Abbott has won three-straight district titles and will be favorites for a fourth in 2023. However, the district has been getting increasingly competitive in recent years. Gholson snapped a long losing streak last year and Penelope finished above .500. Both will be hoping to make further progress in 2023 as they aim to challenge Coolidge and Aquilla in the battle for a playoff spot.
Abbott Panthers
Head Coach: Terry Crawford (26th Season)
Last Season: 14-1; 4-0 in district (Lost to Westbrook in State Championship game)
Abbott Key Players and Storylines
Abbott made it back to the state title game for the first time in seven years last season, but the Panthers couldn’t find a way past Westbrook’s stifling defense.
This season will be an especially meaningful one as it’s the last for longtime head coach Terry Crawford before he steps away from coaching to head into full-time ministry.
Crawford said the Panthers need to find replacements at quarterback and center, but the other four offensive starters from last year return.
A major strength for the Panthers will be at the running back position. Riley Sustala (1,502 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns) should be fully healthy after sustaining a season-ending injury in Abbott’s bi-district game against Milford. Even more frightening for opposing teams is that he’ll have Mason Hejl alongside him. Hejl exploded onto the scene with 847 rushing yards in the playoffs in Sustala’s absence a year ago.
Abbott takes the field in the 2022 1A Division I State Championship Game.
Meanwhile, Joey Pavelka (283 receiving yards and 9 TDs) should be a key player at tight end after earning first team all-district a year ago.
Defensively, Crawford said his team needs an aggressor to lead the defense after the graduation of Isaiah Singleton-Brooks.
There are plenty of options to choose from to fill that void as defensive end Brady Schulz (19 TFLs), LB Pavelka (91.5 tackles), CB Sustala (70 tackles and 6 INTs), and Hejl (37 tackles) all earned first team honors a year ago.
The Panthers will have plenty of motivation to win for Crawford this year. And with several key returners and a talented junior class, Crawford is confident his team has what it takes to perform at a high level again this year.
Aquilla Cougars
Head Coach: Shannon Williams (3rd season)
Last Season: 7-4; 3-1 in district (Lost to Blum in bi-district)
Aquilla Key Players and Storylines
Excitement is high in Aquilla as Head Coach Shannon Williams said the Cougars return all six starters on both sides of the ball. The group should have good chemistry as well as this will be the third season they have all played together.
Running back/Safety Hagen Williams (775 passing yards, 1,454 rushing yards, and 101 tackles) is primed to be Aquilla’s on-field leader again this season. He led the Cougars in passing yards, rushing yards, and tackles a year ago.
Fellow running back Edward Anderson (639 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns), quarterback Fabian Campos (273 passing yards and six touchdowns), and center Jeremy Warren should also all be key contributors on an offense that averaged nearly 48 points per game last season.
On the other side of the ball, Rodrigo Casteneda (49 total tackles) will lead from the linebacker position, while Anderson (43 total tackles, 13 TFLs) and Bryson Woodward (42 total tackles, 10 TFLs) should be a threat in the trenches from their defensive end positions.
Despite two playoff appearances the past four seasons, the Cougars haven’t won a playoff game since 2018. With the support of the community behind the team and the experience the Cougars have returning, Williams believes this could be the year that changes.
“Our expectations are high for this group,” Williams said. “We are hoping to build on last year’s success and make this year an even better year. We have all our key players back and with a good offseason and summer program, we are expecting big things if we can stay healthy and catch a few breaks throughout the season.”
Coolidge Yellowjackets
Head Coach: Danny Baker (5th season)
Last Season: 3-7; 1-3 in district
Coolidge Key Players and Storylines
The Yellowjackets came up just short of their third-straight playoff appearance a year ago as a narrow 44-42 defeat to Aquilla proved to be the difference in the district’s playoff race. (Coolidge’s final game against Penelope was cancelled due to inclement weather.)
This season, head coach Danny Baker expects his Yellowjackets to bounce back and contend for a playoff berth in a district that’s becoming increasingly competitive.
A big boost for Coolidge will be the return of five starters on each side of the ball.
Hunter Lowry will lead the Yellowjackets on both sides of the ball. As well as being the team’s starting quarterback in 2022, he was also the leading tackler from his cornerback position on defense. Running back/receiver Josh Squires will be another dynamic weapon for the Coolidge offense. He also earned second team all-district from his linebacker position a year ago.
Up front, Baker expects returning lettermen center Tavo Salazar and end Tim Hayes to anchor the offense’s protection in the trenches.
Abbott has ruled this Central Texas district the past three seasons, but the battle for second in this district should be fierce. Circle Coolidge’s showdown at Aquilla on October 13 as a matchup that could go a long way towards deciding who gets the district’s other playoff ticket in 2023.
Gholson Wildcats
Head Coach: Randall Ballew (3rd Season)
Last Season: 4-6; 0-4 in district
Gholson Key Players and Storylines
After a rocky couple years, it appears things are turning the corner in Gholson.
The Wildcats played an outlaw schedule in 2021 and were nursing an 18-game losing streak heading into last season. However, they broke through in a big way with four wins in 2022.
This year optimism is high in Wildcat Country as five starters return on both sides of the ball. Depth should be much stronger too as the Wildcats have a strong batch of players coming up from the junior high team.
Sophomore running back and safety Aaron Salinas (638 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns; 88 total tackles) is arguably the face of that rising young talent after he earned the district’s Newcomer of the Year award last season.
But in addition to that young talent, the Wildcats will have a couple of key senior leaders back this season to help lead the team.
Offensively, the backfield is stacked with that veteran talent. Running back Austin Vanek (930 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns), fullback Hutner Nors (335 rushing yards and three touchdowns), and quarterback Cayden Thomas (261 passing yards) all return for their senior seasons.
All three of those players will play a key role on defense as well. Vanek (69 tackles, 17 TFLs) and Nors (39 tackles, 4 TFLs) will make their impact felt on the defensive line, while Thomas (57 tackles, 9 TFLs) will be a key linebacker for Gholson.
Gholson still has plenty of room to grow after being 45’d in each of its four district games last season. However, the growth is evident. Just a couple years ago, Gholson only had 10 high school football players. This year, it will be closer to 30 with the Wildcats expecting to field a JV team.
With that upward trajectory, Gholson is primed for another step forward on the field in 2023.
Penelope Wolverines
Head Coach: Chris Villareal (1st Season)
Last Season: 6-4; 2-2 in district
Penelope Key Players and Storylines
Penelope has been towards the bottom of its district over the past decade. The Wolverines haven’t made the playoffs since winning a district title back in 2010.
However, times are changing. In recent years, every Penelope sport has made the playoffs except football. And in 2022, the Wolverines finished an impressive 6-4
Expect that positive momentum to continue as Chris Villareal comes over from Mount Calm to take over the program. He inherits a Wolverine team that return 17 lettermen, including all six starters on both sides of the ball.
Spreadback Michael Corson (1,008 rushing yards, 513 passing yards, and 21 total touchdowns) should be the heartbeat of the offense, but he’ll have help from fellow back Nathanael Fontanez (555 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns), sophomore quarterback Pierce Esparza (149 passing yards), and lineman Jayden Schwarz, a first team all-district honoree last year.
Defensively, Corson led the Wolverines in tackles a year ago, while safety Jessie Corson (84 tackles and four INTs) should be another key contributor. Davis also expects junior defensive end Joshua High (69 tackles) to be a leader in the trenches.
Another advantage the Wolverines may have this season is their home atmosphere. Despite not having a band, Penelope’s maintenance man and his sons play live music at games with their rock n’ roll band.
With that community support behind them, the Wolverines will be ready to battle with some of the heavyweights in their district as they go in search of some upsets in 2023.
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