DETAILS: High School Football Post-Season is Right Around the Corner!

SAN ANGELO – The Texas High School Football playoffs are right around the corner and teams are fighting to get the best seeding possible.

The Bobcats have another tough test this evening when the Permian Panthers come to San Angelo Stadium. Wall and Early are duking it out at Clayton Weishuhn Field. Christoval is looking to rebound against Sonora after losing last week. The Miles Bulldogs are squaring off against the Roscoe Plowboys to maintain their spot in the playoffs and Eldorado faces McCamey with playoff implications on the line.

PERMIAN (7-1, 2-1) vs SAN ANGELO CENTRAL (5-3, 2-1)

The Bobcats face another tough district opponent in the Permian Panthers. Central enters another game where they’ll have to be near perfect as Permian is on the same level as Midland Legacy. Bobcat quarterback Tyler Hill doesn’t throw many interceptions with only four on the season. The offensive line has been doing their job as Hill and the running backs, Tyree Brawley, Aiden Barron, and Jayvion Robinson have put up 1,874 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.

Hill has gotten it done through the air as well throwing 124-201 for a 61% completion percentage, 1,623 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only four picks. His go-to guy, Jacob English, has taken 20 receptions for 347 yards and six touchdowns. Tyler Walker is next in yardage with 313 but no touchdowns. Keevon Rice and Ben Imler has 213 and 214 yards respectively and together have seven scores and Jacob Gallegos, who has just as many receptions as English, has 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Central needs it’s defense to stop the Panthers from running all over the place. Agasint Legacy, the Central defense gave up 346 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Darius Floyd, Evan Arnold, Andrew Gonzalez, and James Burney will have to bust through the Mojo line and put pressure on the quarterback. That’s easier said than done as Permian’s line features Harris Sewell who has committed to Clemson.

Speaking of the Permian offense, quarterback Rodney Hall Jr. has gone 75-134 for 958 yards, 10 touchdowns to five interceptions. Running back Justice Lara leads the ground game with 638 yards and 13 touchdowns. Tabarie Jones adds in 252 yards and one score while Hall Jr. can move the rock and has 342 yards and four touchdowns.

While only 75 passes have been completed, the Mojo receivers have put up some good yardage. Jaquan Richardson has 33 receptions for 478 yards and four touchdowns and Jones has 200 yards and one score. Deonte Bass only has 90 yards but has two scores. The strength of the Panthers is the running game so Central will need to be prepared for the grind.

The Permian defense has some playmakers on it in Parker Hayes, Caysen Clinton, Jace Gilliam, Preston Grizzell, and Haden Duran. This defense swarms and has 69 tackles for loss, 36 quarterback hurries, 19 sacks, 12 interceptions, 24 passes defended, and eight fumble recoveries.

Temperatures have cooled off drastically the last couple days in San Angelo and with the rain, expect the ground game to dominate tonight at San Angelo Stadium.

COVER1 PICKS:

• James- Permian
• Matt- Permian
• Yantis- Permian
• Joe- Central
• Chadwick- Central
• Isaiah- Permian
• Jake- Permian
• Ernesto- Permian

EARLY (5-2, 3-0) vs WALL (7-1, 3-0)

Wall has not allowed any points to three straight district opponents but that very well could change tonight when the Early Longhorns come to Clayton Weishuhn Field. The Hawks have ran all over opponents this season averaging 341.3 yards a game. Over eight games that gives Wall a grand total of 2,730 rushing yards and they’ve reached the endzone 36 times. Nathan Pepper has the lion’s share of yards with 711 and 10 scores while Garrett Guy has 503 yards and five touchdowns.

The Hawks have plenty of players who have toted the rock this season including Dane Reynolds, Matthew Steen, Landon Beeles, Briggs Jones, Hagyn Barbee, Gunner Dillard, Luke Kemp, Will Scherr, Canyon McCabe, Logan Thomas, and Jayden Sellers. Kemp is the go-to receiver when the Hawks do decide to throw the ball however rare that may be. He’s caught 5 passes for 167 yards and one score. Wall’s has 296 yards passing this season.

While the Hawks have an impressive ground game, their defense might be the most impressive thing about the team. Not only are they a young group, but they’re also playing incredibly well. Sophomore Brylan White and Junior Dylan Gidney have 89 tackles combined, 22 for loss, 13 sacks, 27 quarterback hurries, 3 passes defended, and one fumble recovery. Add in the emotional leader Caleb Valles, Thomas, Scherr, and Sellers, this defense is legit. Everyone is making tackles all across the field. The Hawks have 24 total sacks, 70 quarterback hurries, 10 interceptions, and five fumble recoveries.

Early is coming to play and Hawk’s Head Coach Houston Guy knows this. Longhorn quarterback Jaxyn Price has gone 149-264 for 2,011 yards, 22 touchdowns to five interceptions. Griffin Cheslock and Kaleb Ozuna have a combined 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The passing game has been better with Jeremy Brown taking 47 receptions for 784 yards, and 11 touchdowns. John-Stewart Gordon, Ki Houston, Cedrick Morelan, and Caleb McCullough pick up the slack and have 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns. The offensive line has given Price time to throw as Coach Guy said Early has not given up a sack since the playoffs last season.

Ozuna, McCullough, Gavin Sanders, and Dalton Adams lead the team in tackles while McCullough and Adams combined have 13 of Early’s 19 total sacks. Good thing the Hawks don’t throw much as Colton Allen has five interceptions so far this season and the defense has 31 passes defended.

This game could very well be for the district championship and Wall remembers that the Longhorns beat them last season to knock them down to fourth in district.

COVER1 PICKS:

• James- Wall
• Matt- Wall
• Yantis- Wall
• Joe- Wall
• Chadwick- Wall
• Isaiah- Wall
• Jake- Wall
• Ernesto- Wall

SONORA (6-2, 2-1) vs CHRISTOVAL (4-4, 2-1)

Christoval is looking to bounce back after losing in the fourth quarter to Forsan last week 14-6. Looking at the box score, Forsan’s Bryson Kinsey had one reception for 70 yards and a touchdown to put the Buffaloes up by eight with about five minutes to go in the game. The Cougars have the Broncos this week. The same Bronco team that put up 48 points on Anthony last week.

Sonora hasn’t thrown much as quarterback Jamie Buitron has gone 61-108 for 1,106 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Buitron has enjoyed a ton of success on the ground and has rushed for 1,293 yards and 17 touchdowns. Hunter O’Banon has rushed for 907 yards and five scores. Edgar DeLuna and Eli Pruneda have a combined 590 yards and two scores.

Jonah Galvan and DeLuna have 232 and 294 receiving yards respectively and together have eight scores. O’Banon and Cason Griffith have added 241 yards to the passing game. Sophomore Juan Castillo has a couple of touchdowns and 89 yards on the season.

Defensively, DeLuna is a brick wall with 128 total tackles and 19 for loss. He’s sure to meet Christoval running back Ketcher Joiner more than enough times tonight. Tanner Flanagan, Buitron, Tristian Ford, and Owen Jones lead the rest of the defense in tackles.

Sonora only has two sacks recorded so far and against an expirenece offensive line like the Cougars have that doesn’t bode well for the Broncos. One thing they can do is take the ball back for their offense. Buitron and Darian Reyes have eight of the 14 total interceptions.

Cougar quarterback Kyle Loehman has gone 18-33 for 219 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. Loehman was injured earlier in the season against Grape Creek but has since returned. Where the Cougars get it done is on the ground where Joiner has 1,001 yards and eight touchdowns and backup Manuel Riojas has 302 yards and five scores. Cayden Carpenter has 16 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Carpenter is the guy out wide with 259 yards and two receiving touchdowns and Ethan Busch is second on the team with 112 yards.

Nicolai Nelson has gotten it done in the sack department with half of the Cougar’s 12 total. Jayce Williams leads the team with 62 tackles. Jake Edmiston has 46 tackles, Carpenter has 40, Tristen Alvarado has 44, Nelson has 42, and Sevastian Salinas has 40.

Edmiston leads the team with two picks and Busch leads with 11 passes defended. The Cougars have nine fumble recoveries and nine caused fumbles.

This should be a good one and will have major playoff implications. Both teams are very good on the ground.

COVER1 PICKS:

• James- Christoval
• Matt- Sonora
• Yantis- Christoval
• Joe- Christoval
• Chadwick- Christoval
• Isaiah- Sonora
• Jake- Sonora
• Ernesto- Christoval

ELDORADO (4-4, 3-1) vs MCCAMEY (6-2, 2-1)

The Eldorado Eagles are currently in third place in district and are taking on the current fourth place team, the McCamey Badgers. Add in Sterling City and these three teams are fighting to be seeded as high as possible with the high chance the fourth-place team will play the Albany Lions in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Eagles shut out the Iraan Braves last week. Omar Barajas played quarterback again and went for 280 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Barajas has gone 20-51 for 423 yards for three touchdowns and one interception. The rushing attack has put up 976 yards and nine touchdowns. The Eagles are led by Paul Luna with 219 yards and three scores. Barajas, Covarrubiaz, and Soto put up 204, 165, and 121 yards respectively. Nino Tambunga and Ethan Elias have been the guys out wide with 382 yards and four scores combined.

Defensively, Sam Griffin and Garrett Porter together have 111 tackles and five of the Eagles seven sacks. The Eagles have 7 picks, four fumble recoveries and three caused fumbles. The Eagles have a very dangerous defense when you add in Tony Kmeic and Marcos Morin.

McCamey likes to run the ball and Matthew Rosas leads the backs with 913 yards and 13 touchdowns. Noah Torres follows that up with 370 yards and five scores. Quarterback Aiden Torres adds 121 yards and two touchdowns. He’s gone 17-34 for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Seby Loya and Braxtyn Babb combined have 329 yards and three touchdowns.

Rosas is the lead tackler with 82 followed by Noe Hernandez with 65. The Badgers have gotten to the quarterback 11 times with Landyn Urias leading the team with three. Loya has six passes defended of the 20 total and McCamey has three interceptions on the season.

Expect a great one here to try and avoid a buzzsaw in the first round against Albany.

COVER1 PICKS:

• James- McCamey
• Matt- Eldorado
• Yantis- Eldorado
• Joe- Eldorado
• Chadwick- Eldorado
• Isaiah- McCamey
• Jake- Eldorado
• Ernesto- Eldorado

MIDLAND LEGACY (4-4, 2-1) vs MIDLAND (5-2, 1-2)

The Rebels are looking to take it to Midland this week in another Little Southwest Conference Showdown.

Legacy quarterback Marcos Davila has been great this season going 138-231 for 2,154 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Running back Zeke Luna has rushed for 984 yards and nine touchdowns. Madden Milloy and Tommy Johnson III have rushed of a combined 365 yards and one score.

The passing attack is another beast as Deonte Sonnier is the to-go with 639 yards and 10 scores. Aiden Serrano follows with 556 yards and eight touchdowns and Brex Stevens is third in line with 332 yards and three touchdowns. There are more guys like Colin Brazzell and Skyler Wilburn as well.

The defense is looking to feast as Trace Low, Mario Serrano, and Esus Robledo leading the team in tackles. Low has six of the 14 sacks and Legacy has 36 quarterback hurries. The Rebels have 11 interceptions, five fumble recoveries, and six caused fumbled.

The Bulldogs have their work cut out for them, but they could limit the Rebels with their rushing offensive style. If Midland can get a couple stops and run the clock, they have a chance. Brylee Perez, Drayton McCoy, and Jacob Urias lead the team with 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns. Midland has rushed for 3,032 total yards and 33 scores. The Bulldogs don’t put it in the air much as they have 296 passing yards and five scores.

The Bulldog defense is going to rely on Athen Dominguez, Noah Crumpler, Daniel Varela, and Adam Alvarado, their tackle leaders to stop the Rebel rushing game. JT Taylor leads the team with three sacks and five quarterback hurries. The Bulldogs do have eight interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a fumbled caused.

COVER1 PICKS:

• James- Legacy
• Matt-Legacy
• Yantis- Legacy
• Joe- Legacy
• Chadwick- Legacy
• Isaiah- Legacy
• Jake- Legacy
• Ernesto- Legacy

OVERALL PICKS:

• James 31-14
• Yantis 28-17
• Joe 27-18
• Jake 27-18
• Isaiah 25-20
• Ernesto 24-21
• Chadwick 24-21
• Matt 22-23

COVER1 picks are brought to you by Thieman Investments. Tune into COVER1 for exclusive coaches’ interviews, score updates, highlights, and more at around 4:00, 8:00. And 10:00 p.m. on Friday night only on San Angelo LIVE!