Midseason Report - West Texas

With half of the regular season now in the books, we take a look at some of the area's biggest surprises and disappointments. We also help fans separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Contenders: Abilene, Abilene Cooper, Odessa Permian, Wolfforth Frenship

Abilene Eagles (6-0 overall, 2-0 District 3-5A)

Prep Ticket's fifth-ranked team in Class 5A has put on a clinic is multiple ways this season, winning close games and blowouts using all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams.

The Eagles have trailed for just 17 minutes, 37 seconds this season -- and that time frame spanned one single stretch in the first half of their 55-17 win over Plano East in the season's second game.

Abilene's had several defensive and special teams scores come from the hands of Tyler Hale and Herschel Sims respectively. The two have combined for three touchdowns in that aspect of the game.

Sims has also been productive on offensive with 35 carries for 257 yards and three touchdowns in sharing time with senior Zach Bass. Bass has run for nearly 500 yards and 11 touchdowns in the first six games this season. Quarterback Stephen Warren has thrown for nearly 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns despite seeing limited action due to the lopsided affair of several games.

Bottom line: The Eagles toughest game left on the schedule is Halloween night at home against Richland, but it probably won't even be close. The Eagles are averaging 47.8 points per game while allowing just 11.3 per contest. They are also plus-14 in turnovers this season and look to dominate the rest of the way.

Grade: A

Abilene Cooper Cougars (2-3 overall, 0-0 District 4-4A)

It would be easy to label the Cougars as disappointing so far this season, but you have to look past the record to see the type of team that coach Mike Spradlin puts on the field.

The Cougars have suffered a pair of one-touchdown losses to a pair of 5A opponents in crosstown rival Abilene as well as one in overtime to Hebron. Their other loss was to a third 5A school in Garland which put 22 points on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to rally for a 28-14 win.

Cooper has a prolific offense that's averaging 26 points per game and is led by Ryan Heslep. Heslep has completed 73-of-118 passes for 804 yards and eight touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions in the first five games.

Heslep's top targets have been receivers Jevon Powers and Khole Jackson who have a combined 45 catches for 519 yards and four touchdowns. The Cougars ground attack has been led by senior A'mon Pimpton. Pimpton has 113 carries for 631 yards -- an average of 5.6 yards per carry -- and four touchdowns.

Bottom line: The Cougars are one of five teams with a legitimate shot at one of the four playoff berths in their six-team district. Cooper has a stringent defense that is allowing just 291 yards and 21 points per game so far in 2008 and that will come in handy against teams with explosive offenses such as Hereford and Frenship.

Grade: B

Odessa Permian Panthers (5-0 overall, 4-0 District 2-5A)

Permian, which is ranked No. 6 in Class 5A by Prep Ticket, has been dominant for each of its four district games after hanging on to win a nail-biter against Duncanville in the season's opening week.

The Panthers have won the four district contests by an average of 36 points, with each win being at least 32 points.

Mojo is averaging nearly 45 points per game and has imposed its will when on offense.

Running back Sherard Ray and quarterback Trevor Adams have been the backbone of the Panthers offense to this point. Permian is rushing for an average of 290 yards per game (Ray went for 277 yards by himself three weeks ago against Amarillo High) while throwing for nearly 180 more yards per game.

The Panthers defense has also been strong while allowing an average of just two touchdowns per game.

Bottom line: The Panthers scheduled a tough opponent in Duncanville to start the season and have demolished some of the teams that were expected to give them a good game. The toughest game left on Permian's schedule is the regular-season finale against current co-district leader Midland High.

Grade: A

Wolfforth Frenship Tigers (5-0 overall, 0-0 District 4-4A)

The Tigers have been dominant this season in winning a few blowout and clawing their way to a couple of other wins en route to earning the No. 7 spot in the Prep Ticket Class 4A state poll.

Frenship enters district play averaging a hair over 35 points per game, while allowing just 13 points and 200 yards per contest.

The Tigers are also 5-0 for the first time since reaching the state semifinals in the 2005 season.

Perhaps the most daunting statistic when talking about the Frenship defense is its ability to shut down opposing teams rushing attacks to the tune of allowing just 61 yards per game.

Bottom line: The Tigers play in a relatively weak district and with games against Big Spring and Plainview in the next three weeks, they could have a playoff berth wrapped up before the arrival of Halloween. Their toughest game left is a potential playoff-seeding game against Cooper on October 30th.

Grade: B+

Surprises: Lubbock Monterey, Odessa High, Plainview

Lubbock Monterey: The Plainsmen are 2-2 in District 2-5A play this year after getting blown out by a pair of teams and barely knocking off Amarillo Tascosa. Monterey is also allowing more points per game than it is scoring and has the possibility of missing the playoffs this season.

Grade: D+

Odessa High: An early candidate for district MVP, quarterback Derrick Teegarden has already thrown for 1,179 yards and, maybe more remarkable, 14 touchdowns against just three interceptions. Sophomore running back Bradley Marquez, who has rushed for 512 yards already this year with 10 touchdowns and is also a big threat catching the ball in OHS' spread offense.

Grade: A-

Plainview: The Bulldogs have already doubled last year's win total after picking up wins the last two weeks, and figure to be part of a three-way battle with Big Spring and Lake View for the fourth playoff spot in District 4-4A.

Grade: C+

Pretenders: Big Spring, Midland High, San Angelo Lake View

Big Spring: The Steers went 3-2 in non-district play this year and have been on the road for four out of five games to this point. Big Spring is averaging 25 points and 200 rushing yards per game, and could be a factor in the playoff hunt.

Grade: B-

Midland High: The Bulldogs have had a solid season to this point, running off wins in each of their four District 2-5A games to sit tied for the district lead with Permian -- a game that will close out the regular season. The Bulldogs are winning by an average of 14 points per game and have a balanced offense that's gaining over 410 yards per contest.

Grade: B+

San Angelo Lake View: The Chiefs have historically been a laughingstock in their district, but new head coach Sterlin Gilbert has brought a breath of fresh air to the campus. Lake View went 3-2 in non-district play and should be in the mix for one of the four playoff spots in District 4-4A. The Chiefs are scoring 34 points per game while gaining nearly 400 yards per contest in Gilbert's maiden voyage as a head coach.

Grade: B

Date of Article: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:29 pm

Related Content:
- Abilene  - Big Spring  - Lubbock Monterey  - Midland  - Odessa  - Odessa Permian  - Plainview  - San Angelo Lake View  - Frenship