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After a four-year stint in District 13-4A D2, Hondo rejoins familiar foes Crystal City, Carrizo Springs, Pearsall, Poteet, and, of course, the Devine Warhorses in District 14-4A D2.
Last February’s UIL realignment put natural ‘frenemies’ Hondo and Devine back together for the first time since the 2013 football season.
Hondo, like Devine, enters the district opener with a 2-3 record on the season. The Owls topped Llano 29-26 in the opener followed by a 21-14 victory over Lytle. The last three games have not been kind to Hondo. Losses to Medina Valley (41-11), Marion (55-11), and Gonzales (24-14) have put a damper on a promising start.
In spite of the last three games, the Warhorses are expected the Owls best effort when both teams take to the Barry Field turf on Friday night. Rivalry games have a way of bringing out the best in all competitors.
Statistically, Devine has the upper hand. With no common opponents to get a true measure of similarities in the two teams, season totals are what can be gauged. Through five games, Devine has amassed 1,833 yards total offense, 1,088 of that on the ground. Warhorse rushers Guido Zapata, Donavon Camacho, and quarterback Chad Lawson have rushed for over 200 yards each. The back that will be missing is senior Grant Collins who rushed for 176 yards in the season opener before sustaining an injury and missing the last four ballgames.
The Owls have 724 yards rushing. Trey Dickens (82 for 319), Brandon J. Garcia (91 for 292), and Tate Fitzpatrick (27 for 90) have a bulk of that yardage. Dickens and Garcia have each ran for four touchdowns apiece.
Devine’s Lawson has thrown the ball well for the Warhorses. He has completed 36 of 61 passes (59%) for 744 yards and nine touchdowns. His main threat has been wideout Zapata who has snagged 22 receptions for 473 yards midway through the year. Six of Zapata’s 22 receptions have resulted in touchdowns. Isaiah Oropeza is another favorite target of Lawson. While Oropeza only has five receptions, they have accounted for 128 yards, which is 26-yards-per-catch.
Hondo quarterback Brandon J. Garcia has not quite shown the accuracy that Lawson has up to this point. Garcia has completed only 28% of his pass attempts (13 of 46) for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
Friday night, previous statistics can be thrown out the window. This game will boil down to the will and to the want of each player in Barry Field who are fighting it out for district win number one.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
