Top 5 Football Games to Watch in West Texas This Week

Here are our top five high school football games to watch in Week 4 in the Concho Valley and West Texas:

Lubbock High (1-2) at San Angelo Lake View (3-0) 

There’s something special happening on the north side of San Angelo this fall. The Lake View Chiefs are building toward a winning season for the first time in 21 years, and they’re well on their way after an impressive 3-0 start. All three wins have been by 17 points or more. Lake View hosts Lubbock High on Friday with a chance to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1983. The Chiefs’ exciting offense is led by junior quarterback Chris Alvizo, who is operating at an exceptionally high level. He is 71-of-99 passing for 853 yards and 11 touchdowns with two interceptions. His receiving corps includes five players who have amassed over 100 yards this season. Lubbock High has beaten Lake View each of the past two years, including 31-13 last season in Lubbock. Lake View and Lubbock share a common opponent in Snyder. Lake View won 49-28, while Lubbock won 48-21. This could be Lake View’s first game where they’re seriously tested in the fourth quarter.

The pick: Lake View 38, Lubbock High 35

Junction (3-0) at Mason (1-2)

To say that Mason has had the advantage in this rivalry would be an understatement. The Punchers have won 19 straight meetings with their Hill Country neighbors, including a 35-12 victory last year. Could this be the year Junction ends that streak? The Eagles are flying high at No. 6 in the state in Class 2A Division II. Junction is off to a 3-0 start, while Mason is 1-2 and unranked in 2A D-I. The Punchers did pick up their first win last week with a 50-9 romp over Coleman. They ran into a buzzsaw in Week 1 against Wall (48-7), then lost to Brady (24-22). Junction has mostly cruised in wins over Goldthwaite (40-16), San Saba (20-6) and Early (34-14). Mason has a largely new team with a new head coach in Wade Griffin. Junction has a veteran team that returns quarterback Chasen Doyal and head coach Scott Freeman. It won’t be easy, but this is their year to get past Mason.

The pick: Junction 24, Mason 20

San Angelo Central (1-2) at Belton (2-1) 

The Central Bobcats picked up their first win of the season last week in a 40-35 comeback victory over Abilene Cooper. Now they’ll try to keep the momentum going when they make the trip east to Belton. Central earned a convincing 33-8 win over Belton last year in San Angelo, but it may be a more difficult task this time. Belton, a Class 5A Division II school, returned eight starters on both sides of the ball. The Tigers are 2-1 after wins over Pflugerville Hendrickson (21-17) and Georgetown (34-26) with a loss to Georgetown East View (24-10). The Bobcats look like they’re starting to find their footing under new quarterback Micah Smith, who threw for 279 yards and three TDs last week. Wide receiver Colton Hill is a difference maker who hauled in six passes for 160 yards and two TDs. With running back Zey Johnson showing what he could do last week with two TD runs in the fourth quarter, this is a tough offense to stop.

The pick: Central 38, Belton 24

Bronte (3-0) at Menard (3-0)

A couple of undefeated teams will meet in this six-man battle. While Menard was expected to have a strong season after entering this year ranked No. 19 in the state in Class 1A Division I. Bronte, meanwhile, hasn’t had a winning season in 13 years. Yet the Longhorns have been a pleasant surprise with three straight 45-point wins to open the season. Led by head coach Rocky Rawls, who came out of retirement to coach this team, Bronte is looking like a team that could challenge for a district title. They haven’t had a challenge like Menard yet, however. The Yellow Jackets have a powerful offensive line and a talented running back in Jayden Payton. They won this matchup 47-18 last year, and they’ll be the favorite again.

The pick: Menard 56, Bronte 36

Ballinger (2-1) at Brady (2-1)

These longtime rivals will add another chapter Friday when they put their 2-1 records on the line in Brady. Ballinger has earned back-to-back wins after losing its starting quarterback, Wyatt Clemens, to a broken leg in Week 1. The Bearcats’ defense has stepped up with strong performances in wins over Christoval (13-6) and San Angelo TLCA (27-6). Brady is coming off a 46-32 loss to high-powered Ozona last week, but the Bulldogs had an impressive showing from QB Sean Jacoby, who rushed for 255 yards and threw for 140. Ballinger’s defense will be tested trying to contain him. The Bearcats will also need to find a way to produce enough offense. They were shut out by Brady 20-0 last year.

The pick: Brady 28, Ballinger 14

Other Week 4 Games

Wall at Monahans

Sterling City at Christoval

Harper at Ozona

Colorado City at Grape Creek

Sonora at Alpine

Reagan County at McCamey

Eldorado at Miles

Winters at Iraan

Garden City at Irion County

Water Valley at Buena Vista

Robert Lee at Blackwell

Paint Rock at Brookesmith

Veribest at Baird

Eden vs. Wichita Falls Christian (at Abilene)

Olfen at Lohn

Richland Springs at Bryan St. Joseph

Rochelle at Lometa

Panther Creek at Lueders-Avoca