OZONA, TX — Jason Pitts had a good feeling about his first season last year in Ozona based on what he had seen on film of the Lions’ football team.
But nothing could have prepared the coach for the ride he was about to go on.
Ozona went 10-0 for the first time since 2002, and Christian Villarreal made a run at the record books, rushing for 3,667 yards and 53 touchdowns.
Ultimately, the season — and the pursuit of the state rushing record — ended with a first-round playoff loss.
Though it all came to a sudden and disappointing end, Pitts marvels at what he saw Villarreal achieve week after week last fall.
“People will say we just fed him the ball, but the kid carried the ball 15 times a game. Everything he touched he broke into a long run. It was crazy,” Pitts said. “And then after he does what he did in football, he almost single-handedly takes the basketball team to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. Then he was the district MVP in baseball. Then he was on the sprint relay that made it to the state track meet for the first time since the ‘70s. He was the male athlete of the year in the whole state. Nobody in the state did what he did last year. It was incredible.
“So I’d be a fool to say we’re not going to miss him, because he’s a freak of nature. But on the coaching side of it, him not being the guy you know is going to score when he touches it puts a little more sense of urgency on everybody else.”
Ozona running back Christian Villarreal evades a tackle during the 2024 season.
The big question heading into this season is how in the world does Ozona replace a player like Villarreal, who is now playing for Sul Ross State in Alpine?
The short answer is you almost certainly can’t do it with one player.
Pitts said senior Jay Borrego, one of Villarreal’s primary backups last year, will get the first shot at it, but he envisions more of a committee with players like Kaleb Ramon, Nolan Martinez, Jadon Vega and Andon Glosson.
“I’m looking forward to seeing other kids rise to the occasion,” Pitts said. “I don’t think it’ll be one kid who’s a bell cow. I think it’ll be a whole team, led by that gigantic offensive line.”
Ozona’s offensive line was ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 2A by Texas Football.
The unit is led by Charles Harger, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior who was the district’s Offensive Lineman of the Year last season. He graded out at 98% and didn’t allow a sack.
He’ll be joined by junior Sergio Almaguer (6-4, 285), senior Alex Mata (6-4, 275), senior Jordan Vega (6-6, 260) and senior Darrius Galindo (5-11, 320).
“They are looking like they’re going to be a problem, not for us but for everybody else,” Pitts said. “Everybody there has some sort of experience on Fridays. They’re just so big and so strong, and the one that has impressed me the most is Sergio Almaguer. When he’s flying around the corner, my goodness, I wouldn’t want to be in his way.
“And then Darrius Galindo, he’s squatting 640 and benching 350. If there’s a stronger kid in 2A, I need to see it. … When he’s lifting weights, he’s bending our bar, so we’re having to get a thicker, reinforced bar for him.”
Overall, Ozona has eight returning starters on offense and six on defense, which is a big reason why the Lions enter this season ranked No. 16 in the state in Class 2A Division I.
However, in addition to losing Villarreal, they must also replace Michael Preddy at quarterback.
Pitts’ son, Boston, is taking over as the signal caller of the offense. The 5-10, 165-pound junior has starting experience on the JV and served as the varsity backup last year.
“He’s extremely intelligent and he lives with me, so he hears it more than anybody else,” Pitts said. “So far, he’s looking like he understands how to get it around where it needs to go. We’ll see if it happens when the bullets are flying, but right now he’s doing a pretty good job.”
Ozona Football 2025
Ozona has some exciting options in the passing game, including Glosson at H-back and 6-foot-6 Leo Blanco, along with athletic freshman Jason Borrego and sophomore Mason Odom, who Pitts said has some of the best hands he’s ever seen.
Defensively, Pitts said it will be difficult to replace the team’s leader, linebacker JP Garza, but the Lions still have an intimidating group.
The defensive line is comprised of the same players on the offensive line, along with Nolan Martinez, who had 69 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 19 QB pressures last year.
Other impact players on that side of the ball include Blanco and Ramon in the secondary, along with Glosson and Jay Borrego at linebacker.
“When I went home today, my son, Boston, said our defense is scary,” Pitts said. “They’re just in your lap all the time. They’re big and they’re aggressive.”
Ozona’s nondistrict schedule is highlighted by games against Junction (ranked No. 11 in 2A Division II) and Wall (ranked No. 6 in 3A D-I) before the Lions try to defend their district title.
Ozona was picked to repeat by Texas Football, but six teams will be chasing them for the crown, including last year’s runner-up Sonora. The Lions will have to travel to Sonora, which Pitts said was the site of an incredible atmosphere last year and is “one of the coolest rivalries he has been a part of.
More than anything, Pitts wants to see Ozona extend its season deep into the playoffs. Last year’s 35-14 first-round loss to Anson still stings.
“It was miserable. I’m still not happy about it,” Pitts said. “It was a learning experience, and now this group has been there and they’ve felt what it was like, and they did not like that.
“So now we see we have to step it up a little. I’d love for them to get to taste what it’s like to practice on Thanksgiving week. None of them have done that before, and that’s the goal.”
Ozona Lions
2026 schedule
Aug. 28 Brackettville
Sept. 4 Austin Hyde Park Baptist (at Kerrville)
Sept. 11 at Junction
Sept. 18 at Wall
Sept. 25 Forsan*
Oct. 2 at Colorado City*
Oct. 9 Christoval*
Oct. 16 at Sonora*
Oct. 23 OPEN
Oct. 30 Reagan County*
Nov. 6 at Ballinger*
*District 4-2A Division I game
MORE: Top 10 Quarterbacks to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Running Backs to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Wide Receivers to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Offensive Linemen to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 20 Defensive Players to Watch in West Texas in 2026
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: