The San Angelo Central football team completed its spring program with a scripted scrimmage on Thursday, May 15.
Second-year coach Mark Smith guided the Bobcats to a 4-6 record in 2024, which was a three-game improvement from the 1-9 mark in 2023.
Last year, Central did not hold spring practices, so 2025 marks the first time the Bobcats played football in the spring under Smith.
Here’s what we learned from the two-hour practice.
Quarterback competition
The departure of two-year starting quarterback Christian “Squeaky” English leaves the Bobcats with a big hole to fill at the quarterback position. The first-team All-West Texas quarterback accounted for 2,850 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2024.
The two front-runners for the starting gig are senior Colton Hill and sophomore Micah Smith. Hill was the Bobcats’ top receiver in 2023, hauling in 58 receptions for 838 yards and four touchdowns. However, Hill spent most of the 2024 season dealing with an ankle injury and only played in two games.
Hill is the third brother to come through the San Angelo Central program following his two older brothers, Weston Hill and Tyler Hill. Weston Hill primarily starred as a wide receiver for the Bobcats, while Tyler Hill transitioned from wide receiver to starting quarterback in his junior season.
Micah Smith, son of coach Mark Smith, was the starting quarterback for the freshman squad last year.
Colton Hill and Micah Smith shared snaps with the first team. Colton Hill also saw some snaps at wide receiver.
Skill experience
Whoever starts at quarterback for the Bobcats will have a bevy of experienced returners at wide receiver, running back and tight end. Last year’s leading receiver, Jimmy Edwards, returns along with District 2-6A first team selection Gavin Johnson on the outside. Some other names to look for are Gabriel Garcia and Greyson Patrick, who saw intermittent snaps with the starters.
Both starting running backs, Elijah Allen and Darius Huitt, return to the fold after helping the team rush for over 2,000 yards last season. There looks to be some competition with Zeyveon Johnson receiving playing time with the first team and getting a lot of work with the second team offense.
First-team all-district tight end Casner Stribling also returns as a reliable target in the passing game.
Defense wins championships
After fielding a young defense for the past two seasons, the Bobcats’ defense looks to lead the way for next year’s team.
The departure of defensive coordinator Destri Cope elevated linebackers coach Jacob Martin back into the defensive coordinator position.
First-team all-district defensive lineman Brayan Sandoval and second-team lineman Riley Oines look to anchor the middle of Central’s defense. The second level of the defense sees first-team linebackers Jaekob Jacson and Mason Van Sickle return as reliable tacklers.
There was some turnover at the back end of the defense, but first-team all-district safety Kasen Rogers returns after a breakout season.
Some names to look for on the defensive side are Blaine Belcher, who almost had two interceptions during the scrimmage, and Tucker Beaty, who had plenty of starting reps last season.
With so many returning starters from last year’s vastly improved defense, look for them to carry much of the load early in the season.
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: Spring football: Three takeaways from San Angelo Central football’s spring game on Thursday
Reporting by Paul Witwer, San Angelo Standard-Times / San Angelo Standard-Times
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