The Week 1 high school football Concho Valley Capstone
High school football officially starts on Aug. 24 with many of the state's six-man squads starting play one day before the rest of the schools matchup under the Friday night lights on Aug. 25.
With more than 40 teams in the Standard-Times coverage area kicking off the season this Friday, this is the first edition of the Concho Valley Capstone series where we will look at the Concho Valley's best teams and games each week of the football season.
Game of the Week
Mason vs. Coleman
Mason is one of the Concho Valley's most successful programs having won two recent state championships in 2011 and again in 2018. The Punchers are looking for their 13th consecutive district title after finishing 9-3 last season and making an appearance in the area round of the playoffs. Their continued dominance has not gone unnoticed and come in as the No. 13 2A Division I team on Dave Campbell's Texas High School Football.
Coleman is an ascending team after moving down from Class 3A to 2A in 2020 and is ranked as the No. 23 Class 2A Division I team by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Last season, the Bluecats battled Tolar for the top spot in District 5-2A Division I, but ultimately fell to second despite finishing 9-3. The Bluecats also made it to the area round of the playoffs before losing to Crawford.
More: High school Football: District previews for Concho Valley Class 2A football
Both squads are littered with talent on offense and defense. For Mason, they're led by Concho Valley Preseason Offensive MVP senior running back Ryne Todd, who is coming off a massive season where he ran for 1,424 rushing yards at 7.9 yards a carry and 21 touchdowns rushing. The Bluecats are going to lean on two-way star quarterback/defensive back Jaidin Jackson who was an all-district selection at both positions.
Last year, both teams met in week one at Mason, but Coleman squeaked out the 7-6 victory over the Punchers. This year, the Bluecats return most of their starters on both sides of the ball, while the Punchers come into the matchup with 12 fewer lettermen.
Prediction: Coleman 21, Mason 7.
San Angelo schools
Central vs. Killeen Shoemaker
Last year, the Bobcats lost week one on a last-minute touchdown to Killeen Shoemaker. The Bobcats, however, are a drastically different team this season after losing 47 lettermen to graduation, while the Grey Wolves remain one of the best Class 5A teams and are projected to finish second in their district.
It will be a tough opening test for the Bobcats and whoever starts at quarterback. Luckily, this year's matchup is in San Angelo.
Prediction: Killeen Shoemaker 34, Central 21.
Lake View at Lamesa
Lake View got off to a fast start last year after starting 3-1 but was ransacked by injuries before district play and finished on a six-game skid.
If Lake View wants to erase the nightmares of last season, they have a golden opportunity in week one traveling to Lamesa to topple the Golden Tornadoes for the second straight season.
Prediction: Lake View 35, Lamesa 17.
More: Lake View high school football looks to 'northside pride' for culture change in 2023
Best of the Rest
Brownwood at Abilene Wylie
Brownwood returns most of its starters on a bullish defense including All-Concho Valley Defensive Preseason MVP Quinton McCarty and star defensive back Morcello Hooker. The offense, however, returns one starter in quarterback Ike Hall, and may struggle to get off the ground early.
Prediction: Abilene Wylie 24, Brownwood 17.
Eastland at Wall
Wall comes into the season as the No. 6 Class 3A Division II team on Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Craig Slaughter and the team's array of defensive playmakers, the Hawks might boast the best defense in Class 3A.
Prediction: Wall 35, Eastland 14.
More: Wall high school football aims to run over opponents in 2023 with throw back offense
Comanche at Brady
Comanche is consistently one of the best teams in Class 3A and walloped Brady at home 49-7 last year. With new head coach Jaron Roberts, the Bulldogs can put their name on the map with a statement win. If they play their cards right, Brady can sneak out of a week one matchup with a surprise win.
Prediction: Brady 27, Comanche 24.
Sonora at Ballinger
Sonora comes into the season as the No. 11 team in Class 2A Division I on Dave Campbell's Texas Football and returns All-Concho Valley preseason MVP quarterback Jaime Buitron. Ballinger aims to be more competitive in District 2-3A Division II this season after finishing 1-9. This will turn into a measuring stick game for two teams in vastly different positions entering 2023.
Prediction: Sonora 32, Ballinger 27.
More: High school football: District preview for Concho Valley Class 3A high school football
Reagan County at Wink
Reagan County enters this season as a more mature squad and, hopefully, healthier after finishing third in a tough District 3-2A Division I. Wink remains one of the best 2A teams in the state and will be a difficult opening-week matchup for the Owls.
Prediction: Wink 32, Reagan County 24.
Six-man Game of the Week
High Island at Richland Springs
Richland Springs enters the season with a lot of question marks. The Coyotes are usually one of the best six-man squads, but without head coach Jerry Burkhart, they struggled last year. This year, the team has enough talent to win the district.
More: High school football: District previews for Concho Valley six-man football teams
Concho Valley Power Five
Here are the best five teams regardless of class in the Concho Valley entering week one, along with each team's 2022 record.
Wall Hawks (12-2)
Brownwood Lions (10-3)
Sonora Broncos (10-3)
Coleman Bluecats (9-3)
Irion County Hornets (12-1)
Week One Football Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 24
Non-District
Class 1A
Garden City at Jayton, 8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 25
Non-District
Class 6A
Killeen Shoemaker at San Angelo Central, 7 p.m.
Class 4A
Brownwood at Abilene Wylie, 7:30 p.m.
Lake View at Lamesa, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Eastland at Wall, 7 p.m.
Stanton at Grape Creek, 7 p.m.
Comanche at Brady, 7 p.m.
Sonora at Ballinger, 7 p.m.
Bangs at Early, 7:30 p.m.
Ozona at San Angelo TLCA, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Reagan County at Wink, 7:30 p.m.
Christoval at Eldorado, 7 p.m.
Forsan vs. Coahoma, 7:30 p.m. in Big Spring
San Saba at Florence, 7:30 p.m.
Mason at Coleman, 7 p.m.
Goldthwaite at Crawford, 7:30 p.m.
DeLeon at Junction, 7 p.m.
Sterling City at Odessa Compass, 7 p.m.
Water Valley at Abilene TLCA, 7:30 p.m.
Kermit at Miles, 7 p.m.
Class 1A
Leakey at Eden, 7:30 p.m.
McDade at Menard, 7:30 p.m.
Irion County at Buena Vista, 7:30 p.m.
Robert Lee at Rotan, 7:30 p.m.
Santa Anna at Veribest, 7:30 p.m.
Zephyr at Bronte, 7:30 p.m.
Midland TLCA at Paint Rock, 7:30 p.m.
Mullin at Brookesmith, 7:30 p.m.
Lohn at Moran, 7 p.m.
Medina at Rochelle, 7:30 p.m.
Blackwell at Aspermont, 7:30 p.m.
Woodson at Panther Creek, 7:30 p.m.
High Island at Richland Springs, 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: High school football: Week 1 Concho Valley Capstone
