Prep Football Preview
Sept. 8
7 p.m.
Keller ISD Athletics Complex
500 Pate-Orr Road North, Keller
Preview
The Odessa Bronchos have played two close games thus far, splitting them as they look to gain some traction in terms of won-loss record in coach Dusty Ortiz’s third season.
They opened the year playing Monterey in a back-and-forth game, taking a 42-41 lead with about a minute to go, before falling 44-42 after a last-gasp offensive push that ended with a 35-yard field goal by the Plainsmen.
In Thursday’s game, the Bronchos (1-1) played a strong first half, but ended up needing a late 37-yard field goal by Aidric Rivera to snatch the victory after the El Paso Americas Trailblazers had battled back in the second half to grab the lead.
This week, Odessa will be happy with such a close contest as the Bronchos will challenge the Keller Indians (2-0), a team that routed Odessa a year ago on the way to a season that went into the third round of the playoffs.
Ivan Carreon, a senior who is in line to play for the Oklahoma Sooners next fall, is the go-to wide receiver for quarterback Mikey Cota. Carreon has pulled in two touchdown passes in each of the first two games.
Zayne Minjarez, a senior defensive back, is active in tracking down any opponent with the ball, racking up more than a dozen tackles in the first game.
Keller presents a strong air-ground attack, and can score either way. Cameron Rayford is one of the team’s leading yardage gainers on the ground, while the Indians tend to spread the scoring passes around to any of five players.
On defense, linebacker Andrew Jurasek has been one of Keller’s leading tacklers so far, and safety Ryan Ventura is a threat to pick off passes.
Teams
Odessa
6A Region 1, District 2
Enrollment: 3,850
Keller
6A Region 1, District 4
Enrollment: 2,993
Coaches
Head Coach Dusty Ortiz, Odessa
3rd Season, 6-14 all-time record
Playoff Appearances: 0 in 2 seasons
Head Coach Carl Stralow, Keller
12th Season, 59-58 all-time record heading into 2023 season
Playoff Appearances: 6 in 11 seasons
Records
Odessa
2023: 1-1
2022: 3-7
Keller
2023: 2-0
2022: 10-3, lost 43-3 to Lewisville in third round of playoffs
Last Meeting
Sept. 8, 2022
Keller 50, Odessa 21
Players to Watch
Odessa
WR Ivan Carreon (6’6, 195, Sr.)
QB Mikey Cota (Jr.)
DB Zayne Minjarez (5’11, 150, Sr.)
DB Jesus Gomez (Sr.)
Keller
WR Will Adams (Jr.)
RB Cameron Rayford (5’10, 185, Sr.)
LB Andrew Jurasek (Jr.)
S Ryan Ventura (5’10, 185, Sr.)
Season Schedules
Odessa
Week 1: Lubbock Monterey 44, Odessa 42
Week 2: Odessa 22, El Paso Americas 20
Week 3: at Keller
Week 4: vs. Amarillo
Week 5: at Clemens
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at Permian (district)
Week 8: vs. San Angelo Central (district)
Week 9: at Midland (district)
Week 10: at Frenship (district)
Week 11: vs Midland Legacy (district)
Keller
Week 1: Keller 37, Cooper 14
Week 2: Keller 46, Plano West 0
Week 3: vs. Odessa
Week 4: at Keller Central (district)
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Southlake Carroll (district)
Week 7: at Byron Nelson (district)
Week 8: vs. Fossil Ridge (district)
Week 9: at Timber Creek (district)
Week 10: vs. Haltom (district)