VERIBEST, TX — After winning a combined 14 games in 2023 and ‘24, the Veribest Falcons took a step back with just two wins last year.
Head coach Justin Morris believes the pieces are in place for a turnaround season this fall.
Veribest returns four starters on both sides of the ball — including a 1,000-yard rusher in Lorenzo Hight — and added an exciting newcomer in Curry Smithwick from Miles.
“This year, we have a lot more experience than we did last year,” Morris said “Last year, we had a bunch of guys coming off junior high or JV that didn’t have any or had very limited varsity experience.
“Those guys were able to get a full season under their belt last year, and that’s going to be a big help this season.”
Hight had a breakout season as a sophomore with 181 carries for 1,037 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with three TD passes. He also had 53 tackles on defense.
Hight will be the featured ball carrier again at spread back, and he’ll be operating behind the biggest blocking front the Falcons have had in Morris’s six years with the school.
Veribest’s line will be anchored by Matthew Mata (5-foot-9, 240 pounds) and Javi Munoz (5-9, 260), along with help from ends Smithwick and Bentley Saladino.
“If we can just run the ball behind those guys, we’ll be in pretty good shape,” Morris said. “I’m pretty excited about those big guys up front.”
In addition to Hight, other weapons for the Falcons’ offense include Ethan Martinez at running back, Sutton Martin at quarterback, and Jayden Saucedo, Saladino and Smithwick as receiving options in the passing game.
The defense will be under the guidance of assistant coach Steven Hayes, who has had success at Water Valley and Robert Lee, where he had some “really stout defenses,” Morris said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do with his new scheme,” Morris added.
The biggest thing holding Veribest back in recent years has been a district that has sent a team to the state semifinals three times in the last four years.
It doesn’t get any easier this year with three state-ranked teams — No. 13 Menard, No. 14 Water Valley and No. 23 Sterling City.
“This district is always one of the toughest out there in the state,” Morris said. “You know if you come out of it that you have the ability to make a deep run in the playoffs. So even though it’s a brutal district, it’s nothing the kids aren’t used to.”
Despite having to finish in the top two in the district to make the playoffs, that’s exactly what the goal is for Veribest, which hasn’t qualified for the postseason since 2019.
“The ultimate goal is to reach the playoffs and make a deep playoff run,” Morris said. “Something we talk about as a team is just being better each day and not taking steps back. … As long as we’re better tomorrow than we were today, then that’s a step in the right direction.”
Veribest Falcons
2026 schedule
Aug. 28 at Santa Anna
Sept. 4 Paint Rock
Sept. 11 at Bronte
Sept. 18 Blackwell
Sept. 24 Knox City (at Abilene Christian)
Oct. 2 OPEN
Oct. 9 Eden*
Oct. 16 at Sterling City*
Oct. 23 Irion County*
Oct. 30 Water Valley*
Nov. 6 at Menard*
*District 8-1A Division I game
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