Educated Guesses: 5A/4A
Scrimmages are in the rearview mirror and real football is back across the Lone Star state this week.
If you read the 2022 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 2022 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 agree, disagree, or agree to disagree and let me know what you think as we get going with classes 5A and 4A today.
5A DIVISION I
Abilene High makes the move from 6A to 5A this realignment and is the only area 5A Division I team. (Shameless plug for 2022: I will be on the mic for radio/streaming color commentary for Eagle football again this season alongside play-by-play legend Chuck Statler.)
2-5A DIVISION I COACHES POLL
1. Amarillo Tascosa
2. Lubbock Cooper
3. Abilene High
4. Amarillo High
5. Lubbock Coronado
6. Lubbock Monterey
7. Amarillo Caprock
EDUCATED GUESS
1. Amarillo Tascosa
2. Abilene High
3. Amarillo High
4. Lubbock Cooper
5. Lubbock Coronado
6. Lubbock Monterey
7. Amarillo Caprock
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
9/23 Amarillo vs Tascosa (at West Texas A&M)
9/30 Abilene at Tascosa
9/30 Coronado at Lubbock Cooper
10/7 Lubbock Cooper at Amarillo
10/14 Abilene at Lubbock-Cooper
10/28 Amarillo @ Abilene
10/28 Tascosa at Lubbock Cooper
The Warbirds came up a win shy of a district title in 6A last year, and should be firmly in the mix to win their first district crown since 2016. Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock Cooper and Tascosa seem to be the favorites to reach the postseason, while Coronado and Monterey could be spoilers battling for that fourth playoff spot out of the district. Tascosa has the slight edge to end up as champion due to their hard-to-defend option running attack and
PLAYERS TO WATCH (from Big Country teams)
Abilene S Noah Hatcher
Abilene CB Jayson Henley
Abilene LB Andres Abril
Abilene DE Tristan Hall
Abilene NG Anthony Hernandez
Abilene RB Antoine “Bam” Rashaw
Abilene OL/DL Jaycob Parker
5A DIVISION II
2-5A DIVISION II COACHES POLL
1. Wichita Falls Rider
2. Abilene Cooper
3. Wylie
4. Amarillo Palo Duro
5. Plainview
6. Lubbock High
EDUCATED GUESS
1. Wichita Falls Rider
2. Abilene Cooper
3. Wylie
4. Amarillo Palo Duro
5. Plainview
6. Lubbock High
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
10/7 Cooper at Rider
10/13 Wylie at Rider
10/14 Palo Duro at Cooper
10/28 Wylie at Palo Duro
11/4 Cooper at Wylie
Rider made a deep run after winning the district a year ago and is the favorite to put together another great year and claim the crown in 2022. Cooper and Wylie are the top contenders and will travel to Wichita Falls to battle the Raiders in back-to-back weeks in October. Palo Duro is the likely fourth team to make the playoffs out of the district. The Southtown Showdown between the Coogs and Bulldogs will be a district game for the first time and a great way to wrap up the regular season on Nov. 4.
PLAYERS TO WATCH (from Big Country teams)
Cooper QB Chris Warren
Cooper WR Cameron Herron
Cooper WR D’Andre Ralston
Cooper LB Jonathan Vanwinkle
Cooper LB JaQuinton Gates
Cooper DB Michael Ramis
Wylie WR Harrison Heighten
Wylie OL Jayse Robinson
Wylie OL Cayden Clay
Wylie DE Ryan Price
Wylie WR/DB Brayden Regala
Wylie TE/DE Kendrick Vanderbilt
Wylie DB/WR Reese Borho
Photo: Derrick Stuckly/Brownwoodnews.com
4A DIVISION I
2-4A DIVISION I COACHES POLL
1. Lubbock Estacado
2. Brownwood
3. Andrews
4. Big Spring
5. San Angelo Lake View
EDUCATED GUESS
1. Brownwood
2. Andrews
3. Lubbock Estacado
4. Big Spring
5. San Angelo Lake View
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
10/14 Andrews at Estacado
10/21 Estacado at Brownwood
10/27 Big Spring at Estacado
10/28 Brownwood at Andrews
The Lions snuck into the playoffs the last two seasons but are contenders to win a district title for the first time since 2010 this time around. Their visit to Andrews in late October could decide the district title. Estacado could also be in the mix after winning a district championship a year ago, while Big Spring should hold off Lake View to claim the final playoff spot out of the district.
PLAYERS TO WATCH (from Big Country teams)
Brownwood RB Konlyn Anderson
Brownwood WR/CB Jason Jackson
Brownwood LB/QB Chance Jones
Brownwood QB Ike Hall
Brownwood NG Quinten McCarty
Brownwood LB Dryden Anderson
Brownwood WR/CB Case Markham
Photo: TexPix.com
4A DIVISION II
3-4A DIVISION II COACHES POLL
1. Wichita Falls Hirschi
2. Midland Greenwood
3. Graham
4. Snyder
5. Sweetwater
EDUCATED GUESS
1. Wichita Falls Hirschi
2. Midland Greenwood
3. Graham
4. Snyder
5. Sweetwater
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
10/7 Snyder at Greenwood
10/14 Graham at Snyder
10/21 Sweetwater at Graham
10/21 Snyder at Hirschi
11/4 Sweetwater at Snyder
11/4 Greenwood at Hirschi
It will be a tough hill to climb for Snyder and Sweetwater as they enter a district with preseason #3 Wichita Falls Hirsci, #22 Midland Greenwood and #23 Graham. The Tigers are coming off their best season in a decade, but will have to replace some key talent to make another run. Sweetwater has to replace even more due to graduation and could be on the outside looking in at the postseason in 2022.
Photo: Kevin Wright Photo & Design
PLAYERS TO WATCH (from Big Country teams)
Snyder OL/DL Aden Hernandez
Snyder RB Dom Dominguez
Snyder QB/CB Dylan Angeley
Sweetwater DL Noel Mekogue
Sweetwater RB Malik Brown
Sweetwater LB Jacob Gonzalez
