The Levelland Lobos football team finished their season earlier this month with a final record of 6-5 overall and 2-2 in district play.
The Lobos made the 4A-2 playoffs but were knocked out after losing to the Seminole Indians 77-38 in the first round.
Even with the disappointing end, it was an awesome season for Levelland as they got to play for the district title for the first time in quite a while, and they also had back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2018.
Those accomplishments were powered by several Lobos this season who were consistent difference makers, which reflected in the season stats.
Junior quarterback Ethan Salazar led Levelland with 29 total touchdowns this season and total yards with 2,215. Salazar passed for 22 touchdowns, eight interceptions and 1,826 yards, completing 57% of his passes, while rushing the ball 48 times for 389 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sophomore running back Noah Martin led the Lobos in rushing with 116 carries for 937 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior running back Jake Potter was second on the team with 106 carries for 572 yards and six touchdowns.
Levelland’s top two receivers this year, senior Kaden Brogden and sophomore Bryson Golightly, were separated by a yard for the team lead in receiving yards.
Golightly had 29 receptions for 616 yards and eight touchdowns, while Brogden had 39 receptions for 615 yards and nine touchdowns. Golightly also rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
At linebacker, Jake Potter led the Lobos in total tackles with 100 and tackles for loss with 10, also recording two forced fumbles, two sacks and an interception.
Senior defensive lineman Deven Ponce was their sacks leader with four, adding nine tackles for loss as well.
At cornerback, Bryson Golightly led the team with four interceptions. At safety, Kaden Brogden had two interceptions, and defensive backs sophomore Matthew Guillen and senior Josh Diaz both had an interception as well.
On special teams, Kaden Brogden led the team with 259 return yards with a return long of 49 yards. Noah Martin was the team’s leading punter with 665 punt yards with a punt long of 48 and four punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
Matthew Guillen led the team in kickoff yards with 838, also forcing six touchbacks this season.
Those were the individual statistical standouts that contributed most to the overall team statistics as the Lobos concluded the season with 1,939 passing yards, 2,160 rushing yards, 49 total touchdowns, 817 tackles, 10 sacks, 10 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and 559 return yards.
This year’s seniors didn’t just help build those numbers this season, but they also built up the program over the last few seasons, which is something Coach Leong expressed before sending this final message to the group.
“Just thank you. They’re an awesome group; they make it a joy to come to work,” Coach Leong said. “They make me look like a better coach than I really am, so all the credit goes to these kids and all their hard work and their belief in what we do. I’m honored to get to be their coach and be around them and be in this community.”
Congratulations to the senior group of Kysen Niblett, Kaden Brogden, Zechariah Martinez, Julian Sanchez, Josh Diaz, Paul Pesqueda, Da’Shaun Washington, Jesus Vargas, Deven Ponce, Casen Potter, Tanane Brackens and Jesiah Delgado on great football careers. The community is rooting for you in whatever the future holds.