PREVIEW: Sonora and Olney Square Off in Opening Round of High School Football Playoffs

CLYDE- This could be a really great matchup in the first round as Sonora takes on Olney in Clyde on Thursday.

Sonora won the first seed in district after beating Forsan by 11 points and drew the Olney Cubs in the first round. The Cubs aren’t your usual fourth place team as they’ve got a 7-3 record on the season losing only to Hawley, Cisco, and Stamford. All three losses come from district play.

These are two really similar teams as Sonora (8-2) has put up 356 points and Olney has scored 343 points. Their points against are Sonora, 122 and Olney, 137. The Cubs are ranked at 29 in 2A-1 ball in the state and Sonora is ranked at 33.

For the Broncos, junior quarterback Jaime Buitron has had a decent year throwing the football ending the regular season completing 76-137 for 1,374 yards, 14 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Buitron’s legs are an even more dangerous weapon as he’s carried the ball 152 times for 1,601 yards and 21 touchdowns. His partner-in-crime, senior Hunter O’Banon, has 139 attempts, in one less game, for 1,029 yards and seven scores.

Olney has a very talented runner as well in senior Jovani Rockmore who has 148 rushing attempts for 1,567 yards and has crossed the endzone 17 times. His quarterback, junior Gatlin Guy, has 973 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Olney doesn’t throw the ball like Sonora does so Guy’s passing yards sit at 238 for the season with three touchdown passes and four interceptions.

So, who has the edge in this one?

Both teams have dynamic duos at signal caller and running back. Both teams are very evenly matched in points for and points against. This one could come down to who has the better supporting cast of players.

For one, Sonora has junior Edgar DeLuna, who has done nothing but play good football. DeLuna has 43 carries for 531 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He’s one of Buitrons favorite targets, tying senior Jonah Galvan with 19 catches for 422 yards and six scores. But where DeLuna really excels is on defense where he’s collected 156 tackles, 20 for loss, two interceptions, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery.

He'll get acquainted with Rockmore fairly early in this one.

Going back to the offensive side of things, Galvan has 265 yards and three scores. O’Banon has 186 yards receiving and senior Cason Griffith has 125 yards and one score. Sophomore Juan Castillo may only have 89 receiving yards, but he is third on the team in receiving touchdowns with two.

On defense, the Broncos have an experienced secondary with Buitron and senior Damien Reyes who have four interceptions each. DeLuna and O’Banon each have two and Castillo and sophomore Tristen Ford have one a piece.

The one thing Sonora is lacking is getting to the quarterback. Buitron has three sacks this season followed by senior Gage Owen with two. Galvan and sophomore Owen Jones each have one. Owens, Jones, and senior Tanner Flanagan lead the team in quarterback hurries. While the Broncos may have had some issues getting home, they do make plays in the backfield with 63 total tackles for loss.

What about Olney?

Junior Colin Mason has 63 rushing attempts for 403 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Cameron McComack has rushed for 272 yards and one score and junior Cye Dixon has 205 yard and three touchdowns.

The receiving numbers haven’t been great but senior Luis Castillo is the first look and has 6 receptions for 167 yards and one score. Mason and junior Angel Alvarado have two receiving touchdowns together.

Senior AB Marquez leads the Cubs with 82 tackles and is followed by McComack and Castillo with 65 and 62 respectively. Junior Cyler Sosa is fourth in tackles with 59.

The Cubs have had better luck getting to the quarterback with 17 total sacks and are led by Castillo and junior Jordan Jacoba with four each. Marque and McComack have two each and five players are tied with one.

Sosa ended the regular season with two interceptions along with junior Braulio Flores. Guy, Mason, Castillo, Jacoba, and junior Noah Enriquez have one each and the team has six fumble recoveries total.

These two teams are nearly evenly match so tune into COVER1 on Friday for exclusive coaches’ interviews, score updates, highlights and more of all the Thursday Night High School Playoff recaps and Friday Night action at around 4:00, 8:00, and 10:00 p.m. only on San Angelo LIVE!