No. 6 Ozona Lions Open Playoffs Against Dangerous Anson Team

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Ozona Lions completed a perfect season for the first time in 23 years and now face a super competitive region in the playoffs.

After shutting out the Christoval Cougars on Friday, the Lions face another big cat in the Anson Tigers as their bidistrict opponent. The Tigers may be the fourth seed out of their district, but they are no slouch. They are in one of the toughest 2A districts with the Cisco Loboes, Hawley Bearcats and Stamford Bulldogs.

Hawley and Stamford have represented at the state championships the past few years and, if it wasn’t for meeting up with Hawley, Cisco could have very well played at AT&T Stadium. The Tigers are 7-3, only losing to the Bearcats, Loboes and Bulldogs, and have scored nearly 40 points per game this season. Anson has only given up 137 total points for a 13.7-point average.

Ozona’s offense has put up incredible numbers, scoring 63.4 points a game, while the Lions' defense gives up 18 points per game. The one thing Ozona has that Anson doesn’t is a big one, and that is superstar running back Christian Villarreal.

This season has been absolutely historic for the senior back, as he has rushed for 3,505 yards and 52 touchdowns, and he is also the Lions' second-leading receiver with 281 yards and two scores. Villarreal is averaging 350.5 yards a game and is 540 yards away from the Texas single-season rushing record that has stood for 72 years.

Against Christoval, Villarreal had right around 200 yards in the first quarter.

If Anson sells out to stop Villarreal, Michael Preddy can make the Tigers pay through the air. This season, Preddy has thrown for 1,426 yards and 16 touchdowns with two interceptions, while completing 71% of his passes. The rushing attack can get it done behind an offensive line that brought all five starters back from last season, making them an experienced front, but the skill positions outside of the backfield have proven to be too much for the Lions' opponents.

Graciano Garcia can take the top off the defense. He has 17 receptions for 488 yards (a 28.7-yard average) and five TDs. Andres Quiroz, JP Garza, Andon Glosson, and Rielee Barrera are the other receivers the Tigers have to worry about.

Anson returned six starters on offense and eight on defense. While they don't have Villarreal, Malachi St. John draws a ton of attention. The junior receiver is 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds and has posted some big games. Other than St. John, it’s a family affair with the Lozano brothers — Avery, Alex and Alijah — who play with their cousin, Ethan Lozano.

It seems like the Lions defense will have their plates full trying to contain all that firepower. But if there’s a team to do it, it’s Ozona.

JP Garza leads the team in tackles with 71, followed by sophomore Kaleb Ramon with 61, and junior Nolan Martinez with 57. Martinez basically lives in the offense’s backfield with his 14 tackles for loss and six sacks. Garza might only have one sack, but he has 13 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Leo Blanco also lurks around in the secondary and has 54 tackles, four interceptions, and nine passes defended.

In all, the Lions have 20 sacks, 13 interceptions, and 10 recovered fumbles.

The “Rumble of the Jungle” between Ozona and Anson is set for Nov. 14, 2025, in Big Spring at 7 p.m.