Expect District 2-6A to be tight again this season following a year that required a three-way tiebreaker to decide the district champion. But the district championship battle isn’t the only one to watch as both Midland and Odessa look to snap playoff droughts this fall following improvement on the field in 2022.
And if the competitiveness wasn’t enough, this district also contains two of the best players in the entire region.
Here’s what to watch for in District 2-6A.
Midland Bulldogs
Head Coach: Thad Fortune (3rd Season)
Last Season: 5-5; 1-4 in district
Midland Key Players and Storylines
Midland made strides in head coach Thad Fortune’s second year at the school. The Bulldogs improved by three wins from 2021 and also came up just three points short of their first playoff berth since 2018. (A 28-25 defeat to San Angelo Central proved to be the difference between fourth and fifth in the district.)
Heading into this fall, Fortune noted that the buy-in from his players has been evident.
“The ’23 team is ‘all-in’ and is looking to start a new chapter in the history of Midland High Football,” Fortune said. “We have great support from the administration and community and look forward to giving them something to cheer about.”
Week One of Summer Workouts✅
It’s a great day to be a Bulldog! 🟣⚪️#OYB pic.twitter.com/RNz5CLbifH
— Midland Bulldog Football (@midlandhighfb) June 9, 2023
In order to do that, Fortune said his team will have to be more consistent in district play. Strong senior leadership and a good class of juniors that earned playing time as sophomores could be the key in unlocking Midland’s potential.
Dual threat quarterback Stroman Bridges (259 passing yards and 4 TDs; 477 rushing yards and 4TDs), who returns for his second year behind center, and running back Elijah McCoy (213 rushing yards and two touchdowns) are two of those juniors Fortune expects to be significant contributors. They will be vital for a Midland team that loves to run the football.
When the Bulldog do turn to the air, Fortune said senior receiver Braeden Hall is the player to watch.
Defensively, Midland returns their three leading tacklers from last season. Safety Athen Dominguez (108 tackles, 2 INTs) was a first team all-district selection last season. In front of him, Turner Squire (74 tackles) and Adam Alvarado (75 tackles) should make a formidable tandem at linebacker.
Under Fortune’s leadership, the Bulldogs appear to be turning a corner. After a close call last fall, 2023 will be all about turning those nail-biting district losses into victories as Midland seeks to be a playoff team for the first time in five years.
Midland Legacy Rebels
Head Coach: Clint Hartman (8th Season)
Last Season: 7-5; 4-1 in district (Lost to Keller in area round)
Midland Legacy Key Players and Storylines
Midland Legacy has made winning playoff games a habit under the leadership of Clint Hartman. The Rebels have advanced to at least the area round of playoffs the past six seasons.
However, they were left with a sour taste in their mouth a year ago as they came up agonizingly short of a regional semifinal appearance in a 23-21 defeat to Keller.
This season, the Rebels are primed for more success behind the leadership of four-star prospect and Purdue commit Marcos Davila (3,052 passing yards and 36 touchdowns). He’ll be arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the entire region.
Midland (Texas) Legacy 4 ⭐️ QB Marcos Davila had probably the smoothest throwing motion of any passer in attendance Sunday.
The Purdue commit battled the wind and turned in a solid day.@marcosdavila05 pic.twitter.com/9uKORV9z6a
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) March 14, 2023
His backfield partner may be a question mark following the graduation of first team all-district running back Zeke Luna, but there are no questions surrounding the talent at receiver. Junior Aiden Serrano (741 receiving yards and nine touchdowns) and seniors Brex Stevens (444 receiving yards and four touchdowns), Skylar Wilburn (390 receiving yards and three touchdowns), and Colin Brazzell (323 receiving yards and five touchdowns) all return to give Davila a plethora of options in the passing game.
On the other side of the ball, the Rebels boast quite the linebacking corps with Esus Robledo (94 tackles, 2 INTs), Gilbert Hernandez (48 tackles, 2 INTs), and Trace Low (82 tackles, 12 TFLs) all returning. Behind them, keep an eye on Damien Johnson (57 tackles, 2 INTs), who was a first team all-district selection at cornerback last season.
The Rebels will be looking for some growth from their defense after falling in a couple of shootouts early in the season a year ago. But with so much talent back and a gunslinger in Davila leading the way, Midland Legacy is poised to make some noise in Region I in 2023.
Odessa Bronchos
Head Coach: Dusty Ortiz (3rd Season)
Last Season: 3-7; 0-5 in district
Odessa Key Players and Storylines
In both of Dusty Ortiz’s seasons at Odessa, his Bronchos have finished with a 3-7 record. However, he believes the program as a whole is making progress. Last year, he said that his Bronchos were in most of the games they played but just a couple of key plays wouldn’t go their way.
In Ortiz’s eyes, Odessa’s players are in the midst of their best offseason since he took over the program. And with seven starters returning on offense and five back on defense, he believes the pieces are in place for Odessa to challenge for their first playoff berth since 2013.
Over the past two seasons, Odessa’s offense has averaged just over 31 points per game. Wide receiver Ivan Carreon (1,168 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns), who recently flipped his commitment from Texas Tech to Oklahoma, is the player to watch on the Broncho offense heading into this season. Ortiz said he is in line to break every Odessa receiving record with another big year in 2023.
🔥First of many touchdowns in 2023 for #TexasTech commit Ivan Carreon, and it was a pretty good one@cota_mikey ➡️ @IvanCarreonWR1 @JoeyMcGuireTTU | @OHSBronchoFB | @RedRaiderNation pic.twitter.com/23JoZrHGEe
— Kayler Smith – KMID (@KaylerSmithTV) May 18, 2023
He’ll have a new quarterback throwing to him as junior Mikey Cota appears ready to fill the hole after the graduation of Jaylien Jones. At running back, the Bronchos will have a familiar face in DeJuan Green, who rushed for 255 yards in 2021 before missing last season.
On defense, the Bronchos return one of their key leaders in safety Jayven Gonzalez, who led the Bronchos with 72 tackles in 2022. Dreshon Douglas will be another key player in the Odessa secondary while Ortiz is expecting junior defensive end Daniel Garcia to step up for the Bronchos in the trenches.
The Bronchos will be looking to improve on their defensive stats from a year ago after giving up 41 points per game. If that side of the ball can continue to grow and Cota can settle in at quarterback to lead the offense with Carreron, the Bronchos could have a chance to challenge for their first playoff berth in a decade this season.
Odessa Permian Panthers
Head Coach: Jeff Ellison (6th Season)
Last Season: 9-2; 4-1 in district (Lost to El Paso Pebble Hills in bi-district)
Odessa Permian Key Players and Storylines
Odessa Permian has been a model of consistency under head coach Jeff Ellison, making it to the playoffs in all five years of his coaching reign.
Last year, the Panthers finished in a three-way tie for the district title before falling to Pebble Hills in the first round of playoffs.
They return a good amount of experience from that team with 35 returning lettermen, including six starters on offense and seven on defense.
The Panthers love to run the football and will have Juzstyce Lara (999 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns) back leading the charge this year. His experience will be crucial as the Panthers will have a new starting quarterback this year and will also need Gage Murphy and Isaac Herrera to step up at receiver following the graduation of their top three pass-catchers last season.
6pts for @MOJOFB1 !! This time Juzstyce Lara rams it in the end zone and Permian extends the lead!@OdessaPermian @Permian_GoMOJO pic.twitter.com/9I4et7wSDH
— S. Valerio (Red checkmark) (@TXHSEducation) September 25, 2022
Up front, Ellison is expecting Noah Casas, Justin Greene, and Julio Madero to play big roles on the offensive line following the graduation of four all-district linemen from last season.
On the other side of the ball, Ellison believes the defensive line will be the strongest unit on the team with Bryan Pry (23 tackles, five TFLs), Frank Alvarado (22 tackles, eight TFLs), and Sebastian Sanchez (18 tackles, five TFLs) all returning.
Behind them, last year’s district Defensive Newcomer of the Year Parker Haynes, (69 tackles, 12 TFLs) and Preston Grizzell (56 tackles, nine TFLs) return at linebacker to give Permian quite the formidable front seven.
Ellison noted that there are areas where the Panthers will lack experience this fall. However, with a record of six-straight playoff berths, don’t expect a drop off from an Odessa Permian team that has over half of its starters returning from a year ago.
San Angelo Central Bobcats
Head Coach: Kevin Crane (3rd Season)
Last Season: 5-6; 2-3 in district (Lost to El Paso Eastwood in bi-district)
San Angelo Central Key Players and Storylines
The Bobcats will be younger this season with just three starters back on offense and five on defense. Head coach Kevin Crane said the Bobcats will have several new faces on both sides of the ball.
And while those new players may not have varsity experience, they do know how to win after both the Bobcats’ JV and freshman teams had successful 2022 seasons.
Offensively, San Angelo Central lost not only its starting quarterback but its six leading receivers from 2022.
Jacob English was the leading receiver for San Angelo Central a year ago. And although he graduates, his younger brother Christian, a junior, is primed to step into the starting quarterback role for the Bobcats this season.
At the skill positions, Crane believes senior running back Jayvion Robinson (256 rushing yards and two touchdowns) and receiver Alex Lindsay are both poised for much bigger roles this season.
On the other side of the ball, the Bobcats’ three-leading tacklers are gone. However, Colter Farmer (66 tackles) and Seth Mariano (56 tackles) both return to give San Angelo two reliable tacklers at safety.
Crane expects defensive end Brayden Hymas to anchor the Bobcats in the trenches, while junior Peter Kignaya is one of the younger players that could have an instant impact from his cornerback position on defense.
The Bobcats head into this season off the back of 13 straight playoff appearances. During that time span, they’ve also won six district titles. Crane said the bar will be just as high this year as he expects his Bobcats to be playing in the postseason yet again in 2023.
Wolfforth Frenship Tigers
Head Coach: Jay Northcutt (7th Season)
Last Season: 9-3; 4-1 in district (Lost to Southlake Carroll in area round)
Wolfforth Frenship Key Players and Storylines
The Tigers had a hugely successful 2022 season. Not only did they make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 but they also won their first district title since 2015.
Head Coach Jay Northcutt said expectations are just as high this year with nine starters back on offense and seven on defense.
District Champs and it feels so good! Congratulations to @SemperImpetus and Head Coach Jay Northcutt on winning the 17th district title in Tiger history and the first since 2014!
Photo courtesy of John E. Moore pic.twitter.com/vyN4olV7Wk
— Frenship Athletics (@FrenshipSports) November 5, 2022
Frenship relied heavily on its aerial attack last year and that shouldn’t change this season with the return of quarterback Hudson Hutcheson (3,742 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns). He’ll have plenty of dangerous targets to aim for as well in his brother Landon Hutcheson (941 receiving yards and five touchdowns), junior Leyton Stone (1,177 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns), and senior Brooks Roberson (250 receiving yards and two touchdowns).
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive ends Caydin Blakely (22 tackles; 12 tackles for loss) and Caden Spano (21 tackles; five tackles for loss) should both be threats off the edge. The Tigers also return a couple of key players in the secondary in junior Bryce Garza (29 tackles) and senior Santiago Sanchez, who was tied for the team lead in interceptions a year ago with three.
Northcutt’s biggest concern heading into 2023 is Frenship’s overall experience at linebacker. The Tigers will need to lean on last year’s Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year Cooper Archer to help lead that position.
After a couple of barren years in 2020 and 2021 where Frenship was unable to make the playoffs, it seems like the Tigers have hit their stride again.
Northcutt said the key to this year will be focusing on the day-by-day process to improve throughout the season and peak at the right time. If they can do that and lean on their athleticism and experience, Northcutt believes a second-straight district title is well within reach in 2023.
CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz
