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Here is your guide to the best West Texas HS football games in 2024

tabnews August 19, 2024
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The start of Texas high school football is just over a week away, with the season’s first games starting on Aug. 29.

The first day begins with classic rivalry games between Forsan and Coahoma in the Howard County bowl and Westbrook and Jayton in the Jaybird classic.

There are also a couple of unorthodox matchups with Reagan County visiting Olney and Santa Anna hosting Bronte.

With nearly 40 teams to follow ,from the largest teams Texas has to offer in Class 6A to the smallest six-man teams, keeping up with every game can leave fans reeling.

Luckily, the Standard-Times has West Texas high school football fans covered.

For the fan without particular ties to a specific team searching for an unparalleled high school football experience, here is our preeminent guide for the best games each week of the regular season.

Week 1 | Abilene High at San Angelo Central | Friday, Aug. 30

One of the oldest rivalries is back on the menu under the Friday Night Lights in West Texas this season. With Abilene’s move down to Class 5A, the rivalry took a two-year sabbatical as the Bobcats stayed in the Little Southwest Conference.

The Week 1 matchup will mark the 98th matchup between the two squads with the first taking place in 1910. The last time these two historic teams faced off the Eagles won handily 49-14 in Abilene to bring the all-time series to within two games — San Angelo leads 47-45-5.

Both teams have a lot to gain with a win. A victory for the Eagles cements their status as one of the best teams in Class 5A, justifying their No. 8 preseason rank, while an upset win for the Bobcats could kickstart a special first season under new head coach Mark Smith.

Players to watch: QB Christian “Squeaky” English, Central; WR/DB Ryland Bradford, Abilene; WR Colton Hill, Central; QB Brayden Henry, Abilene; OL Shetonde Polepole, Abilene; DB Mason Van Sickle, Central.

Other stops: Wall at Mason; Eldorado at Christoval; Forsan at Coahoma; Westbrook at Jayton; Miles at Sonora

Week 2 | Sterling City at Miles | Friday, Sept. 6

Week 1 features a historic rivalry, while Week 2 highlights a budding rivalry between the Eagles and Bulldogs.

Since Sterling City came up from the six-man game — after winning a state title in 2021 — the two teams faced off four times, with two matchups in the first round of the postseason. Miles won the first matchup, while Sterling City won the next two, including a 43-42 bi-district championship win in 2022. Miles struck last, though, winning last year’s postseason matchup 48-0 at San Angelo Stadium.

The young rivalry flows into this season as Sterling City enters a new era with DJ Howell taking the reins, while the Bulldogs aim to compete in a district with three Class 2A Division II top-25 teams.

Players to watch: WR/DB Cooper Ellison, Miles; RB/DE Seth Turner, Sterling City; RB/DB Tevin Meade; OL/DE Colton Kelly; WR/DB Marquis Johnson; OL/DL Slate Clark, Sterling City.

Other stops: Brownwood at Wall; San Angelo Central at Amarillo High; Roscoe at Coahoma; Jonesboro at Westbrook; Snyder at Lake View

Week 3 | Jim Ned at Wall | Friday, Sept. 13

While the Indians and Hawks rivalry is not as historic as Central and Abilene High, its roots run just as deep.

There are a couple of parallels between the two rivals this season. Both teams enter the season ranked in the top 25 and both promoted their defensive coordinators to head coach.

When the two teams shared a district, Jim Ned won both matchups and took home its first state championship in 2020. After Wall moved down to Class 3A Division II, the Hawks took revenge in the following two matchups, winning 3-0 in 2022 and 17-15 in overtime last year.

With the last two games coming down to the wire between two of Class 3A’s premier programs, it would be safe to expect the same for this year’s matchup.

Players to watch: DE Brylan White, Wall; QB/DB Gray Beasly, Jim Ned; LB Ethan Michalewicz, Wall; DL Carter Lange, Jim Ned; RB/DB Hagynn Barbee; RB/LB Trey Hicks.

Other stops: San Angelo Central at Abilene Cooper; Lamesa at Lake View; Johnson City at Miles; Coleman at Mason; Goldthwaite at San Saba

Week 4 | Brady at Ballinger| Friday, Sept. 20

We are back on the historic rivalry train as Brady travels to Ballinger. As one of the 50 oldest rivalries in Texas, the Bulldogs and Bearkats still manage to produce some exciting matchups.

After last year’s district realignment, the Bulldogs and Bearcats will no longer face off as division rivals. However, that does not mean the rivalry is dead. Brady has won the last three matchups but two of the three were close as the Bulldogs clinched out a 34-27 win last year.

Ballinger is in the midst of rebuilding its football team after coming off an 0-10 season. They move down to Class 2A to join teams with similarly sized enrollment and football programs.

Brady remained in Class 3A Division II, but moved east to a district with more Central Texas teams.

While both teams are at different stops in their football journey, this rivalry runs deep and rarely disappoints.

Players to watch: OL/DL Demarcus Reed, Brady; RB/LB Jaylen Hernandez, Ballinger; QB/DB Sean Jacoby, Brady; QB/DB Cade Strube, Ballinger; RB/LB Johnny Menefield, Brady; OL/DL Aven Ochoa, Ballinger.

Other stops: Monahans at Wall; Sonora at Alpine; Mason at Junction; Irion County at Garden City; Buena Vista at Water Valley

Week 5 | Westbrook at Buena Vista | Friday, Sept. 27

Two of six-man football’s best. No. 3 Westbrook is fresh off another state final appearance, while No. 10 Buena Vista made another playoff run and returns almost all its starters.

After two straight state appearances — and a title in 2022 — the Wildcats took a major hit with last year’s graduation returning two starters on offense and defense. However, one of those starters is all-star running back Grayson Jeffrey, who is due for a monster season.

The Longhorns are in for another dogfight in their district, fighting for a playoff spot with Rankin and Garden City. They will be out for revenge after getting bounced 68-24 in the second round by Westbrook.

It will be a classic matchup between the established powerhouse and the rising star. Who will come out on top?

Players to watch: RB/LB Jackie Jurado, Buena Vista; RB/DB Grayson Jeffrey, Westbrook; QB/LB Caden Valdez, Buena Vista; TE/DL Damien Stewart, Westbrook; FB/LB Jaden Jurado, Buena Vista; C/DE Jaxson Browne, Westbrook.

Other stops: Miles at Ozona; Eden at Bronte; Water Valley at Rochelle; Veribest at Medina; Wall at Sweetwater.

Week 6 | Idalou at Wall | Friday, Oct. 4

This is the first time in recent memory Wall hosts Idalou in the regular season, but it could be the first glimpse of a potential postseason matchup.

The past three matchups between the Hawks and Wildcats have all been in the playoffs with Wall holding a 2-1 edge. And despite the lack of a cross-town rivalry, it stands to be a must-watch game between two top-25 teams in Class 3A Division II.

The matchup with the Wildcats will be on the tail end of a tough stretch for the Hawks, preceded by matchups against No.7 4A D-I Brownwood, No. 22 4A D-II Monahans, No. 10 3A D-I Sweetwater, No. 16 3A D-I Jim Ned and No. 9 2A D-I Mason.

If the Hawks can escape to the bye week with a winning record, they could be in for a special season.

Players to watch: WR/DB Briggs Jones, Wall; TE/DL Lucas Jarnagin, Idalou; WR Kellan Oliver, Wall; RB/LB Gentry Pounds, Idalou; OL Emmett Marlatt, Wall; QB/WR Kurter Houchin, Idalou.

Other stops: Lake View at Burnet; Big Spring at Fort Stockton; TLCA San Angelo at Grape Creek; Irion County at May; Garden City at Westbrook.

Week 7 | Forsan at Sonora | Friday, Oct. 11

Get your popcorn ready for this matchup between West Texas’ best.

Sonora walked into Forsan with an outright district title and undefeated regular season on the line last year, but a gritty performance from the Buffaloes in a 24-22 win split the district title three-ways between the two schools and Ozona.

This year, the matchup opens District 3-2A D-I play with Sonora hosting. Forsan returns most of its starters from last year’s squad, while Sonora looks to replace several key pieces including former quarterback Jaime Buitron and All-West Texas MVP Edgar DeLuna.

The Buffaloes start the season as favorites to win the district, but the Broncos have a great chance to play spoiler in the first district game.

Players to watch: QB/ATH Juan Castillo, Sonora; RB/DE Huston Stockton, Forsan; ATH/DB Dylan Ford, Sonora; OL/DL Damarion Ausbie, Forsan; WR/DB Kam Aguero, Sonora; WR/DB Hayden Bowlin, Forsan.

Other stops: Miles at Albany; San Angelo Central at Midland Legacy; Irion County at Robert Lee; Regan County at Ozona; Eldorado at Iraan.

Week 8 | Odessa Permian at San Angelo Central | Friday, Oct. 18

Nothing says West Texas football like a matchup between two iconic teams in Odessa Permian and San Angelo Central.

The Panthers’ six state titles and 11 appearances in the state title game gave the program its famous “Mojo” rally cry. And while they are not quite the same program written about in ‘Friday Night Lights,’ they still hold the keys for a postseason berth in the Little Southwest Conference.

Permian was 7-5 last season and earned the final playoff seed in 2023, rolling the Bobcats at home 42-14.

Central has a storied history of its own, but struggled in recent years to maintain success after the resignation of head coach Brent Davis. If the Bobcats want to start their new chapter under coach Mark Smith off with a bang, beating Permian at home could get them a shot at the postseason.

Players to watch: OL Chase Cole, Central; QB Jakob Garcia, Permian; OL Tu’uta Kalamafoni, Central; RB Gavin Black, Permian; LB Jaekob Jackson, Central; DB Braden Garcia, Permian.

Other stops: Coahoma at Wall; Sterling City at Eldorado; Sonora at Ozona; Loraine at Blackwell; Medina at Menard.

Week 9 | Holland at Mason | Friday, Oct. 25

We now head Southeast to the slightly altered Puncher Dome, where two of Class 2A D-I’s best Mason and Holland set to face off in a game that could decide the district champ.

Mason has held the district title for 13 straight years, winning the state championship two of those years — most recently in 2018. The Punchers return nearly all their starters from last year and are hungry to continue their district championship streak.

Holland does not hold quite the same pedigree as the Punchers, but is coming off an undefeated regular season and regional semifinal berth. However, the Hornets enter the season with a new sideline leader after the departure of longtime coach Brad Talbert and also need a new quarterback.

The last time these two teams faced off was in 2019 when Holland shut out the Punchers 28-0 in the third round of the playoffs. So, while there are not a lot of ties between these two teams, recent history would suggest this should be a heavyweight fight.

 Players to watch: RB/LB Sutten Silerio, Mason; CB Marc Grinnan, Holland; QB Carlton Schmidt, Mason; WR Christian Michalek, Holland; LB Clancy Osbourn, Mason; LB Mason Chaney, Holland.

Other stops: Blackwell at Bronte, Buena Vista at Garden City, Water Valley at Robert Lee; Big Spring at Andrews; San Angelo Central at Midland.

Week 10 | Irion County at Water Valley | Friday, Nov. 1

A true Concho Valley showdown between two of what many believe to be the best six-man teams in Texas.

Water Valley makes its way back down to the six-man game after two years in 11-man and starts its first preseason ranking at No. 12 in Class 1A Division I. They return all six starters from last year’s team and will feature Anthony Quintana, who is coming off 800 yards passing and 800 yards rushing.

The last time the Wildcats were in Class 1A, they had an undefeated regular season and made the third round of the playoffs.

The district title will not be easy, though.

No. 19 Irion County was the back-to-back district champs when Water Valley was in 11-man. The Hornets return eight lettermen from last year’s team, including All-West Texas six-man Defensive Player of the Year Parker Posey.

Players to watch: FB/LB Parker Posey, Irion County; TB Anthony Quintana; RB/LB Colton Lawdermilk, Irion County; LB/FB Boston Wiese; E/LB Kyle Olivan, Irion County.

Other stops: Big Spring at Lake View; Eldorado at Wink; Coleman at Ballinger; Colorado City at Reagan County; Richland Springs at Rochelle.

Week 11 | Roscoe at Miles | Friday, Nov. 8

Runnels County is buzzing with excitement over the Bulldogs’ No. 16 ranking in the top 25 in Class 2A Division II – the highest in the history of the program. Last year, they finished the season 8-4 and won their first playoff game.

Standing in the way of a district championship is back-to-back state champs No. 2 Albany and the ascending No. 16 Roscoe program.

Last year, the Plowboys won a 34-33 thriller over Miles to grab the second seed in their district, finishing the season 10-3 and advancing to the third round of the playoffs. They return 14 lettermen from last year’s playoff team, including workhorse running back Ivan McCann to power their run-heavy offense.

Hopefully, this season the two teams can produce another late season spectacle.

Players to watch: RB/DE Ivan McCann, Roscoe; RB/LB Devin Medina, Miles; QB/DB Jace Arnwine, Roscoe; WR/LB Jaylen Torres, Miles; WR/DB Aiden Cerna, Roscoe; QB/DB Liam Yancy.

Other stops: Ballinger at Hico; Eden at Menard; San Angelo Central at Frenship; Pecos at Big Spring; Merkel at Coahoma.

Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer.

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