Educated Guesses 1A Division I
Educated Guesses: 1A Division I
We are getting closer to the kickoff of another season, and it’s time to reveal my picks for 2023.
I call them educated guesses, like your teachers used to, because I feel I have at least a little bit of knowledge about the upcoming season after speaking with area coaches for the 2023 edition of Big Country Blitz.
Knox City is new to Big Country Blitz but not to success as they look for a fifth straight trip to the playoffs this year.
The Greyhounds return a loaded team that is the favorite to bring home a second consecutive district title. Traditional powers Valley and Spur should battle it out for the second playoff spot, while Northside hopes to improve after a winless run in the district in 2022.
A younger Knox City squad had no trouble cruising to the crown a year ago and, with more experience and talent coming back, should be able to do the same in 2023.
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Knox City
2. Valley
3. Spur
4. Northside
BIG GAMES
8/25 Knox City vs. Westbrook (at Jayton)
9/8 Knox City at May
9/15 Knox City vs. Rankin (at Hermleigh)
10/20 Spur at Valley
10/27 Knox City at Valley
11/3 Spur at Knox City
BIG NAMES
Knox City QB/DB Bryson Callaway
Knox City WR/DB Devin Guillory
Knox City RB/LB Caleb Arrieta
Knox City RB/DL Tristin Baxter
Northside RB Matthew Brooks
Spur OL/DL Preston Abbott
Spur RB/DB Ace Walker
Valley OL/DL Tucker Schlueter
Valley OL/DL Cash Sperry
One of the most competitive districts in the state should be a free-for-all behind Westbrook this season.
The Wildcats, winners of back-to-back state championships, are expected to win District 8 again this year, but the second playoff spot is up for grabs.
Ira, Hermleigh and Highland are likely the three best teams besides Westbrook. Roby should be better in year two under Israel DeLeon and Rotan will be building the program under first-year Hammer head coach Joe Thomasson.
Highland has gone 27-23 over the past five years but has not made the playoffs. I predict that to change this season and see the Hornets edging out Ira and Hermleigh for the second playoff spot.
All four teams will be deserving of the postseason, but only two can make the cut.
Teams in this district are not shying away from playing tough competition this year (and most years), evidenced by the long list of “Big Games” below.
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Westbrook
2. Highland
3. Ira
4. Hermleigh
5. Roby
6. Rotan
BIG GAMES
8/25 Knox City vs. Westbrook (at Jayton)
8/25 Highland at Loraine
8/26 Ira vs. May (at Jayton)
9/1 Hermleigh at Abilene Christian
9/1 Throckmorton at Highland
9/8 Buena Vista at Hermleigh
9/8 Highland at Blackwell
9/15 Ira at Loraine
9/15 Highland at Irion County
9/22 Ira at Klondike
9/22 Borden County at Highland
9/22 Roby at Benjamin
9/22 Rotan at Strawn
9/29 Throckmorton at Hermleigh
10/6 Highland at Westbrook
10/13 Ira at Highland
10/20 Hermleigh at Westbrook
10/27 Westbrook at Ira
10/27 Highland at Hermleigh
10/27 Rotan at Roby
11/3 Hermleigh at Ira
BIG NAMES
Hermleigh LB Hunter Simpson
Hermleigh DE Kai Vargas
Hermleigh SB Tyson Digby
Highland FB/DE Tylan Balthrop
Highland RB/DB Cooper Bowen
Highland QB/LB Bubba Byrne
Ira RB/CB Jaren Pena
Ira RB/NB Demitri Juarez
Ira WR/DE Kaden Foree
Roby FB Kody Daniel
Roby WR Keegan Encizo
Rotan C/DE Justin Shelly
Rotan TE/DL Hunter Harris
Westbrook QB/LB Parker Matlock
Westbrook RB/S Grayson Jeffrey
Westbrook OL/DL Bo Payne
Westbrook DE Ethan King
Westbrook WR/NB Aiden Sullivan
Westbrook RB/DB Zach Avants
Much like District 8, it seems we have a clear-cut number one and battle for number two in District 9.
Gordon, the preseason number #2 team in the state according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, aims to repeat as district champion, while Gorman hopes to nab the second seed once again.
Bryson, Baird, Perrin-Whitt and Lingleville would all love to reach the postseason as well, making this another very intriguing district race to follow.
The Bears have a combined 11 returning starters from a very young squad, while Bryson welcomes back eight and Perrin-Whitt nine. Gorman loses some key pieces and will have to make big strides to return to the postseason, something I expect to happen when all is said and done in November.
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Gordon
2. Gorman
3. Perrin-Whitt
4. Bryson
5. Baird
6. Lingleville
BIG GAMES
8/25 Throckmorton at Gordon
9/2 Gordon vs. Garden City (at Abilene Christian School)
9/8 Strawn at Gordon
9/8 Robert Lee at Baird
9/15 Gorman at Strawn
9/29 Baird at Ranger
10/6 Gordon at Gorman
10/6 Baird at Perrin-Whitt
10/20 Baird at Gorman
10/20 Perrin-Whitt at Bryson
10/27 Bryson at Gorman
11/3 Baird at Bryson
BIG NAMES
Baird RB/LB Skyler Denning
Baird RB/DE Jake Gerngross
Baird QB/DB Jake Collins
Bryson RB Chance Hand
Bryson TE/DL Tyler Cotter
Gordon RB Riley Reed
Gordon ATH Stryker Reed
Gordon OL Juan Cabrera
Gordon WR Brayden Walters
Gordon DL Whit Fuller
Gorman RB/LB Maddox Roberts
Gorman E/DL Ryan Renfroe
Gorman QB/S Preston Parson
Lingleville QB/DB Jorge Toledo
Perrin-Whitt QB/DB Cameron Tune
Perrin-Whitt C/WR Logan Turner
A pair of preseason top-ten talents call District 14 home.
Jonesboro (#5) and May (#8) each made the postseason a year ago and are the odds-on favorites to get back in the playoffs again this time around.
The Tigers lost their regular-season finale at Jonesboro in 2022 and will have their hands full at home this time around against the Eagles this season.
Jonesboro returns eight starters, while May welcomes back just three.
I give the edge to Jonesboro, but don’t be surprised if the Tigers defend their home field and earn the district title in their showdown in week ten.
Lometa looks to be the team that could give either squad a good game and contend for a playoff spot, but the top two teams in District 14 are pretty clear-cut. At least in the preseason.
Santa Anna returns six starters and hopes to contend, while Evant is coming off a winless 2022 season.
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Jonesboro
2. May
3. Lometa
4. Santa Anna
5. Evant
BIG GAMES
8/26 May vs. Ira (at Jayton)
8/31 Jonesboro at Westbrook
9/8 Knox City at May
9/15 May at Garden City
9/15 Blanket at Santa Anna
9/15 Rochelle at Lometa
9/29 Santa Anna at Gordon
10/13 Lometa at May
10/27 Jonesboro at May
BIG NAMES
Evant RB Hunter White
Jonesboro TE/LB Austin Massingill
Jonesboro TE/DL Demarcus Acoff
Jonesboro RB/DB Garrett Young
Jonesboro RB/DB Jake Cisneros
Jonesboro RB/DB Layden Nichols
Lometa OL/DL Colten Whitehead
Lometa QB Jordan Livesay
Lometa RB/LB Lukas Smialus-Cruz
May RB/DB Braden Steele
May QB/LB Ben Harrell
May RB/DB Landon Cheatham
Santa Anna WR Jacob Jimenez
EDUCATED GUESSES SCHEDULE
Monday, 8/14 - 1A DII Educated Guesses
Tuesday, 8/15 - 1A DI Educated Guesses
Wednesday, 8/16 - 2A DII Educated Guesses
Thursday, 8/17 - 2A DI Educated Guesses
Friday, 8/18 - 3A DII Educated Guesses
Saturday, 8/19 - 3A DI Educated Guesses
Sunday, 8/20 - 4A DII Educated Guesses
Monday, 8/21 - 4A DI Educated Guesses
Tuesday, 8/22 - 5A DII Educated Guesses
Wednesday, 8/23 - 5A DI Educated Guesses
Thursday, 8/24 - Week 1 Blitz Picks
Friday, 8/25 - College Football Educated Guesses
