High school football: District preview for Concho Valley Class 3A high school football
Each of the 40 teams in the Standard-Times coverage area began practices earlier this month before the first game on Aug. 24. As the football season inches closer, teams and fans alike are eagerly anticipating the start of a new journey for their program in 2023.
The best of the best: The 2023 All-Concho Valley preseason team
High school football: Class 2A district previews
More high school football: Six-man district previews
Here are the district previews for all the Class 3A teams in the Standard-Times coverage area:
District 2-3A Division II
Ballinger Bearcats
Players to watch
Zach Canada | Runningback/Linebacker
Aven Ocha | Offensive/Defensive Lineman
Nick Martinez | Offensive/Defensive Lineman
A closer look
The Bearcats had their worst season since moving up from 2A in head coach Ty Lang's first year with the team. Ballinger is two seasons removed from a first-place district finish that included an 11-2 record, so there is optimism this squad can turn things around in Lang's second year. Ballinger returns seven starters on offense and defense including senior running back Zach Canada who made second-team all-district and junior defensive tackle Aven Ocha who earned second-team all-district honors in 2022.
Schedule
Week 1 | Sonora Broncos | Home
Week 2 | Coleman Blucats | Home
Week 3 | Stamford Bulldogs | Away
Week 4 | Clyde Bulldogs | Away
Week 5 | Mason Punchers | Home
Week 6 | OPEN
Week 7 | Early Longhorns | Away
Week 8 | Wall Hawks | Home
Week 9 | Brady Bulldogs | Away
Week 10 | TLCA San Angelo Eagles | Home
Week 11 | San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles | Away
*Opponents in bold are district games
Game to watch
Week 9, Oct. 20 at Brady - The Bearcats will be fighting with Brady for one of the four playoff spots in the district. This game could be the deciding factor on who gets the last spot.
Brady Bulldogs
Players to watch
Ashton Ramsey | Wide Receiver/Defensive back
Zeke Jones | Runningback/ Defensive back
Manny Ozuna | Offensive/Defensive Lineman
A closer look
The Bulldogs enter the 2023 season with a new head coach in Jaron Roberts who was previously the defensive coordinator at Stamford. In 2022, Roberts' defense propelled Stamford to an 8-3 record while only giving up 15 points per game. Brady was hit hard by graduation losing 16 lettermen to graduation including former starting quarterback Hayden Baronet, who earned first-team district honors last year. Brady will need to find a new starter in 2023. Luckily for the Bulldogs, star runningback Zeke Jones returns to the team after missing time with an injury last year, while second-team all-district defensive tackle Manny Ozuna will anchor Roberts' defense.
Schedule
Week 1 | Comanche | Home
Week 2 | Mason Punchers | Home
Week 3 | Coleman Bluecats | Away
Week 4 | Dublin Lions | Away
Week 5 | Christoval Cougars | Home
Week 6 | OPEN
Week 7 | TLCA San Angelo Eagles | Away
Week 8 | Early Longhorns | Home
Week 9 | Ballinger Bearcats | Away
Week 10 | San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles | Home
Week 11 | Wall Hawks | Away
*Opponents in bold are district games
Game to watch
Week 1, Aug. 25 vs Comanche - Comanche is one of the better Class 3A teams in the state and beat Brady 49-7 last year. Brady hosts Comanche in its home opener this year and will be a measuring stick game for the Bulldogs early in the season.
Early Longhorns
Players to watch
A closer look
Early moved down to Class 3A Division II last season and finished second behind Wall, which also moved down to Division II after the district realignment. Since head coach Daniel Price took over the program in 2020, the Longhorns have improved each season — culminating in an area-round playoff birth last year. Early lost 14 lettermen in 2022, but retained many of its defensive stars in linebacker Kaleb Ozuna, who finished with 134 tackles, and Dalton Adams, who was a first-team offensive and defensive lineman selection. The Longhorns lost their starting quarterback to graduation, but have plenty of talented skill-position players in running back Griffin Cheslock and wide receiver Ki Houston.
Schedule
Week 1 | Bangs Dragons | Home
Week 2 | Tolar Rattlers | Away
Week 3 | Comanche | Home
Week 4 | Hamilton Bulldogs | Away
Week 5 | Burnet Bulldogs | Away
Week 6 | OPEN
Week 7 | Ballinger Bearcats | Home
Week 8 | Brady Bulldogs | Home
Week 9 | San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles | Away
Week 10 | Wall Hawks | Home
Week 11 | TLCA San Angelo Eagles | Away
*Opponents in bold are district games
Game to watch
Week 10, Oct. 27 vs Wall - Depending on how Early and Wall perform in non-district games, the matchup between these two teams could decide who is crowned district champion in 2023.
TLCA San Angelo Eagles
Players to watch
Natavian Sykes | Wide Receiver/Defensive back
Daniel Rangel | Offensive/Defensive Lineman
A closer look
The Eagles earned their second trip to the playoffs in program history in 2022. Despite the historic year, former head coach Matt Jones stepped down and the school hired Paulo Gonzalez as its new head coach. Gonzalez was most recently the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Maypearl High School — located southwest of Dallas. TLCA San Angelo returns 17 lettermen, including quarterback Layne Honea, who was named second-team all-district as a sophomore in 2022. The Eagles hope they can ride the momentum from last season's playoff birth into another spot in the top four this year as they rely on Honea's arm in a rebuilding program.
Schedule
Week 1 | Ozona Lions | Home
Week 2 | Odessa Compass Academy Cougars | Away
Week 3 | Winters Blizzards | Away
Week 4 | Ingram Moore Warriors | Home
Week 5 | Stanton Buffaloes | Home
Week 6 | OPEN
Week 7 | Brady Bulldogs | Away
Week 8 | San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles | Lake View Stadium
Week 9 | Wall Hawks | Away
Week 10 | Ballinger Bearcats | Away
Week 11 | Early Longhorns | Home
*Opponents in bold are district games
Game to watch
Week 5, Sept. 22 vs Stanton - Last year the Eagles lost 35-14 to Stanton before district play started. This year, the Eagles have the same test at the same time. If this team wants to prove that they have turned a corner, they need to beat the Buffs at home this year.
San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles
Players to watch
Colton Rumsey | Runningback/Defensive Lineman
Grayson Bond | Offensive/Defensive Lineman
Jayden Villarreal | Athlete
A closer look
Coming into last season it looked like the Eagles turned the corner under head coach Tanner Thiel after finishing first in district with a 5-6 record. Unfortunately, everything fell apart in 2022 and the team struggled following the district realignment by going 0-10. This year, Grape Creek returns many of its starters along the offensive and defensive lines, including standout defensive lineman Colton Rumsey, who Thiel aims to use more on offense this season. The Eagles also welcome many new faces from a junior varsity team that finished 7-3 last year.
Schedule
Week 1 | Stanton Buffaloes | Home
Week 2 | Christoval Cougars | Away
Week 3 | Bangs Dragons | Away
Week 4 | Ozona Lions | Home
Week 5 | Junction Eagles | Home
Week 6 | OPEN
Week 7 | Wall Hawks | Home
Week 8 | TLCA San Angelo Eagles | Lake View Stadium
Week 9 | Early Longhorns | Home
Week 10 | Brady Bulldogs | Away
Week 11 | Ballinger Bearcats | Home
*Opponents in bold are district games
Game to watch
Week 8, Oct. 13 vs TLCA San Angelo at Lake View Stadium - The Eagles struggled to compete in any games they played in last year, including their 28-0 loss to TLCA. If Grape Creek wants to prove last year was an aberration, the team needs to circle this game on its calendar.
Wall Hawks
Players to watch
A closer look
Wall comes into this year as the heavy favorite to repeat as district champions, landing at No. 6 on Dave Campbell's Texas Football's 3A Division II teams in Texas. The Hawk's defense smothered opposing offenses on their way to a regional finals appearance after holding district opponents to 17 combined points. The Hawks return 26 lettermen, including nine starters on Craig Slaughter's 4-2-5 defense. If Wall wants to make a state trip this year, the offense will need to take a big leap this year. That charge will be led by fullback/runningback Nathan Pepper, who is the cornerstone piece in Wall's flex-bone offense. Head coach Houston Guy expects his offense to be more dynamic this season with another season under quarterback Gunnar Dillard's belt.
Schedule
Week 1 | Eastland Mavericks | Home
Week 2 | Cisco Loboes | Away
Week 3 | Jim Ned (Tuscola) | Away
Week 4 | Peaster Greyhounds | Home
Week 5 | OPEN
Week 6 | Mason Punchers | Away
Week 7 | San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles | Away
Week 8 | Ballinger Bearcats | Away
Week 9 | TLCA San Angelo Eagles | Home
Week 10 | Early Longhorns | Away
Week 11 | Brady Bulldogs | Home
*Opponents in bold are district games
Game to watch
Week 3, Sept. 8 at Jim Ned - Before the Hawks moved down to Class 3A Division II they were in the same district at Jim Ned. Typically, Jim Ned beat the Hawks, but the Wall finally got its revenge by beating Jim Ned 3-0. If the Hawks want to know they did not catch lightning in a bottle in 2022, they need to beat their old-time rivals in their building.
District prediction (2022 Records)
Wall Hawks (12-2, 5-0)
Early Longhorns (7-5, 4-1)
TLCA San Angelo (4-7, 2-3)
Brady Bulldogs (5-6, 2-3)
Ballinger Bearcats (1-9, 1-4)
San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles (0-10, 0-5)
*Teams in bold are part of the Standard-Times coverage area
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: District preview for Concho Valley Class 3A high school football
