Odessa High football coach Dusty Ortiz has been adamant, whenever asked, that the Bronchos have to play better teams to improve as a program.
Teams with top athletes and playoff histories that will give Odessa High the test it needs in preparation for the run through District 2-6A.
Ortiz inherited the Bronchos’ 2021 schedule after taking over in March of that year.
This season, Odessa High is working through a much different nondistrict slate and so far, so good.
The Bronchos kicked off the season with a stirring 42-39 overtime victory against Lubbock Monterey, followed by a 49-20 victory against El Paso Americas on Sept. 1 at Ratliff Stadium.
Now, Odessa High has a three-week stretch of schools that are perennial playoff qualifiers, including two schools the Bronchos have never faced.
First on the list are the Keller High Indians, who will travel to face the Bronchos at 7 p.m. Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.
“Overall, they’re a complete team,” Ortiz said. “They are the best team we’ve faced so far; there is no doubt in my mind that they are a playoff team in Fort Worth.
“They have players on both sides of the ball that are really good. They are well coached, their offensive line is solid and they have a couple of receivers, one of them already has a Baylor offer and he’s only a junior and the other one had over 1,000 yards as a junior last season.
Like the Bronchos, the Indians are 2-0 on the season, but have done it by shutting down opposing offenses.
Led by outside linebacker Taylor Brannan, Keller High has surrendered just 23 points through two games.
The Odessa High offense, led by quarterback Jaylien Jones, is set to test that defense with a strong running game and myriad options in the passing game, paced by wide receiver Ivan Carreon.
Odessa High offensive coordinator Creighton Reed also is looking forward to watching his players compete.
“Keller plays a 3-3-stack defense, which is something I’ve haven’t coached against,” Reed said. “And they have some guys who like to come up and pop you.
“But I like the way we’re running the ball and Jaylien has improved each week for us; I don’t think anyone expected him to be where he is right now. It’s going to be a really good test for us to see where we are at.”
>> IT’S BEEN A WHILE:The Bronchos are trying to open the season with three straight victories for the first time since 2008.
That Odessa High team, led by quarterback Derrick Teegarden and running back Bradley Marquez, defeated El Paso Montwood, Lubbock High and Lubbock Coronado to start a campaign that saw it qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
It was the first of three straight postseason runs for the Bronchos.
>> HONORED: Jones had a stellar night against El Paso Americas, completing 21 of 29 passes for 463 yard and a program single-game record five touchdowns.
He also rushed six times for 34 yards in the victory.
It was announced Wednesday that Jones was selected as the Class 6A Built Ford Tough High School Player of the Week for his performance against the Trailblazers.
Jones, a senior, is 47-of-65 passing this season for 799 yards and nine touchdowns, with one interception.
>> LOWER LEVEL: The Odessa High junior varsity and freshmen teams had the week off.
Last week, the Bronchos’ JV White team stayed close to home, traveling to face Midland Legacy on Aug. 31 and emerging with a 22-8 victory against the Rebels.
The JV Red squad traveled to Van Horn to meet El Paso Americas halfway and made it 2-0 on the season with a 30-0 shutout of the Trailblazers.
>>Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
ODESSA HIGH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
IVAN CARREON
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 195
Class: Junior
Position: WR
Last Week: Carreon caught nine passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns and rushed twice for 10 yards and one touchdown in a 49-20 victory against El Paso Americas. He set the school’s career reception mark (now at 80) and the single-game yardage mark during the game.
This season: Has 14 receptions for 386 yards and five touchdowns, with two carries for 10 yards and one score.
