With less than three weeks to go before the start of the Texas high school football season, it’s time to look at some of the best matchups to kick off the 2017 season. For teams in the El Paso area, there’s a lot of great games within the city and against out-of-town competition. Here are some of the best games to watch from Week 1 in the Sun City.
Eastlake vs. El Dorado (8/31)- Socorro ISD Student Activities Complex (SAC)
Eastlake QB Justin White (Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com)
When these two teams played last year, it turned into a 45-35 shootout on the first weekend of the season. El Dorado brings back Cedarious Barfield, and Eastlake still has plenty of firepower on offense even with a new starting quarterback in Justin White. Expect a lot of points in this game yet again.
Wolfforth Frenship vs. Montwood (9/1)- Socorro ISD Student Activities Complex (SAC)
Montwood WR Tyreese Andrus (Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com)
After surprising many people in El Paso last season, the Montwood Rams are ready to show they have what it takes to stay in the mix of District 1-6A thanks to quarterback Andrew Fernandez and receiver Tyreese Andrus. Frenship will have a completely different look with a new head coach and now without top running back Garrison Johnson, who transferred to Manvel earlier this week.
Midland High at Franklin (9/1)- Franklin’s Cougar Stadium
Franklin WR Khatib Lyles (Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com)
Both teams will use this game as a barometer for the rest of the season. Midland High starts a new era under head coach Tim Anuskiewicz after a special season last year. Franklin made the playoffs a season ago, but there is still a motivation to improve after a 5-5 season. Junior receiver Khatib Lyles and all-district running back Seth Dominguez will be big-time playmakers for head coach Daren Walker and the Cougars this season.
Rio Rancho (NM) vs. Americas (9/1)- Socorro ISD Student Activities Complex (SAC)
Americas RB/WR Tremaine Henderson (Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com)
The Americas Trailblazers start life without Josh Fields against the defending Class 6A state champions from New Mexico. Rio Rancho should have another solid squad again this season while the Blazers are ready to unveil Tremaine Henderson in the backfield and use his speed to help them this season.
El Paso Del Valle vs. Mayfield (NM) (8/31)- Las Cruces, New Mexico
Del Valle QB Ray Montez (Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com)
Finally, Del Valle travels up the road to Las Cruces to take on a traditional New Mexico power in Mayfield that took a bit of a step back last season, finishing 6-6. The Conquistadores lost a heartbreaker last year and junior quarterback Ray Montez and his team should be ready to exact revenge and get Del Valle off to a good start.
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