As expected, the Brock Eagles rolled into Class 4A and did not let anybody intimidate them. In their first season in a larger classification, the Eagles marched all the way to the state semifinal before falling to perennial power Carthage. That is not anything surprising for Billy Mathis, Brock’s fifth-year head coach. Mathis expects his team to win every game despite the rise in classification. The goal for 2025 is nothing less than a state championship.
On a team where most players will play both ways, the name to know for the Eagles is Colt Matlock. The three-year starter seems to find a way to score almost every time he touches the ball.
At receiver, Matlock caught 43 passes for 800 yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season. He will be the biggest weapon for the offense this year alongside running back Bryer McDonald, who rushed for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Charles Hibbler is another target at receiver, and Jack Farhat will be another option in the backfield. Senior Slade Mathis and junior Hayden Waller will likely both see reps at tight end despite mostly being needed on the defense.
Junior quarterback Holt Frazier will step up after the departure of Brody Woods to lead the offense and will be tested early. He will be behind an offensive line that is relatively new aside from the return of junior Waylon Winfrey who will be looked upon to lead the line with Logan Wofford and Tobyn Roger stepping up in the trenches as well.
Defensively, the Eagles will be just as new with Matlock, Mathis and Farhat being the only returning starters. Matlock will take charge in the secondary where he will be joined by Hibbler and Wade Doherty, who also saw time in his junior year. Farhat will be the leader amongst the linebackers where Waller will join him. Finally, in the trenches will be Mathis joined by Winfrey to get the push.
Schedule & Analysis
vs Decatur
vs Lake Worth
at Aubrey
at FW Southwest
vs Prosper Richland
at Eagle Mountain
vs Mineral Wells
at Burkburnett
vs Graham
at Bridgeport
Floor: 7-2, 3-seed
Brock’s non-district schedule is not going to be what it was in 2024. Prosper Richland is the one team that nothing is really known about because it is a brand new school playing an outlaw schedule. Decatur could still be tough to open the season, but it will still be an expected win. Lake Worth does not look very strong and Aubrey was gutted by graduation. Once district starts, Eagle Mountain is returning its entire roster after a very trying year in which it still qualified for the playoffs. In an absolute worst case scenario, if the Eagles come into district sleepwalking, Eagle Mountain looks like the perfect team to pull a massive upset. Of course, Graham is a big concern though the Steers took a substantial hit from graduation. However it appears the strength of Brock’s schedule now sits in the district.
Ceiling: 10-0, District Champions
Nothing less than 10-0 is expected out of Brock in 2025. Despite having to replace key pieces, the Eagles could march right through non-district play rather easily. The key games are going to be Eagle Mountain and Graham. By the time the schedule gets to district play, this Brock squad could already be playing at a state championship level which could end with the perfect regular season record.
Nolan’s Prediction: 10-0, District Champions
As long as the Eagles do not take anyone lightly and do not get complacent, I envision them marching through the entire schedule and setting up a rematch with Carthage in the semifinal. From there they control their own destiny. I believe it is safe to say that while they are youthful, this could be a very strong Brock team that takes them back to Arlington.
