Christoval Hopeful Effort, Returning Nucleus Propels Them to Historic Season

CHRISTOVAL, TX-- The Christoval Cougars are looking to change their fortune in 2018.

Since moving up from six-man football in 1994, the Cougars have not won a playoff game. They have been to the playoffs 11 times since then.

With five returning starters coming back on each side of the ball, Christoval is optimistic heading into 2018.

“I feel, this year, we’re going to execute a lot better than we did last year,” said third year head coach Casey Otho. “The first year, we had a little different offense than we’ve had the last two year. So, this is the second year in this offense...Our install is better. Our execution is better. We’re ahead of the game.”

Otho said there’s not really a name for his offense. He will use his tailback as his quarterback out of the I-formation.

Returning to direct that offense is sophomore Brayden Wilcox. In his debut season for the Cougars, Wilcox amassed 2,127 yards of total offense with 22 touchdowns to his name.

The other “mainstay” of Christoval’s offense is senior running back David Fava, who rushed for 918 yards with six touchdowns.

“They’re leaders,” Otho praised. “They executed well...They showed well in the scrimmage.”

Heading into his sophomore campaign, Wilcox has grown to more deeply understand the X’s and O’s of the game.

“I see him reading our run plays better,” Otho said. “He’s not as ancy back there to just tuck it and run like he did in junior high. He’s executing in the pass game better than he was last year.”

The new district for Christoval, District 8-2A Division II, features Menard, Rocksprings, Eldorado, Miles and Irion County. For Otho, their non-district schedule will be a good gauge as to where his team is heading into district play.

“We play a pretty tough pre-district schedule,” Otho said. “That was kind of on purpose to get these guys ready, to get them to know our district is pretty tough this year.”

Christoval will face Harper (6-4), Grape Creek (1-10), Van Horn (1-9), Cross Plains (6-5) and Winters (5-6). Three of those teams were in the playoffs last year.  

While Eldorado is the lone team remaining from the old district, Otho is certain he’ll get effort from his team.

Christoval opens 2018 at Harper on Friday, Aug. 31.