozona narrowly survived a 28-27 win over Colorado City but walloped Christoval 44-6.
Ultimately, you can throw everything out the window when these two teams play. This should be a great atmosphere in Sonora and a fun matchup. Ozona has the better running game, led by Jay Borrego, and the advantage on the offensive line. Sonora has the better passing attack, led by quarterback Aaron Segura and all of his playmakers.
Sonora has been the more consistent team and has home-field advantage, so we’re leaning toward the Broncos.
The pick: Sonora 35, Ozona 28
Ballinger (5-1) at Colorado City (4-3)
The Ballinger Bearcats are coming off a season-defining 40-37 win last week against Forsan. Ballinger rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to knock off the previously undefeated Buffaloes on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Clemens to Hunter Kresta with 40 seconds remaining. Now they’re tied atop the District 4-2A Division I standings with Sonora at 2-0.
Coming off a win like that, Ballinger has to guard against a letdown when it travels to play a resurgent Colorado City team. The Wolves are enjoying their best season since 2018 after seven straight years of winning two games or less. They’re off to a 4-3 start and pose a real threat to Ballinger. These teams share a common opponent in Reagan County — which Ballinger defeated by 19 points, while Colorado City won by 10 points.
Colorado City QB Ace Mejia has thrown for 1,216 yards and 11 TDs with eight interceptions, and he has rushed for 669 yards and 10 TDs. His top target is Brandon Lee with 27 catches for 542 yards and four TDs. Lee also has 62 tackles and three INTs on defense. Noah Atkinson has a team-high 63 tackles.
Ballinger has a strong passing attack led by Clemens, who has thrown for 1,167 yards and 17 TDs with only two INTs. The 6-foot-4 Kresta is one of the best receivers in the Concho Valley, but Clemens also has playmakers in Pierson Nord and Brody Wilde.
This has the potential to be an entertaining game, which Ballinger would like to avoid. But the Bearcats have shown the ability to win close games — they have three wins by seven points or less — and they may have to do it again.
The pick: Ballinger 34, Colorado City 30
Mason (6-0) at San Saba (4-2)
The No. 2-ranked Mason Punchers will face one of their top rivals and biggest obstacles in the way of the District 7-2A Division I title when they travel to play San Saba. Both teams are off to a 1-0 start in district play after Mason blanked Bangs 51-0 and San Saba held off Johnson City 22-14.
Mason has been as good as advertised heading into the season with numerous convincing wins. The Punchers’ only game that was decided by less than 21 points was their 46-44 win over defending state champion Hamilton. Mason’s loaded offense is averaging 56.3 points per game. San Saba will have its hands full trying to contain Mason’s numerous weapons, including Luke Tharp, who rushed for 1,581 yards last year at San Saba before transferring to Mason.
San Saba enters the game on a three-game winning streak. The Armadillos’ only losses were against teams that are currently state ranked. They lost 40-7 to De Leon (No. 10 in 2A D-I) and 35-17 to Goldthwaite (No. 6 in 2A D-II). San Saba has a dangerous rushing attack led by Jason Everett (646 yards, 11 TDs) and Graden Lebow (501 yards, 4 TDs).
Mason won this matchup 22-0 last year, and the Punchers are probably favored by about three touchdowns again.
The pick: Mason 46, San Saba 22
McCamey (7-0) at Wink (7-0)
This game is a bit outside of our coverage area, but it’s a West Texas matchup that can’t be ignored. McCamey and Wink are both off to 7-0 starts, and you don’t see many undefeated meetings this far into the season.
Wink is ranked No. 5 in the state and has won every game by 21 points or more. The Wildcats are led by junior quarterback Layne Lusby, who has posted impressive numbers with 1,333 passing yards and 16 TDs with two INTs, along with 644 rushing yards and 10 TDs. Freshman Kolt Lusby has had a huge first season on the varsity level with 30 catches for 641 yards and seven TDs.
McCamey is unranked, but the Badgers have won every game by 16 points or more. However, their schedule hasn’t been strong. They don’t own a win over a team that currently has a winning record. This is their chance to show they’re for real. They have a talented group of playmakers led by QB Trace McMurray, who has thrown for 1,232 yards and 15 TDs with four INTs despite missing one game. Kobe Walker (512 rushing yards, 11 TDs; 25 catches-431 yards, 5 TDs) and Ruben Baeza (416 rushing yards, 9 TDs) are a formidable 1-2 punch in the backfield. Steven Rodriguez is the top WR with 34 catches for 542 yards and seven TDs.
Despite its perfect record, McCamey is going to have to prove it can hang with Wink. The Badgers lost this matchup 73-14 last year. The Wildcats also haven’t had a losing record since 2015, and the program’s sustained excellence is why they get our pick.
The pick: Wink 42, McCamey 21
Veribest (4-2) at Sterling City (3-3)
Menard and Water Valley, which are both Top 10 programs, claim most of the spotlight in this district. But District 8-1A Division I is actually one of the state’s best districts from top to bottom. Veribest and Irion County are both 4-2, while Sterling City is 3-3. The winner of this game will move to 2-0 in district.
Veribest, led by spread back Lorenzo Hight, won its first three games before losses to strong programs in Blackwell and Knox City. The Falcons have been battle-tested for years in a tough district, so they shouldn’t be overwhelmed by this moment.
Sterling City was one of the state’s best six-man programs — highlighted by a state title in 2020 — before spending the last four years in 11-man. The Eagles dropped back down this year and have quickly found their footing again, including a 49-42 win last week over Irion County.
These teams may not be playoff-bound, but the winner of this game will have a fighting chance, and they should put on a good show Friday in Sterling City.
The pick: Sterling City 52, Veribest 38
San Angelo Glance
Midland Lee (4-3) at San Angelo Central (4-2)
The Central Bobcats host Midland Lee for their District 2-6A opener at San Angelo Stadium. Central would love to finally flip this rivalry back in its favor as the Bobcats have lost six straight games to the Rebels. Lee is looking somewhat vulnerable after a 42-10 loss last week to Odessa Permian, though the undefeated Panthers are looking like the team to beat in district. If Central wants to move into the top two of this district after a third-place finish last year, the Bobcats need to get past Lee or Permian. A win here could also set Central up for a district-title showdown with Permian in Week 11.
Lee will present challenges, particularly with a passing attack led by QB JP Reyes (1,657 passing yards, 19 TDs, 6 INTs) and a big-time WR in Ja’Braylen Anders (56 catches, 655 yards, 7 TDs). Central, however, has the best RB in the district in Zey Johnson, who has already rushed for 1,144 yards.
This looks like it should be a close game, and it feels like the Bobcats are ready to take the next step, especially with home-field advantage.
The pick: San Angelo Central 28, Midland Lee 24
TLCA San Angelo (2-5) at Wall (6-1)
This is an obvious mismatch between a TLCA team that was winless last year and a Wall team that won the 3A Division II state title. But realignment put these two schools in the same district. TLCA has been unable to sustain momentum after back-to-back wins early in the season, and the Eagles now face a gauntlet of a district. All they can do is keep trying to slowly build their program back up. For Wall, the Hawks bounced back in a big way last week with a 50-14 rout of Llano to kick off district play. Wall was coming off a 34-26 loss to Midland Christian that snapped the Hawks’ 21-game winning streak. They were without RB Gunner Garza and WR Jager Thompson, who could potentially sit out again this week to get healthy for what looks like a district-title game next week at 6-1 Early.
The pick: Wall 49, TLCA San Angelo 6
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