SAN ANGELO, TX — The TLCA football team has been handed a daunting challenge this fall.
The Eagles return only four starters on each side of the ball, had an unexpected coaching change in May, and were moved up into Class 3A Division I, where they landed in one of the most difficult districts in the state.
TLCA is the third-biggest school in the Concho Valley, but the Eagles will be the smallest school in their district.
They’ll be up against No. 10-ranked Sweetwater and No. 16 Jim Ned, along with Clyde and Comanche teams that reached the third round of the playoffs last year.
Yet all new head coach Bradley Oh sees is a lot of opportunity.
“To be honest with you, I love it,” Oh said. “I truly believe competition breeds success, so I’m very excited about the opportunity to get to play against these big dogs everybody is talking about.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase what we have coming up for TLCA.”
TLCA San Angelo quarterback Layne Honea (Contributed: Jon Honea)
The Eagles had a 5-6 record last year in 3A Division II and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Their head coach, Jonah Masters, accepted another job in May, and Oh was promoted from offensive coordinator less than five weeks after he was hired.
Oh has nine years of coaching experience, all at the college level before this season. He spent the last two years as the offensive line coach for Central State University in Ohio.
Oh said junior Chris Rangel, who was TLCA’s backup quarterback last season, is projected to be the starter this fall.
“He’s coming in to try and compete and take the starting job, and I’m very, very excited about him,” Oh said. “We’ll see if he can take it. Everything’s going to be a competition for us.”
Rangel’s brother, Daniel, is a senior lineman on both sides of the ball who should also be a team leader. He’s one of two returning starters on the offensive line, along with Braydon Kilgore.
Oh, who was an offensive lineman during his playing days, was optimistic about the potential of the Eagles’ line.
“I’m excited, man. We’re pretty big up front,” Oh said. “We have a couple pieces we need to fill, but other than that, I’m just excited about the group we do have.”
As far as playmakers, the Eagles return a pair of wide receivers in Ashton Ortiz and Joseph Luna. Defensively, Luna earned second-team all-district honors last year as a freshman cornerback.
At the running back position, Oh said he’s looking to see what senior Gunner Rodriguez can do.
“He’d been battling some injuries, but he’s healthy right now, and I’m just excited to see if he can take it and take charge of it,” Oh said.
On defense, the Rangel brothers are two of the team’s leaders. Chris Rangel was a second-team all-district linebacker last year.
Other leaders on that side of the ball will be linebacker Eric Heitzenrater and defensive backs Luna and Ortiz.
TLCA will open its season Friday, Aug. 30, at Tahoka. The Eagles’ home opener will be against Cisco, which is ranked No. 21 in the state in 2A Division I.
San Angelo TLCA Eagles
2024 schedule
Aug. 30 at Tahoka
Sept. 6 Cisco
Sept. 13 Ballinger
Sept. 20 at Austin Hyde Park Baptist
Sept. 27 Open
Oct. 4 at Grape Creek
Oct. 11 at Sweetwater*
Oct. 18 at Clyde*
Oct. 25 Jim Ned*
Nov. 1 at Comanche*
Nov. 8 Breckenridge*
*District 3-3A Division I game
2023 results
Ozona L 14-65
Odessa Compass W 27-24
Winters W 62-35
Ingram Moore L 36-51
Stanton W 41-0
Brady L 18-38
Grape Creek W 35-12
Wall L 12-69
Ballinger W 36-21
Early L 21-35
Crane L 0-56
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