Football: Colts still riding momentum from playoff victory against Bronchos

What does Arlington High football coach Scott Peach remember about last year’s 28-27 victory over Odessa High in the Class 5A Division I area playoffs?

“Obviously, when you win a ballgame of that magnitude, it does a great deal for the program,” Peach said. “It gave our kids a lot of confidence and we also had a chance to go back and play at Texas Stadium one last time before it was torn down.

“Plus, the players know they can compete and win at that level and that’s going to help this year.”

This year, the Colts won the District 4-5A title and then defeated Burleson in a bi-district playoff last week.

That set them up for a rematch with the Bronchos at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ratliff Stadium.

The five-hour trip will by far be the longest of the season for Arlington High, which only had to travel 15 miles for its longest road game of the season.

But Peach isn’t worried about the long-distance journey.

“I’m confident that our kids are going to travel well and will be ready to go when we get there,” Peach said. “The players are looking forward to the challenge of facing a very good Odessa High football team,”

The Bronchos, too, will be facing a very good football team in the Colts, led by quarterback Matt Joeckel. Joeckel is a three-year starter for Arlington High and has committed to continue his career at Texas A&M.

Last year against Odessa High, Joeckel was 15-of-28 for 193 yards and two touchdowns, along with rushing for another score.

It was Joeckel’s ability to improvise that proved to be the Bronchos’ downfall as the Colts’ signal caller escaped the OHS pass rush and found wide receiver Miles Onyegbule for a 50-yard gain on a third-and-6 from the Arlington 27.

That Joeckel was able to find Onyegbule for the game-winning score moments later came of no surprise to Peach.

“He’s been leading this team since he was in the sixth grade,” Peach said, laughing. “When he was in the sixth grade, my principal went and saw him play and came back and told me that he had found the quarterback of the future.

“Matt’s a competitor and he’s going to find a way to give us a chance to win.”

The Colts have been winning under Joeckel, who has completed 150 of 234 passes for 2,285 yards and 33 touchdowns.

They also have been using a speedy, athletic defense to keep opponents at bay, allowing just over 329 yards per game.

The biggest factor to the team’s success, according to Peach, is just having another year in the program.

“We had 16 starters back this year and that certainly helps,” he said. “They have been playing together so long that they play as if they have one heartbeat.

“I think Odessa is the same way, with a lot of players back this year and they’ve been playing very well. It should be a great football game.”

>> ODESSA HIGH vs. ARLINGTON HIGH

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Where: Ratliff Stadium.

Records: Odessa High 9-2; Arlington High (9-2).

Last meeting: 2008, Arlington High 28, Odessa High 27 (Class 5A area playoffs)

Radio: KMCM (96.9-FM).