SAN ANGELO, TX — Here are our top five football games to watch this week in the Concho Valley and West Texas:
Ballinger (7-1) at Sonora (7-1)
This is an easy choice as our best game of the week. These two teams are both 7-1 overall and 4-0 in District 4-2A Division I, and one of them will earn at least a share of the district title. It also looks like a competitive matchup between two similar teams. The big difference is one of them was expected to be here, and one of them was not.
Sonora is the team that was projected to be in this position. The Broncos were 7-4 last year and tied for second place in district. Texas Football predicted they would finish second again behind defending champion Ozona. Yet Ozona lost its district opener to Forsan and was then officially dethroned by Sonora two weeks ago. It hasn’t been a cakewalk through district as the Broncos had to rally from 20 points down to beat Christoval 40-32, and they had to survive a 52-44 shootout last week against Reagan County. But one way or another, Sonora has navigated its way to this point, and the Broncos will be on their home field tonight with a chance for their first district title since they shared three in a row from 2021 to 2023. They haven’t won an outright title since 2017.
Ballinger is the surprise of the Concho Valley as the Bearcats weren’t even picked to make the playoffs. They were 3-7 last year and finished in last place in their 3A district. What people overlooked was the fact Ballinger returned most of its starters, including quarterback Wyatt Clemens, who suffered a broken leg in last year’s season opener. Clemens has led an outstanding passing attack along with 6-foot-4 standout receiver Hunter Kresta. But the Bearcats can also run the ball when needed, as evidenced by two 100-yard rushers last week in Malachi Bentley and Trey Lopez. Ballinger has won three of its district games by 19 points or more, with the exception of its 40-37 comeback win over Forsan, which is the Buffaloes’ only loss this year.
Sonora’s offense isn’t as balanced as Ballinger, but the Broncos’ passing attack is more dangerous as QB Aaron Seguara has thrown for 2,999 yards with 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has two big-time playmakers in Wyatt Killough (49 catches for 869 yards and 10 TDs) and Jayden Welborn (55-861, 10 TDs).
This is a difficult game to pick as both of these teams are playing well and lighting up the scoreboard. Sonora has also won 11 of the last 12 meetings between these programs. But Ballinger has pulled off second-half comebacks three times this year, so the Bearcats won’t flinch if this game goes down to the wire, and we think they’ll find a way again.
The pick: Ballinger 34, Sonora 33
Midland High (4-4) at San Angelo Central (5-3)
The Central Bobcats have a couple of big storylines for Friday’s home game against Midland High. First, they have a chance to set up a district-title game next week at Odessa Permian. They can’t win the title outright, but they can at least earn a share of it, which would be especially sweet on Permian’s home field. The second thing to watch is running back Zey Johnson’s pursuit of the Bobcats’ single-season rushing record. He has 1,452 yards, leaving him 249 behind Daven Manning’s record of 1,701 set in 2016.
If Midland High sells out to stop Johnson, Central’s passing game may need to step up. QB Micah Smith has thrown for 1,301 yards with 13 TDs and 12 INTs while completing 53% of his passes. His top WR is Gavin Johnson, who has 41 catches for 512 yards and eight TDs.
Midland High is led by QB Hold Howard, who has thrown for 1,328 yards with 12 TDs and three INTs while completing 60% of his passes. He also had 450 rushing yards and five TDs. Evan Taylor has added 432 rushing yards and eight TDs. Walker Campbell is the top receiver with 40 catches for 535 yards and three TDs.
This matchup could also decide who is the top seed in the 6A Division II playoffs as Permian and Midland Lee both have a bigger enrollment and will go to the 6A D-I bracket. Three of the last four games in this series have been decided by nine points or less, and it feels like we’re headed that way again.
The pick: San Angelo Central 31, Midland High 28
Water Valley (7-1) at Veribest (6-2)
This was not a matchup anyone expected to be a big game before the season began. A lot of credit goes to Veribest for making this happen as the Falcons were picked to finish in fifth place in District 8-1A Division I. Instead, Veribest is the district’s surprise co-leader with Menard after back-to-back wins over Sterling City and Irion County.
Water Valley is the obvious favorite in this matchup as the Wildcats are ranked No. 9 in the state. They have one of the best six-man players in Texas in Branson Lacy, and they have the pedigree of runs to the state semifinals the last two years. However, a 65-37 district-opening loss to Menard has the Wildcats in a do-or-die scenario Friday. If they don’t leave Veribest with a win, they won’t make the playoffs.
Veribest is also facing a must-win situation, as the Falcons would have to go to Menard and win in next week’s regular-season finale if they can’t beat Water Valley. Veribest has quietly put together a strong season with six wins and only two losses, both of which were against top-notch teams, Blackwell and Knox City. Veribest’s Lorenzo Hight is playing at a high level as evidenced by his performance last week against Irion County when he threw for 147 yards and two TDs on 14-of-16 passing, while rushing for 165 yards and two TDs on 23 carries.
Veribest is a big underdog, but the Falcons have given themselves a chance in what looked like an impossible district, and that’s all you can ask for.
The pick: Water Valley 62, Veribest 34
Robert Lee (6-2) at Highland (6-2)
This is the district-title game in 7-1A Division I as both teams have identical records of 6-2 overall and 3-0 in district. The winner of this game can also avoid a first-round playoff game with No. 5-ranked Menard (though drawing what would likely be No. 9 Water Valley won’t be much easier).
Robert Lee’s 0-2 start to the season seems like a long time ago as the Steers have won six straight games, a streak that began with an impressive 87-62 win over Blackwell. Spread back Malachi Wauqua has been one of the area’s best six-man players who puts up big numbers on the ground and through the air. He has 1,100 passing yards and 23 TDs with two INTs, and he has 1,249 rushing yards and 26 TDs. Robert Lee lost nearly every starter from last year’s team that reached the state quarterfinals, but the Steers have impressively reloaded.
Highland returned three starters on both sides of the ball from last year’s 3-7 team. The Hornets haven’t been to the playoffs since 2017, so Robert Lee has the edge in terms of recent success. Highland also lost to a common opponent in Blackwell (62-40) for what that’s worth.
Highland has home-field advantage, which should help, but Robert Lee has a lot of momentum on its side, and the Steers don’t look like they’ll be slowed down just yet.
The pick: Robert Lee 68, Highland 48
Andrews (3-5) at San Angelo Lake View (3-5)
Two teams fighting to turn their seasons around will meet Thursday at San Angelo Stadium when Lake View hosts Andrews. Lake View has lost four in a row — three of which were overtime losses — while Andrews has dropped three straight. Both teams are coming off lopsided district-opening losses as Lake View fell 41-13 to Plainview, and Andrews lost 45-7 to Greenwood.
For Lake View, this season feels like what might have been. The Chiefs were 3-1 before everything went sideways with the three straight OT losses. Lake View also kept losing playmakers. Receiver Chris Rodela hasn’t played since Week 4, and fellow wideout Andrew Young hasn’t played since Week 5. Running back Aiden Rivera, who had emerged as the team’s biggest threat, then missed last week, leaving Lake View too then to be competitive. It’s unclear if any of those players will be in the lineup Thursday.
Andrews is on the way to its lowest win total since 2005. The Mustangs have only 790 passing yards, and they haven’t been much better on the ground with 1,083 rushing yards. Their defense has allowed 40 or more points in three straight games.
Even with all of the holes in Lake View’s lineup, the Chiefs should still have a chance to come away with a win against Andrews, which would be meaningful considering the Mustangs have won 19 consecutive games in this series. A win would also keep Lake View out of the No. 4 spot in district, allowing the Chiefs to avoid a district-title winner in their playoff opener.
The pick: Lake View 24, Andrews 21
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