Friday Night Rewind: Best Games, Biggest Wins and Top Performers From Last Week

SAN ANGELO, TX — Here are the best games, biggest wins and top performers from last week’s high school football action in West Texas:

Biggest win: Water Valley

Water Valley’s 59-14 rout of Rankin — a team ranked No. 13 in the state heading into the season — leaves no doubt the Wildcats are back as a legitimate contender in the six-man world. They’ll take a 4-2 record into their district opener against 5-1 Veribest on Oct. 18.

Best game: Eden-Baird

The Eden Bulldogs scored with 1:26 remaining to edge Baird 44-42. Eden let a 38-22 halftime lead slip away, but the Bulldogs recovered to drive for the winning touchdown.

Biggest surprise: Lohn

The Lohn Eagles, who hadn’t won more than three games in a season in 17 years, have a 4-2 record. Lohn’s 56-6 win over Mullin last week continued its exciting start. The Eagles will host Panther Creek on Friday to begin district play. 

Lighting up scoreboards: Junction, Grape Creek

Junction and Grape Creek both couldn’t be stopped last week. Junction rolled to a 76-0 win over Rocksprings, while Grape Creek ran away with a 74-0 win over San Angelo TLCA.

Case for the defense: Wall

The Wall Hawks’ defense was masterful in a 33-10 win over Idalou. Wall’s offense had six turnovers, but the Hawks’ defense didn’t allow Idalou to capitalize and posted a second-half shutout. Garrett Guy, Ethan Michalewicz, Bryson McFarden and Briggs Jones all had interceptions for Wall. Idalou’s only TD came after a fumble set the Wildcats up at the 11-yard line.

Top performers

Thomas Leanos, Wall: Had 19 carries for 132 yards and a TD in a win over Idalou

Ethan Michalewicz, Wall: Had four carries for 74 yards and a TD, along with nine tackles and an interception in a win over Idalou

Landon York, Wall: Threw for 217 yards and two TDs on 15-of-21 passing in a win over Idalou

Even Boehle, Wall: Had three catches for 96 yards and a TD in a win over Idalou

Anthony Quintana, Water Valley: Had 15 carries for 79 yards and two TDs, two catches for 25 yards and a TD, threw a 30-yard TD pass and returned a fumble for a TD in a win over Rankin

Landon Lacy, Water Valley: Had six carries for 71 yards and a TD, threw for 80 yards and two TDs on 5-of-9 passing, and had an interception and fumble recovery on defense in a win over Rankin

Brenner Sherwood, Robert Lee: Threw for 159 yards and two TDs on 8-of-11 passing, rushed for 164 yards and three TDs on 10 carries, and had eight tackles and a fumble recovery in a win over Bronte

Joe Anthony De la Fuente, Lohn: Had eight carries for 119 yards and two TDs in a win over Mullin

Brody Walts, Garden City: Had eight carries for 132 yards and three TDs in a loss to Westbrook

Preston Dehlinger, Garden City: Had four catches for 107 yards and three TDs in a loss to Westbrook

Francisco Ramirez, San Angelo Lake View: Had seven catches for 122 yards and two TDs in a loss to Burnet

Chris Alvizo, San Angelo Lake View: Threw for 228 yards and two TDs on 15-of-21 passing in a loss to Burnet

Sire Garcia, Grape Creek: Had six carries for 96 yards and two TDs in a win over San Angelo TLCA