Sisco Looks to Climb Mountaintop Again With Water Valley

WATER VALLEY, TX — Five years after leading Sterling City to a state title, Trey Sisco is hoping to do the same with Water Valley.

Sisco, who graduated from Water Valley, returned to his alma mater last year as perhaps the most overqualified six-man defensive coordinator in the state.

He helped the Wildcats go 11-3 and reach the state semifinals for the first time in program history.

After head coach Aaron Whitmire retired during the offseason, Sisco was promoted to head coach.

With four returning starters on both sides of the ball — and a proven state-championship coach — this could be another special season for Water Valley, which heads into the season ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 1A Division I.

“I think the potential is there,” Sisco said. “The kids showed up and worked hard all summer, and the first two days (of fall practices) have been impressive. We’re kind of picking up where we ended last year. We’re a little farther along, so now I can add a few more things into the offense and defense that we probably didn’t get to last year.”

Water Valley brings back all-state leaders on offense and defense, including quarterback Landon Lacy and linebacker Boston Wiese.

Lacy threw for 1,803 yards and 41 touchdowns with three interceptions, and he added 792 rushing yards and 19 TDs. He was also a first-team all-state safety.

“The kid can sling it,” Sisco said. “He’s a smart kid. He reads the coverages well and delivers the ball on time, as well as being able to take off and run when he needs to.”

Lacy’s younger brother, Branson, is slated to move into the starting running back role after the graduation of Anthony Quintana.

Brylan Naylor and Wiese will also be a part of the running game, Sisco said. 

Sterling City transfer Rett Dickison could make an impact in the passing game as a tight end, while Naylor and Hayden Kolster are other potential targets.

Up front, Kolster and Cade Manley will help lock down the offensive line.

The defense will be anchored by Wiese, an all-state linebacker who racked up 198 tackles last year.

“That kid, he reads it so well. He’s got a nose for the football,” Sisco said. “The defense we run is pretty much designed for a kid like that to be successful, and he takes it to another level because he reads it so fast and how aggressive he is.”

Water Valley has some early tests against No. 21 Hermleigh, No. 11 Buena Vista and No. 18 Rankin before a district that includes No. 15 Robert Lee.

The Wildcats’ playoff run last year included wins over Ira, Knox City and Westbrook before they lost 74-54 to Whiteface in the state semifinals.

“I think we have a good chance to repeat that run, but it’s going to be really hard,” Sisco said. “Robert Lee’s got a great team, and they’ve got a great running back and spread back in (Brenner Sherwood) that we have to get a hold of. And then probably the biggest thing is depth. We don’t have a lot of it, so we’ve got to stay healthy.”

Water Valley Wildcats

2025 schedule

Aug. 29   Grandfalls

Sept. 5   at Hermleigh

Sept. 12   at Panther Creek

Sept. 19   at Buena Vista

Sept. 26   Rochelle

Oct. 3   Rankin

Oct. 10   OPEN

Oct. 17   at Veribest*

Oct. 24   at Robert Lee*

Oct. 31   at Irion County*

Nov. 7   Paint Rock*

*District 8-1A game

GRAPE CREEK, TX — Tanner Thiel believes this year's Grape Creek football team has the chance to make school history.

The ninth-year Eagles head coach oversaw the program's first share of a district title in 2021, and he led them to their fourth playoff appearance last year.

One accomplishment that has eluded Grape Creek since it opened its doors 27 years ago, however, is a playoff trophy.

With an exciting group of returning — including six starters back on offense and five on defense — Thiel thinks this could be the year that drought ends.

“We've been to the playoffs, but we haven't won that first one, and so that ultimately is our goal. We think we're good enough that we can get kind of the monkey off our back and get that first playoff win,” Thiel said. 

Leading the Eagles' returners is running back Sire Garcia, who had 1,260 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

Garcia was also a first-team all-district inside linebacker.

“Our kind of workhorse the last couple of years is Sire Garcia," Thiel said. "He's a two-way starter and he makes our offense go. A big playmaker on the defensive side of the ball.”

Braley Woods (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) will take over at quarterback after being named last year's district Utility Player of the Year.

“A really good arm, and a really big kid," Thiel said. "He’s actually our leading receiver coming back because he played tight end with us previously."

Thiel called outside linebacker Chris Duron "an animal" on defense and one of the team's leaders.

Tight end/safety Gabe Santillan and slot back/defensive back Randy Rodriguez are both two-way standouts.

“We really feel like they’re gonna be special players for us this season," Thiel said. 

Grape Creek went 4-7 last year and finished in a three-way tie for second place in District 4-3A Division II. The Eagles' season ended with a 42-26 loss to Crane in the first round of the playoffs.

“We feel like this year, instead of losing those close games, we feel like we should be able to win those close games," Thiel said. "So we're to the point where we're not satisfied with keeping them close.”

“I think that this is the type of year that basically turns people's heads about Grape Creek.  think our community, our school, our alumni, I feel like this is a year that we can really make them proud. This group of kids that we have coming out this year is some of the best that we've ever had. Talent-wise, top to bottom, it's by far the most talented group that I've had since I've been at Grape Creek.

“I think the main word that comes to mind when I think of our community and our school and our alumni is pride. I think they'll be able to take a lot of pride in the kids that we put out on the field this year.”

Grape Creek Eagles

2025 schedule

Aug. 29   San Saba

Sept. 5   at Reagan County

Sept. 12   at Bangs

Sept. 19   Colorado City

Sept. 26   Tahoka

Oct. 3   at San Angelo TLCA

Oct. 10   at Coahoma*

Oct. 17   Stanton*

Oct. 24   at Wall*

Oct. 31   Merkel*

Nov. 7   OPEN

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