HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Bronchos' offense looks to remain a threat

Odessa High’s offense may be without Ivan Carreon but the Bronchos’ air superiority should still be a threat to opposing defenses this season.

With quarterback Mikey Cota and wide receiver Andrew Rodriguez among those back, Odessa High’s offense should have plenty of reasons to put up points on the board this year.

Cota returns as a senior after getting a season of experience under his belt last year while Rodriguez is back as a junior.

“It feels good to be back,” Rodriguez said. “I’m coming in with a lot of confidence and to be back with a new coach and a new team and a new playbook, I’m ready to get out and do what we can.”

Last year, Rodriguez had a breakout season as a sophomore. He was among Cota’s favorite targets throughout the season.

With Carreon now playing at the University of Oklahoma, Rodriguez is expected to step up and be the leading target on the field for the Bronchos this season.

He feels ready for that challenge.

“To come up as the new receiver one and for Mikey to throw me the ball, it feels good having that for one more year,” Rodriguez said. “I’m excited for that and the whole team.”

Last year, the Bronchos’ offense averaged 37 points a game.

That included a 49-42 overtime win against Permian and a 71-70 overtime victory against San Angelo Central the following week as OHS finished the season 5-4 overall and 2-3 in District 2-6A.

However, the Bronchos’ wait for a first playoff appearance since 2013 still continues.

“Last year was a good season even though we came up short in the playoff race, but this year we’re hoping to bounce back better and come in with a lot of confidence,” Rodriguez said.

In addition to Rodriguez and Cota, the Bronchos’ offense also has wide receivers Kobi Baldonado and Santi Medrano returning.

In total, Odessa High returns four offensive starters from last year’s unit.

“Losing Ivan was big for sure but it’s not going to take just one receiver to replace,” Cota said. “It’s going to take more than one and Andrew, Santiago and Kobe are all going to be good for us.”

The Bronchos are also under a new regime with head coach Erik Hartman now in charge after Dusty Ortiz left for Creekview during the offseason.

A few changes have been made to the offense as the Bronchos enter the new season.

Cota has been busy getting up to speed with a few tweaks made to the offensive playbook.

“We’ve been busy learning the playbook and trying to figure out what we can do better at,” Cota said.

The Odessa High quarterback enters this season with a lot of experience after starting last year.

“My confidence has grown for sure,” Cota said. “I have more experience. I have that whole season under my belt. Now, I’m coming back and we also have receivers returning.”

Both players feel like they have good chemistry on the field.

“Our relationship on the field is pretty good,” Rodriguez said. “We have a great chemistry. We work together on and off the field. We’re just working together a lot.”

Cota agrees.

“Andrew’s a good player,” Cota said. “We just have to find ways to get him the ball. He’s a big asset to our team and our offense.”

As far as last year’s high-scoring offense, Cota knows that’s all in the past.

“What happened last year doesn’t really matter,” Cota said. “We have a new system and we just need to keep going.”

Cota has already committed to playing college ball in Odessa as he plans on playing at UTPB.

“It’s home,” Cota said. “It’s here in Odessa and I felt comfortable on that visit. That’s where I wanted to be.”

Rodriguez stayed busy over the summer visiting different camps including Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

He said he ran into his former teammate in Norman, Okla.

“I saw Ivan up at Oklahoma,” Rodriguez said. “It was good seeing him. It had been a long time.”

He said Carreon gave him some very simple advice for this season.

“He just said to do what I did like what I did last year,” Rodriguez said.

Odessa High’s new season will start with a 7 p.m. home game against Amarillo High Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.