Ozona's Perfect Season on the Line Against Christoval in District Finale

OZONA, TX — A perfect season is on the line for the Ozona Lions on Friday as they prepare for a deep playoff run.

Ozona (9-0 overall, 4-0 in district) can complete its first undefeated regular season since 2002, but the Lions have one last district game to play against the Christoval Cougars (4-5, 2-2).

This season has been quite a wild ride for the Lions as senior running back Christian Villarreal is closing in on history behind an experienced offensive line.

Villarreal has 204 carries for 3,269 yards (16 yards per carry) and 47 touchdowns. He is averaging 363.2 yards per game. His season low for yardage is 230 yards, while his season high is 450 yards.

Villarreal realistically can break the single season rushing yardage record set by the Sugar Land Express, Kenneth Hall, in 1953 when he rushed for 4,045 yards. Another record that is within reach is the single-season rushing touchdowns record, which was set by Aledo’s Jonathan Gray who scored 65 touchdowns in 2011.

With the playoffs starting next week, one record that might be out of reach is the single-game rushing yard record, which is 599 yards. If it wasn’t for the thunderstorms when Ozona played Colorado City, he very well would have broken that record. The game was called with about 9 minutes left in the third quarter, and he already had 380 yards.

Villarreal’s historic season would not be possible without an amazing offensive line that grinds opponents down over the course of the game.

In reality, the entire team works well together. Defenses can’t load the box because senior quarterback Michael Preddy has been efficient this season, completing 69% of his passes for 1,182 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Graciano Garcia leads the receivers in yards with 377, followed by Villarreal with 281 yards. Rielee Barrera, JP Garza, and Andres Quiroz have 182, 162, and 156 yards, respectively.

Overall, the Lions have score 566 points this season, just under 63 points per game, and they give 20 points per game.

Ozona has been playing very good defense with only one team (Forsan) finishing within a touchdown (46-40). Every other game has been a 40-point win with the exception of a 14-point victory over Brady.

Nolan Martinez leads the team in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (6), but JP Garza leads the team in tackles (71) followed by Kaleb Ramon (61). The Lions defense flies around on the field as 18 different players have double-digit tackles.

Christian Treto is second on the team in sacks behind Martinez with 3, and Ryan Ramos, Matt Ybarra, and Rowdy O’Bryant each have 2. Five players have one apiece.

Ozona’s Leo Blanco and Garza have four and two interceptions, respectively, and seven different players each have snagged one. They attack the football and have recovered 10 fumbles.

Ozona isn’t the only team in this district to have a new head coach, because Christoval hired Tanner McLean during the offseason to take over for Casey Otho. Unlike the Lions, the Cougars had to find a new offensive line and a quarterback as they were hit pretty hard by graduation. A positive note for Christoval is the Cougars are a fairly young team.

They found a signal caller in sophomore Ty Debusk, who has gone 95-of-207 passing for 1,349 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing yards with 564 and eight TDs. Haiden Davis is second with 253 yards and two scores.

Isreal Boggs is the go-to receiver with 25 catches for 409 yards and three touchdowns. Kanin Green is a close second with 23 receptions, 332 yards, and two touchdowns. Kelton Gibbs has 18 catches for 283 yards and one score.

Defensively, Colt Floyd is a force and leads the team in tackles (79), tackles for loss (23) and sacks (4). Boggs, Gibbs, and Kreed Kirkland are some other notable defenders. Tony Perea and Oakley Pyle both have two sacks each.

In the secondary, the Cougars have five interceptions between five different players, and Gibbs has four fumble recoveries.

While Ozona expects to take care of business, the Cougars upset the Lions 25-12 last season, showing why coaches and players have to take each game seriously. 

The Ozona Lions take on the Christoval Cougars in Ozona this Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.