24 questions for West Texas high school football teams, 24 days ahead of the 2024 season

Paul Witwer, San Angelo Standard-Times

We are officially 24 days out from the 2024 high school football season in West Texas, so the Standard-Times has come up with 24 questions we have ahead of the season.

The season starts with the battle of Howard County between Forsan and Coahoma on Aug. 29 before a full slate of games the next day.

Many teams answered questions in 2023 and put together strong seasons, starting with Richland Springs advancing to the Class 1A state semifinal, while Wall and Brownwood made the regional final. Those teams hope to repeat last season's success, while others will look to improve and make postseason runs.

Here are 24 questions the Standard-Times has ahead of the season.

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24 questions ahead of 2024 season

  1. Ballinger moved down from Class 3A to 2A. What will their first season be like in the new class?

  2. San Angelo Central hired Mark Smith as its new head coach after he spent nearly a decade in the college ranks. What type of impact will he have in his first season?

  3. What West Texas team will make the deepest playoff run this year?

  4. Richland Springs is one of the favorites to make the state title game. Will they capture their 10th Championship?

  5. Sonora graduated a large and productive senior class in 2023. How will they adjust in a highly competitive District 3-2A Division I?

  6. Miles enters the preseason with its highest state ranking in program history. Can the Bulldogs live up to the hype?

  7. Wall is without longtime coach Houston Guy after 17 years, moving away from the flex-bone offense to a spread scheme. How long will it take the team to adjust?

  8. Mason was realigned to a district with regional semifinalist Holland. Can the Punchers keep their district championship streak alive?

  9. Which team will have the highest-scoring offense in West Texas?

  10. Water Valley moves back down to six-man football and joins one of the strongest districts in Texas, what does their first year look like?

  11. Forsan split the district title with Sonora in 2023 after an upset win in Week 11, can they take advantage of an ascending team and win an outright district championship?

  12. How will Brady continue to improve in Jaron Roberts’ second season?

  13. Junction moved down to Class 2A Division II, returned all but one starter on both sides of the ball and is ranked in the preseason top 25, can the Eagles translate that into a district title and deep playoff run?

  14. What young quarterback will step up this season?

  15. Coahoma missed the playoffs last season after a Week 11 loss to Alpine, can the Bulldogs transform last year's frustration into a deep postseason contender in a new district?

  16. Bradley Oh takes over the TLCA San Angelo program as they move from Class 3A Division II to Division I. How will the Eagles handle the transition to one of the best districts in Texas?

  17. Big Spring and Lake View will compete in the only four-team district in Class 4A Division I, how will they fair with only three district games?

  18. Grape Creek went almost two calendar years without a win before two straight wins to finish the 2023 season. Can the Eagles keep their momentum from last season into the start of 2024?

  19. What new rivalries will form this season?

  20. Lake View graduated a massive senior class including its top three pass catchers and running back after the 2023 season. Who will step up to fill those roles this season?

  21. Sterling City hired DJ Howell from Miami, Texas as its new head coach. Will the Eagles continue their triple-option offense or switch to a spread scheme?

  22. Wall starting quarterback Gunnar Dillard chose to opt out of the 2024 season, who will replace him in the Hawks' new offensive scheme?

  23. Westbrook returns two starters on offense and defense from its state-winning and runner-up team. Will the Wildcats be able to sustain their success?

  24. What teams will go from last to first in their district?

Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: West Texas football: 24 questions for teams ahead of the 2024 season

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