Top 5 high school football games to watch in West Texas in Week 3
Here are our top high school football games to watch in West Texas in Week 3 of the 2022 season:
Jim Ned at Wall
This is one of the region's best rivalries in numerous sports. On the football field, it was Jim Ned that dethroned Wall in 2020 and ended the Hawks' run of nine straight district titles with a 28-8 win en route to the 3A Division I state title. The Indians beat Wall again last year, 37-20, as they reached the third round of the playoffs. Could the rivalry swing back into Wall's favor this year? Jim Ned is off to an 0-2 start after a pair of lopsided losses -- 30-7 to Hawley and 41-19 to Holliday. However, Hawley is ranked No. 2 in the state in 2A D-I, while Hawley is No. 3 in 3A D-II, so Jim Ned is certainly battle tested heading into Friday's game in Wall. The Hawks also took on a strong opponent last week and lost 18-14 to Cisco (No. 5 in 2A D-I). Wall cruised past Eastland 49-20 in its season opener. Jim Ned had won 26 games in a row before last year's playoff loss, so you would expect the Indians to get up off the mat and respond this week. Wall also has revenge on its mind and home-field advantage on its side. This should be a hard-fought game that isn't decided until the fourth quarter.
The pick: Wall 22, Jim Ned 21
Eldorado at Sonora
These two towns separated by about 20 miles on US Highway 277 have been playing since the 1920s. The rivalry went dormant for 15 years before being revived in 2020, with Sonora winning a 44-42 double-overtime classic. Wins have been few and far between for Eldorado against its bigger neighbor for much of the rivalry, but the Eagles claimed a resounding 48-26 win last year on the way to their best season in 71 years. Eldorado is coming off an 18-12 overtime loss to Winters last week, while Sonora also dropped a close game, 31-27 to Coahoma. The matchup to watch will be Eldorado's defense, which shut out Christoval 7-0 in Week 1, against Sonora's high-powered offense, which has averaged 28 points in its two games.
The pick: Sonora 21, Eldorado 14
Water Valley at Miles
The Miles Bulldogs are off and running with two emphatic wins to start the season -- a 69-0 win over Midland TLCA, followed by last week's 40-21 win over Sterling City in which they rallied from a 21-6 halftime deficit. Miles won the Division III 7-on-7 state title over the summer, so expectations were high for the Bulldogs' offense, and they've delivered. Quarterback Hayven Book threw five touchdown passes last week and ran for another. Carson Ellison caught three of those scores. Like Sterling City, Water Valley reached the state quarterfinals last year. And like the Eagles, the Wildcats are in their first year back in 11-man football. Water Valley raced out of the gates with an 80-19 win over Abilene TLCA in Week 1, but the Wildcats lost a 6-2 defensive battle with Hamlin last week. Water Valley will need another defensive effort like that to try and slow down Miles.
The pick: Miles 28, Water Valley 13
Winters at San Angelo TLCA
What a difference a week makes. Led by a six-TD performance from quarterback Layne Honea, the TLCA Eagles defeated Ozona 42-36 in Week 1 for their first win since 2019. The momentum didn't travel home with them, however, as they lost 7-6 to Odessa Compass Academy last week. Winters experienced the contrast to that as the Blizzards lost 40-14 to Cross Plains in Week 1, then turned around and pulled off an 18-12 overtime upset at Eldorado last week. So what can we expect this week? Who knows. These teams had a combined record of 2-17 last year, so the chance to improve to 2-1 Friday is meaningful for both programs. You could argue it means more for TLCA, which hasn't won multiple games in a season since 2017.
The pick: San Angelo TLCA 17, Winters 14
Baird at Robert Lee
First-year head coach Lee McCown has the Robert Lee Steers off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2018, which is the last time they reached the playoffs. Robert Lee won big against Rotan (67-22) and found a way to win close against Sands (36-28). Rotan returned most of its 7-3 team, and Sands was a 5-6 playoff team last year, so the victories carried some weight for the Steers, who were 2-8 last season. Baird, which was 6-3 last season, lost its opener 46-0 to Meadow but bounced back with a 50-0 win over Moran last week. This looks like a six-man game that can go the distance.
The pick: Robert Lee 42, Baird 30
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Top 5 high school football games to watch in West Texas in Week 3
