Lockhart Lions ready for Friday Night Lights against Marble Falls this Friday

By Coach Maldonado 

LHS Head Football Coach             

  Friday night we used our final tune-up of fall camp to answer the question every coaching staff asks in August: who’s ready when their number is called. Against Elgin, we got more than 60 players varsity reps as we closed out fall camp with an eye on both explosiveness and depth heading into the regular season. With fall camp now concluding, I feel confident that the players in waiting can produce when their number is called.

   Offensively, I thought we showed the potential for the explosiveness this offense can bring. Demonte Anthony hauled in three touchdowns, and Noah Jaimes was efficient and explosive through the air, finishing 287 yards passing with four touchdowns. On the ground, our sophomore running backs Denim Ford and Malakhi Reese continued to show their thunder-and-lightning pairing, giving us a great run game thanks to an offensive line that keeps growing week after week.

   Defensively, we showed the potential to be an opportunistic group. Titus Ramirez came away with an interception, and we had a few more pass breakups that could have been picked off as well. Our linebacker group had a solid night, showing progress in their key reads and block destruction as the night went on. Our defensive line once again showed there is quality rotation within that group to keep everyone fresh.

   Special teams will continue to be a heavy area of focus for us, as we haven’t seen a full live segment over the last two weeks outside of field goals. I feel Evan Estrada has outstanding range, and I’m extremely confident in his leg from 30 yards out. Protection will be a point of emphasis for us so he can kick with confidence and focus on simply putting it through.

   With fall camp now behind us, we turn our attention to Week 1 and our road trip to Marble Falls. Chapter one begins for our 2026 Lions. The preview is over. The hunger is there, now it’s time to Hunt.