EDUCATED GUESSES: 3A
Scrimmages are in the rearview mirror and real football is back across the Lone Star state this week.
If you read the 2021 edition of Big Country Blitz you saw the only predictions were how the area coaches felt their districts would shake out.
Now it’s time to take it a step further and give you my picks for the 2021 season. They are guesses, for the most part, but, as the title says, educated because I did speak to all the area coaches to get their feel for the upcoming season.
So roast me, praise me and let me know what you think as we move along to class 3A today.
Jim Ned RB Xavier Wishert
3A DIVISION I
3-3A D1 COACHES’ PICKS
1. Jim Ned
2. Wall
3. Clyde
4. Early
5. Breckenridge
6. TCLA San Angelo
EDUCATED GUESS
1. Jim Ned
2. Wall
3. Early
4. Breckenridge
5. Clyde
6. TLCA San Angelo
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
10/8 Early at Jim Ned
10/8 Clyde at Breckenridge
10/15 Jim Ned at Wall
10/15 Breckenridge at Early
10/22 Early at Clyde
11/5 Wall at Early
The defending state champs are the district favorites, but Wall is always good and a legit contender. The three-through-five spots are going to be a battle between Early, Breckenridge and Clyde. Early shocked a lot of folks by reaching the postseason a year ago and have a shot at being even better this year. Breckenridge had plenty of growing pains in year one under Casey Pearce and their game at home against Clyde on October 8 will likely go a long way in determining the fourth seed out of 3-3A.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Breckenridge RB/S Anson Rodgers
Breckenridge FB/DT Jerry Lawson
Clyde OL/DL Zane Hall
Early QB Jaxyn Price
Early RB/LB Tre Beam
Jim Ned RB/LB Xavier Wishert
Jim Ned QB Tate Yardley
Jim Ned OL/DL Gatlyn Cooper
Jim Ned OL/DL Gage Stanaland
Jim Ned WR/DB Braden Lewis
Jim Ned OL Nate Nunez
Jim Ned LB Tanner Hussman
Jim Ned OL/DL Connor Fitzgerald
Ballinger QB Carter Arrott (Photo courtesy Texpix.com)
3A DIVISION II
2-3A D2 COACHES’ PICKS
1. Ballinger
2. Sonora
3. Brady
4. Bangs
5. Grape Creek
6. Ingram Moore
EDUCATED GUESS
1. Ballinger
2. Sonora
3. Brady
4. Bangs
5. Grape Creek
6. Ingram Moore
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
10/29 Ballinger at Bangs
11/5 Sonora at Ballinger
11/5 Bangs at Brady
This is a tough district to make an educated guess about as many teams lose key players from a year ago, especially Ballinger and Bangs. However, the Bearcats had to play a lot of younger players due to injury a year ago and that should be enough to help get them over the hump. Brady, Sonora and Bangs should be in an interesting battle for places two through four, with Ingram Moore and Grape Creek likely on the outside looking in once again.
5-3A D2 COACHES’ PICKS
1. Eastland
2. Jacksboro
3. Millsap
4. Comanche
5. Merkel
6. Dublin
EDUCATED GUESS
1. Eastland
2. Jacksboro
3. Comanche
4. Millsap
5. Dublin
6. Merkel
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
10/15 Comanche at Eastland
10/22 Eastland at Jacksboro
10/22 Dublin at Merkel
11/5 Millsap at Jacksboro
The Mavericks lose a D1 quarterback in Behren Morton and plenty of his supporting cast from a deep playoff run a year ago, but Eastland still enters 2021 as the district favorite. Barely. Jacksboro, Comanche and Millsap will also be in the mix, while Dublin and Merkel hope to improve under new head coaches.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ballinger QB /DB Carter Arrott
Ballinger OL/DE Markus Castleberry
Ballinger OL/DL Nakia Villarreal
Bangs RB/LB Damien Santillanes
Bangs RB/LB Guy Powell
Bangs OL/DL Warren Theriaque
Eastland WR/DB Bryan Fielding
Eastland RB/LB Hunter Lee
Eastland QB/LB Cooper Wright
Eastland WR/LB Austin Rodgers
Merkel LB/WR Elijah Salas
Merkel OL/DL Elijah Flores
Merkel DL/TE Jarrett Fulfer
Merkel DL/OL Braelin Cowling
