District 2-6A has been pretty competitive from top to bottom the past couple of seasons. Case in point? All four district losses fifth-placed San Angelo Central suffered last year were by nine points or less.
This district produced a number of shootouts last year, so there should be no shortage of excitement again this fall.
Here’s what to watch for in District 2-6A.
Midland Bulldogs
Head Coach: Thad Fortune (5th season; 24-20 record)
Last Season: 8-4; 3-2 in district (Lost to Crowley in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 20 (2 returning starters on offense; 2 on defense)
Midland Key Players and Storylines
There’s a glass half full and a glass half empty approach when it comes to looking at the Bulldogs this year. Sure, they only have two starters back on each side of the ball, but head coach Thad Fortune said they have a big senior class ready to step up this season.
That includes quarterback Tristan Love. He was 8-1 as a sophomore starter in 2023 before missing out on last year due to injury. His anchor up front will be guard Pule Primus. He has 24 games of starting experience and is a giant road block at 6’4″ and 325 pounds.
Stop what you’re doing and watch this. @Primuss73 looks like a man amongst boys on Midland High’s offensive line.
The junior has 14 Division 1 offers, but has taken an even bigger responsibility off the field.
Watch Basin Gridiron on ABC tomorrow for the story! @midlandhighfb pic.twitter.com/tWCd5KljT0
— Kayler Smith – WDTN (@KaylerSmithTV) October 18, 2024
On the other side of the ball, Fortune expects defensive back Jojo Lievens (54 tackles) to lead that unit. He started all 12 games last year.
Linebacker Lucas Ramirez “is poised for a breakout season” as he finally gets a chance to start full-time. Fellow linebacker Robert Hardin (31 tackles) should be all over the field with the motor he plays with.
Fortune said this year’s group has “a chip on their shoulders.” Many of these Bulldogs are seniors who have been waiting patiently for their opportunity. Now, they’re ready to seize the moment and put themselves in a spot to compete for a district title down the stretch just as Midland has done the past two years.
Midland Legacy Rebels
Head Coach: Clint Hartman (10th season; 75-33 record)
Last Season: 6-6; 4-1 in district (Lost to Trinity in area round)
Midland Legacy Key Players and Storylines
Midland Legacy is a contender just about every year under Clint Hartman. The Rebels have finished in the top two spots in district the past six years. The past four seasons, they’ve also won at least one playoff game.
They’ll expect similar results this year with their backfield returning. Quarterback JP Reyes (2,229 passing yards and 27 touchdowns) had a sensational sophomore season in 2024. He’ll have quite the one-two punch alongside him with workhorse running back McKenzie Rogers (763 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) and speed back Hayes Hamm (528 rushing yards and two touchdowns).
JP Reyes finds @cadenellis_1 in the endzone for the Rebels second score of the night. #TXHSFB pic.twitter.com/SqnP1vdxc8
— BasinSportsNetwork (@basinsportsnet) October 26, 2024
The Rebels did graduate a pair of first team all-district linemen, but seniors tackle Dylan Roemisch and tackle/guard Dylan Walters are back after strong 2024 campaigns.
Defensively, Legacy’s top three tacklers graduated, but the cupboard isn’t bare. Cornerback Nic Moore (52 tackles) and safety Trey Jefferson (50 tackles) can keep things locked down on the back end and also be relied upon as tacklers in the open field. They were both all-district selections last season.
Levi Martinez (56 tackles) is a linebacker/safety hybrid, who is Legacy’s leading returning tackler. Defensive tackles Drew Nisus (32 tackles) and Jason Williams (30 tackles) can keep potential running lanes plugged up. Both were second team all-district picks last fall.
At just about every position group, Legacy has all-district talent returning. They’ll be a team not just to watch in District 2-6A, but in the playoffs as well as they look to try and make some noise into November again this year.
Odessa Bronchos
Head Coach: Erik Hartman (2nd season; 2-7 record)
Last Season: 2-7; 0-5 in district
Returning Lettermen: 24 (5 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
Odessa Key Players and Storylines
Odessa is determined to show improvement from a 2-7 campaign in year one under head coach Erik Hartman.
The offense needs to replace now UTPB quarterback Mikey Cota, but there’s plenty of weapons for whoever gets the keys to the offense.
Tight end Kobi Baldonado (763 receiving yards and six TDs) led the Bronchos in receptions in 2024. Bo Rodriguez (675 receiving yards and six TDs) was Odessa’s go-to receiver a year ago, and fellow senior receiver Andrew Rodriguez (340 receiving yards and three TDs) has “great size and speed.”
Sophomore Season Highlights
6’3 200lbs WR/TE
60Receptions
763 Yards
6TD’s
12.7avg per reception @OHSBronchoFB @EHartman_OHS_HC @CoachHixOL @Mj_L1nk @cota_mikey @santi6medrano pic.twitter.com/YFc30Fyf9D— Kobi Baldonado (@kobibaldonado88) November 14, 2024
The Bronchos should also have plenty of kick at linebacker. Ethan Houser is “a big hitter in the middle.” Martin Alva (71 tackles) has “good size” at 6’0″ and 175 pounds and is Odessa’s leading returning tackler. Mason Fazenbaker (45 tackles, nine TFLs) has the versatility to play as a linebacker/defensive back hybrid and is a “playmaker.”
Up front, defensive lineman Jayden Hodges is a “big hole-plugger” at five-foot-ten and 250 pounds.
Hartman has said the Bronchos have been hard at work to change the culture at Odessa. He wants them to be “very physical” as they look to be more competitive on the gridiron this fall.
Odessa Permian Panthers
Head Coach: Jeff Ellison (8th season; 55-27 record)
Last Season: 8-4; 2-3 in district (Lost to North Crowley in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 31 (7 returning starters on offense; 9 on defense)
Permian Key Players and Storylines
Permian won a playoff game for the second year in a row in 2024, and head coach Jeff Ellison expects his squad to be even better this fall with 16 returning starters.
The Panthers continue to employ option schemes within their offense, so it’ll be a big boost to have quarterback Jakob Garcia (1,483 passing yards and 14 touchdowns) and workhorse running back Gavin Black (2,375 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns) manning the backfield again this season.
6 PTS for @MOJOFB1 !!
Gavin Black finds the end zone with this fantastic rushing score!
2 pt pass is no good.
8:39 in the 3rd
Midland Legacy 35
Odessa Permian 30#txhsfb @dctf pic.twitter.com/mB33kMZJWq— SVJ (Red checkmark) (@TXHSEducation) October 26, 2024
On the other side of the ball, the Panthers return almost all their key playmakers. Linebackers Caleb Jamison (104 tackles) and Jayson Cranfill (55 tackles) and defensive back Cameron Mattingly (79 tackles) were Permian’s three leading tacklers last season.
Nose guard Coffie Powell (42 tackles, three sacks) will anchor the Panthers up front. Keep an eye on defensive back Nata Cardoza (39 tackles) too. He had a strong sophomore campaign.
With so much talent back, the Panthers have to be looking forward to 2025. Don’t be surprised if they improve upon their fourth place district finish a year ago.
San Angelo Central Bobcats
Head Coach: Mark Smith (2nd season; 4-6 record)
Last Season: 4-6; 1-4 in district
San Angelo Central Key Players and Storylines
2024 was a year of what could have been for the Bobcats. A 1-4 district record doesn’t jump out on paper, but all four of those district losses were by nine points or less.
Finding a way to win those close games will make or break their season this year. They also need to find a quarterback after last year’s starter graduated. The good news is there will be a plethora of options for the new man out at receiver.
Senior Jimmy Edwards will likely lead the way in targets, but junior Gavin Johnson and seniors Casner Stribling and Jaekob Jackson all saw plenty of playing time last year.
The offensive line will need to re-load too after the Bobcats graduated all three of their all-district honorees from that unit.
Linebacker Mason van Sickle (132 tackles, 11 TFLs) will be the heart of the Bobcat defense. Central should also be stout in the trenches with promising junior defensive tackle Riley Oines and fellow defensive tackle Brayan Sandoval, who was a first team all-district selection in 2024.
DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS
Stats Through 10 Games:
132 TKLs 11 TFLs 3 Sacks 2 FFs 1TDhttps://t.co/igkYlw1N1l@coachmarksmith @coach_jmartin @CoachWesCope @RoyGarciaIII @CGriffin_16— Mason Van Sickle (@masonvansickle_) November 26, 2024
Prior to the past two seasons, Central had made the playoffs for 13 straight years. After last year’s heartbreak this year’s group will be determined to get back to those standards this fall.
Wolfforth Frenship Tigers
Head Coach: Jay Northcutt (9th season; 47-39 record)
Last Season: 10-2; 5-0 in district (Lost to Southlake Carroll in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 32
Frenship Key Players and Storylines
Frenship had its winningest season in 11 years last fall. If the Tigers are going to repeat that feat this year, they have some work to do on offense after graduating their starting quarterback, leading rusher, and a 1,400-yard receiver.
Luckily, they have a true gamebreaker in receiver Chase Campbell. He can contribute in a number of ways and currently holds over 20 Division I offers. Head coach Jay Northcutt also expects Hayden Wilson (444 receiving yards and three TDs) and Zade McClure to step up alongside Campbell for a Fresnship offense that loves to air it out.
Junior Season highlights!
First team all district
81 receptions
1,497 receiving yards
18 receiving touchdowns
314 rushing yards
6 rushing touchdowns
1 99+ kickoff return for TD@SemperImpetus @CoachWhiteDB1 https://t.co/P1AY3uSa3v— Chase Campbell (@26ChaseC) December 8, 2024
Senior quarterback Quaid Ferris will be the one entrusted with letting it fly. He’s a move-in from Bushland and accounted for 38 touchdowns a year ago.
On the other side of the ball, linebacker Noah Lopez (80 tackles) and safety Randin Covarrubio (65 tackles) are Frenship’s two leading returning tacklers. The Tigers should also be strong on the defensive line with seniors Brandon Lucero (36 tackles), Hudson Page (38 tackles), and Mark Nusz (32 tackles).
Northcutt expects that defense to be Frenship’s calling card early in the season as the offense settles in new players into new roles. But with the talent, speed, and athleticism Frenship has at its disposal, the Tigers should be battling towards the top of District 2-6A again this season.
