MASON, TX — The Mason Punchers were a team with question marks everywhere heading into last season.
It’s a very different story this season.
After having to replace their head coach and most of their starters last year, the Punchers bring back almost everyone this fall from a team that went 10-4 and reached the state quarterfinals.
They also added some big-time newcomers, which could help push them over the top as they chase the program’s third state title.
Mason returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense, which earned them a ranking of No. 5 in the state in Class 2A Division I by Texas Football.
That was before a handful of transfers joined the team, highlighted by Luke Tharp, who was the Offensive MVP of his district last year after rushing for 1,581 yards at San Saba.
“If we don’t have a good year, it’s probably my fault,” second-year head coach Wade Griffin joked. “It’s not because we don’t have really good players.”
Last year, Griffin inherited a team with only two returning starters, and he implemented a new power spread offense.
The Punchers started off slow with only one win in their first four games before they turned it around.
“I tried to tell everybody we’d be a pretty good team down the stretch,” Griffin said. “To see the (team) grow up and play together, it was awesome. Just to see them keep believing and tune all the negatives out and grow and become a good football team, it was as fun as I’ve had coaching in a long time.”
Mason has playmakers all over the field on offense, led by district MVP Slade Buell, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete who rushed for 1,328 yards while playing at quarterback and running back.
He’ll again share the backfield with quarterback Ryder Balmos (6-4, 185) to form a formidable 1-2 punch. Balmos will move to receiver when Buell is at QB.
“They both bring unique things to the position,” Griffin said. “As the game goes, we kind of use them both to do things the other can’t do.”
Tharp, who played at QB for San Saba, will see time at running back and at slot receiver, where he can catch passes and run jet sweeps.
“He’s another Swiss Army knife-type guy,” Griffin said of Tharp. “You can put him in a lot of positions and he can do a lot of good things, so we’re excited to have him. He’s a powerful guy, but he’s a home run threat, too, so he helps us a bunch.”
As if those three weren’t enough, Mason also has receiver Kingston Garza, who has 4.5 speed and qualified for the state track meet in three events. He had 37 catches for 698 yards and eight TDs.
Mason also has a shifty junior running back with 4.5 speed, George Velez, who brings another dimension to the offense.
Finally, there’s Zane Huff, a junior transfer from Jim Ned, who will serve as the team’s pass-catching tight end.
Paving the way for everyone will be an offensive line bookended by twin tackles Jackson Contrucci (6-4, 275) and Hudson Contrucci (6-4, 290). Both have already received an offer from NCAA Division I UTEP.
“They’re really high-end players that have a chance to be really special,” Griffin said.
Guard Omar Landeros (6-0, 200) is another San Saba transfer who earned first-team all-district honors last season.
“We’re big and pretty physical,” Griffin said. “I think we have eight or nine really good offensive linemen.”
Cass Dutton (6-2, 245) will also contribute as a blocking tight end.
Dutton is best known for wreaking havoc on the defensive line. He had 117 tackles last year, including 29 tackles for loss, and was named the district’s Defensive Lineman of the Year.
He’ll be joined up front by first-team all-district defensive lineman Derric Burch (6-2, 220).
Mason has the No. 3-ranked linebacker corps in 2A by Texas Football, led by all-state selection Buell, along with Velez and Huff.
The Punchers’ talented secondary includes Garza, Tharp, Balmos and Jaxon Valverde.
Mason hasn’t lost a district game since 2010, and the Punchers are again the favorite to win in their new district, 7-2A Division I, which includes San Saba, Johnson City, Brady, Bangs and Coleman.
Their nondistrict schedule includes Reagan County, defending state champion Hamilton, Granger, Junction (No. 11 in 2A D-II) and Ingram Moore (No. 17 in 3A D-I).
Mason will have one more returner this season — the legendary Puncher Dome. The stadium, one of the most iconic in the state, was damaged by a storm in 2024, forcing Mason to use temporary bleachers the last two seasons.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Griffin said. “We’re not going to get to scrimmage there next week, because it’s not quite ready, but we will play there the first week.
“There’s a bunch of excited people. It’s bigger than it was, and the press box is really cool. There’s a little buzz in the air, I think, having it back, and I think it’ll be a fun year.”
Mason Punchers
2026 schedule
Aug. 28 Reagan County
Sept. 4 at Hamilton
Sept. 11 at Granger
Sept. 18 at Junction
Sept. 25 Ingram Moore
Oct. 2 OPEN
Oct. 9 Bangs*
Oct. 16 at San Saba*
Oct. 23 Johnson City*
Oct. 30 Brady*
Nov. 6 at Coleman*
*District 7-2A Division I game
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