Odessa aims to keep it close at Keller

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Ivan Carreon, shown making one of his scoring catches Friday against El Paso Americas, is one for defenders to try to stop. | YouTube.com

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)

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