Top 5 Football Games to Watch in West Texas This Week

SAN ANGELO, TX — Here are our top five football games to watch this week in the Concho Valley and West Texas:

Wall (7-1) at Early (6-1)

The No. 4-ranked Wall Hawks will travel to Early for what could be the title game in District 3-3A Division I. Of course, a 6-1 Ingram Moore team also is waiting in the final week of the regular-season finale, but this is the test the Hawks have to pass first.

Wall is coming off a 74-0 win over TLCA San Angelo last week, which followed a 50-14 win over Llano the previous week in a game that was projected to be the title game. As it turned out, Llano wasn’t the same team that reached the state semifinals last year, and the Yellowjackets are off to an 0-2 start in district after a 41-25 loss to Ingram Moore. This is a much more difficult district than Wall has dealt with in previous years, which should benefit the Hawks as they prepare for what will be a tougher path in the playoffs in 3A Division I.

Early has been a program on the rise after a one-win season in 2024. The Longhorns improved to 5-6 last year, and they’ve already bettered that with a 6-1 start this season. Their only loss, however, was a lopsided one as they were overwhelmed 51-21 by De Leon. Early has a talented dual-threat quarterback in Caden Wilson (963 passing yards, 542 rushing yards) and a strong running back in Isaac Ybarra (751 rushing yards). Even so, it seems unlikely the Longhorns will be able to keep pace with Wall’s explosive attack.

The pick: Wall 42, Early 21

Plainview (2-5) at San Angelo Lake View (3-4)

The Lake View Chiefs will try to shake off a run of three straight overtime losses when they host Plainview on Friday in the District 3-4A Division I opener for both teams. This is their first meeting since they shared a district in 2015.

Both teams will be rested coming off a bye. Lake View needed it as much as any team after its crazy three-game stretch when it lost in overtime to Big Spring, Levelland and Pflugerville Connally. The Chiefs showed a lot of heart with fourth-quarter comebacks in two of those games, including overcoming a 21-7 deficit in the final eight minutes against Connally. Lake View has been without standout wide receivers Chris Rodela for three weeks and Andrew Young for two weeks. Other players have stepped up in their absence, especially running back Aiden Rivera, who has produced 323 yards of offense the last two weeks.

Plainview hasn’t had a winning season since 2014, and the Bulldogs are off to a rough start after dropping from Class 5A Division I this year, though they’ve had a strong schedule. Plainview has a balanced attack led by QB Mason King, who has thrown for 1,264 yards and 11 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. His top receiver, Kannon Brooks, has 32 catches for 530 yards and five TDs. The ground game is led by Blake Williams with 85 carries for 566 yards and eight TDs.

This is a critical game for the Chiefs if they want to have a chance at a district title or at least a top-two finish. Here’s betting they get back on track and don’t need overtime to do it.

The pick: San Angelo Lake View 28, Plainview 24

Christoval (2-5) at Ballinger (6-1)

Ballinger would seem like a heavy favorite in this matchup, but things got a lot more interesting when QB Wyatt Clemens was thrown out of the game in the final minutes last week against Colorado City for a verbal altercation with a defender. It didn’t affect that game, but it means he’ll have to sit out the first half this week. 

Backup QB Hunter Wilson will need to step up for the Bearcats and keep them in the game. Ballinger often has a pass-heavy attack, but the Bearcats showed last week they can lean on their running game when they have to. Malachi Bentley had 10 carries for 104 yards and a TD, and Ballinger may lean on him again. The Bearcats will also need their defense to withstand Christoval’s formidable rushing attack, led by Danny Alfaro (759 rushing yards) and Ty DeBusk (536 rushing yards). Ballinger posted a second-half shutout last week, showing its defense’s potential.

Ballinger and Sonora (both 3-0 in district play) look like they’re on a collision course to meet for the title next week in Sonora. But this is a competitive district, and Christoval has shown what it’s capable of after nearly beating Sonora in a 40-32 loss. The Bearcats will have to be on high alert and not dig themselves a hole they can’t dig out of. 

The pick: Ballinger 27, Christoval 20

San Angelo Central (3-4) at Odessa High (2-6)

After a 32-27 loss to Midland Lee last week to open district play, the Central Bobcats are suddenly facing what feels like a must-win game on the road against Odessa High. And though Odessa High is off to an 0-2 district start and projected to be last place, the Bronchos have played Central close the last few years, including a 35-32 loss last season.

If Central were to lose this game, the Bobcats would be in serious danger of missing the playofffs, while a win would all but lock up one of the four spots in this five-team district. Central could also keep alive hopes of possibly tying for a district, though that would require a win at undefeated Odessa Permian in the regular-season finale. First things first, the Bobcats need to find a way to get a win over Odessa High. This is also perhaps an opportunity for running back Zey Johnson to make a real dent in his pursuit of the single-season rushing record set by Daven Manning in 2016 with 1,701 yards. Johnson is at 1,215 yards with 15 TDs. A big game on the ground by Johnson would go a long way toward Central returning home with a win.

Odessa High hasn’t been close in district losses so far to Midland High (47-13) and Permian (56-0). The Bronchos haven’t won a district game since a 71-70 shootout against the Bobcats in 2023. With a trip to Midland Lee awaiting them next week, they know this might represent their best chance to sneak into the playoffs. Expect a game that’s a bit too close for comfort.

The pick: Central 38, Odessa High 24

Hamlin (3-5) at Miles (3-4) 

The Miles Bulldogs can go a long way toward earning the fourth and final playoff spot in District 7-2A Division II if they can get a win at home over Hamlin. The district is top heavy with state powers like Goldthwaite, Stamford and Albany, but the fourth playoff ticket is there for the taking.

Miles had a bye last week and previously shut out Winters 48-0 to pick up its first district win. The Bulldogs’ path to the playoffs will require them to beat Hamlin and then Cross Plains in the final week of the regular season. That game is also in Miles.

Hamlin’s only district win was also against Winters by a score of 56-14. The Pied Pipers likely cost themselves a playoff trip with their 39-12 loss to Cross Plains, but they could hope for a win over Miles, along with a Miles’ victory over Cross Plains to create a tie for fourth place. Hamlin has only had one losing season since 2012, so this is a program accustomed to winning. Miles also posted three straight 8-win seasons before last year’s setback at 2-8, so the Bulldogs have some tradition to uphold as well.

The pick: Miles 24, Hamlin 20