DETAILS: Competition Intensifies in Week 4 of High School Football Friday Night

SAN ANGELO – As incredible as it seems, week four of Texas high school football is here and there's a lot of news surrounding area teams.  

Following an overtime loss, the San Angelo Central High School Bobcats travel to Belton to take on the Tigers. West Texas powerhouse Midland Legacy could be in for a game against Steele. The Mason Punchers take on the Christoval Cougars and the Blizzards take on the undefeated Miles Bulldogs. Also, someone will get a win when the Grape Creek Eagles take on the Ozona Lions.

San Angelo Central (1-2) at Belton (2-1)

The Bobcats are coming off a disappointing loss to Abilene Cooper where they had to fight out of a halftime deficit only to come up short 41-38 in overtime. Central needs to start hot against Belton who has been playing good football. Tiger quarterback Ty Brown is 44-76 for 720 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. Brown has two receivers over 100 yards in Garrett Oliveira, with 207 yards, and Isaac Abel, with 177 yards. Most of Belton’s success has come through the air but they do have a couple running backs, Shawn Snapp and Lennox Underwood, who are threats rushing the ball.

For Central, quarterback Tyler Hill has been as much a dual threat as he can be. With 537 passing yards and 296 rushing, Hill gives the Bobcats the best chance at winning. Add in Tyree Brawley’s 188 yards and three scores and Jacob English’s 203 receiving yards and three scores, Central has a “Big 3”. The Bobcats have put up 114 total points this season, which averages at 38 points per game. The defense has played really well, but when you get behind to start the game, you have to make up for it in the second half. Central needs to maintain control of the game to come home winners.

COVER1 PICKS:

• Matt- Belton
• James- Belton
• Joe- Belton
• Yantis- San Angelo Central
• Chadwick- San Angelo Central
• Jake- San Angelo Central
• Sam- San Angelo Central
• Ernesto- Belton

Steele (3-0) vs Midland Legacy (2-1)

This could be a really great game as these two teams match up really well. Legacy quarterback Marcos Davila is having an incredible season so far as is Steele quarterback Chad Warner, who is 30-39 for 669 yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions. Davila has 11 touchdown passes and one interception.

For Steele, 46 total passing attempts, which works out to just over 15 attempts per game, isn’t passing a lot but the receivers have had great seasons so far. Sophomore Royal Capell has caught 14 of those for 244 yards and three scores. Fellow sophomore Jalen Cooper has six receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Jaydon Bailey has owned the ground game with 58 carries for 375 yards and six scores.

While those are great numbers for Steele, Legacy wide out Deonta Sonnier has taken 18 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns and Brex Stevens has 201 yards and three scores. Running back Zeke Luna has averaged 20 attempts per game and is averaging 132 yards per game on the ground and a touchdown per game. This is a game to watch.

COVER1 PICKS:

• Matt- Legacy
• James- Steele
• Joe- Legacy
• Yantis- Legacy
• Chadwick- Legacy
• Jake-Legacy
• Sam- Legacy
• Ernesto- Legacy

Mason (2-1) at Christoval (2-1)

Both Mason and Christoval are coming off convincing wins over Ozona and Colorado City respectively. The Cougars relied on backup quarterback Kyle Abilez, who is 17-23 for 160 yards and one touchdown on the season, since week 2 after starter Kyle Loehman went out with an injury. They’ve also leaned into the running back as running backs Ketcher Joiner and Manuel Riojas have 519 yards and five touchdowns on the year. Senior Cayden Carpenter has been the go-to passing threat with 13 receptions, 154 yards, and one touchdown.

Stats on Mason are not available on Maxpreps. The Punchers only loss is to the Coleman Bluecats, who are perfect going into week 4. The other two teams Mason has played, the Brady Bulldogs and the Ozona Lions, are a combined 0-6 on the season. Christoval will need to run behind the experience of offensive lineman like Brock Ratliff, Nicolai Nelson, and Sevastian Salinas and can grind out a victory with the one-two punch of Joiner and Riojas.

COVER1 PICKS:

• Matt- Mason
• James- Christoval
• Joe- Mason
• Yantis- Christoval
• Chadwick- Christoval
• Jake- Christoval
• Sam- Mason
• Ernesto- Christoval

Miles (3-0) at Winters (1-2)

The Winters Blizzards are coming off a tough loss to San Angelo TLCA 36-34. This game was back and forth but the Eagles came out on top. This was after a week 2 overtime victory over the Eldorado Eagles. The Blizzards have been in tight games but controlling this Miles team will be a test.

Miles has put together three good showings including a comeback victory over the Sterling City Eagles a couple weeks back. Bulldog quarterback Hayven Book has really taken a step forward and has 13 touchdowns to only one interception. His go-to receiver, Carson Ellison, has 161 yards and five touchdowns. Looking at the Bulldog’s state sheet, the really impressive thing is the points for and against. Over three weeks, Miles has given up an average of one touchdown while scoring an average of 55 points per game.

COVER1 PICKS:

• Matt- Miles
• James- Miles
• Joe- Miles
• Yantis- Miles
• Chadwick- Miles
• Jake- Miles
• Sam- Miles
• Ernesto- Miles

Grape Creek (0-3) at Ozona (0-3)

Both Grape Creek and Ozona have had disappointing starts to the season as neither team has yet to win a game. Stats have not been made available for the Eagles. The Lions have lost to San Angelo TLCA, Wink, and Mason. Both Wink and Mason have had good programs in recent years. Lion quarterback Hudson Fowler is only a sophomore but he’s not afraid to throw it. He’s 18-48 for 440 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.

The Lions also have a very balanced attack. Of their total yards, 521 have come on the ground and 473 have come through the air. Running backs Logan Fay, Dusty Smith, and Rigo Treto have combined for 402 yards on the ground. Through the air, Fowler has three good receivers in Dusty Smith, with 141 yards and four touchdowns, Matthew Daniels, and Max Everett. Both Dnaiels and Everett have a combined 269 yards and three touchdowns.

COVER1 PICKS:

• Matt- Grape Creek
• James- Ozona
• Joe- Grape Creek
• Yantis- Grape Creek
• Chadwick- Ozona
• Jake- Grape Creek
• Sam-Grape Creek
• Ernesto-Grape Creek

COVER1 picks are brought to you by Thiamin Investments. Tune into COVER1 for scores, updates, and breakdowns at 4:00, 8:00, and 10:00 on Friday nights only on San Angelo LIVE!.