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Top 5 high school football games to watch in West Texas in Week 2

paul harris, san angelo standard-times
·4 min read

Here are our top high school football games to watch in West Texas in Week 2 of the 2022 season:

Sterling City at Miles

Sterling City running back Johnny Monreal (2) tries to stay on his feet against Hermleigh in the bidistrict round of the 2021 Class 1A Division I playoffs.
Sterling City running back Johnny Monreal (2) tries to stay on his feet against Hermleigh in the bidistrict round of the 2021 Class 1A Division I playoffs.

This is a matchup of teams that have each won a state title recently -- though neither of them were on an 11-man football field. Sterling City was the Class 1A Division I state champion in six-man football in 2020, while Miles won the 7-on-7 Division III state title this past summer. Sterling City is in its first year back in 11-man, and the Eagles are off to a running start after walloping Odessa Compass Academy 68-0 last week. Johnathan Monreal rushed for 158 yards and four TDs on only five carries, and he had three punt return TDs (covering 76, 77 and 72 yards). Miles was similarly impressive in a 69-0 win over Midland TLCA. Hayven Book was 8-of-9 passing for 176 yards and four touchdowns. Carson Ellison had an 86-yard TD catch and returned a punt for a score. Devin Medina rushed for two scores, and Tanner Wood returned a fumble for a TD. Both of these teams could have an exciting season ahead of them, and this should be an entertaining game.

The pick: Miles 29, Sterling City 28

Irion County vs. Spur (at Blackwell)

Irion County High School's Bo Morrow turns his eyes upfield after a reception against Eden as the Bulldogs' Julian Gamboa defends in a District 14-1A Division I football game Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 at O.K. Wolfenbarger Field in Mertzon.
Irion County High School's Bo Morrow turns his eyes upfield after a reception against Eden as the Bulldogs' Julian Gamboa defends in a District 14-1A Division I football game Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 at O.K. Wolfenbarger Field in Mertzon.

Irion County is up one spot to No. 9 in the Class 1A Division I state rankings, while Spur is knocking on the door of the Top 10 after entering the season ranked No. 12. The Bulldogs defeated O'Donnell 64-18 last week. Irion County had a little more trouble shaking off Buena Vista in an 80-60 shootout. Spur returns four starters from a team that went 10-2 and reached the state quarterfinals last year, so the Bulldogs should present a serious challenge to an Irion County team with aspirations of its own deep playoff run. The Hornets returned all but one starter from last year's 8-3 team that lost their playoff opener. This looks like a competitive game that won't be decided until late in the fourth quarter.

The pick: Irion County 60, Spur 52

Mason at Brady

Brady High School's Zeke Jones runs the ball against Stanton in a Class 3A area football playoff at Hawks Stadium in Wall on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.
Brady High School's Zeke Jones runs the ball against Stanton in a Class 3A area football playoff at Hawks Stadium in Wall on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.

Both of these teams managed to find the end zone only once last week, but their defenses had far different results. While Mason lost 7-6 to a Coleman team now up to No. 6 in the 2A D-I rankings, Brady was blown out 49-7 by Comanche. It was a surprising result for a Bulldogs team that went 8-4 last year and returned 13 starters. Comanche was coming off a 1-9 season. Brady will try to right the ship when it hosts Mason, renewing a rivalry between the towns only 28 miles apart. It will be their first meeting since 2007. Brady scored 33.5 points per game last year, and the Bulldogs will need that offensive firepower to show up if they want to break through the Punchers' formidable defense.

The pick: Mason 26, Brady 14

Menard at Garden City

The Menard Yellowjackets take to the field before a game against Junction on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.
The Menard Yellowjackets take to the field before a game against Junction on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.

The six-man newcomer will take on the established power in this interesting matchup. Menard won its six-man debut 47-2 last week over San Marcos Hill Country, but the learning curve could be much steeper against Garden City, which is ranked No. 5 in 1A D-I. The Bearkats are coming off a hard-fought 30-26 win over No. 9 Turkey Valley last week. Garden City is a veteran group with five returning starters on each side of the ball from last year's 7-4 team. If Menard is able to hang with Garden City at all, it would speak volumes about the young six-man program.

The pick: Garden City 62, Menard 32

Christoval at Grape Creek

Grape Creek High School's Dalton Dillon (4) looks for a hole in the Sonora defense as Dante Huerta (56) provides blocking in a District 2-3A Division II football game Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, at Bronco Stadium in Sonora.
Grape Creek High School's Dalton Dillon (4) looks for a hole in the Sonora defense as Dante Huerta (56) provides blocking in a District 2-3A Division II football game Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, at Bronco Stadium in Sonora.

Both of these district champions from last year suffered humbling defeats to begin their 2022 seasons. Christoval was shut out 7-0 by Eldorado. Grape Creek lost 33-8 to Stanton. We'll see how they respond this week in a Tom Green County battle in Grape Creek. It was no contest last year as Christoval rolled to a 55-7 win over Grape Creek. The Eagles bounced back from that loss and went on to claim a share of the first district title in program history. Christoval's offense averaged over 43 points per game last year, and they'll be looking to get back on track this week.

The pick: Christoval 29, Grape Creek 16

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Top 5 high school football games to watch in West Texas in Week 2