Division I
District 3-4A
1A. Dumas: Can Dumas win the District 3-4A DI crown? Dang right. That’s why the Demons under intense, excitable and motivating veteran head coach Aarron Dunnam are listed a 1A in this wide-open race where all five teams have title hopes and question marks. Dumas is young with six starters returning from a 6-5 playoff season. But these youngsters have grown up during grade school and middle school seeing district title after district title put up by the Demons and accept the high expectations. Youth will be likely be served at quarterback replacing graduated star Emmanuel Ibanez and expected started Lorenzo Ibarra won’t play because of a health issue. Sophomore Blake Robinson has looked strong in fall practices in the QB competition. Look, Dumas loves it physical and physical play – led by junior cornerback Imanol Marquez and senior offensive lineman Keegan Ireland – equals success in 3-4A.
1B. Canyon: Can Canyon win the District 3-4A DI crown? Dang right. That’s why the Eagles under third-year head coach Todd Winfrey are a 1B in this wide-open race where all five teams have title hopes and question marks. Since everybody loves talking quarterback play let’s start there and that’s a place Canyon must have a leader emerge with sophomore Noah Sanchez and junior Boston Bell looking to replace the graduated strong-arm of Derrick Clements. The Eagles, like it seems with a lot of teams in 3-4A, need to see their young offensive line jell to go with talented senior center Jacoby Rempel (also plays d-end). Because the Eagles do have a legit Double Trouble running backs duo in senior Sam Johnosn (981 yards, 12 TDs last year) and junior Colt Cruth. Hey, Canyon won 10 games last year and tied for the district title at 3-1 so the sophomores and juniors know success. However, with seven starters returning Coach Winfrey and his staff know players with limited varsity experience have to step in and play major roles if can is to repeat a 10-win season.
1C. Randall: Tell me if you have heard this before? Can Randall win the District 3-4A DI crown? Dang right. That’s why the Raiders under new head coach Dan Sherwood are a 1C in this wide-open race where all five teams have title hopes and question marks. Sherwood, of course, is no stranger to the Texas Panhandle football coaching world having guided Caprock the past nine years as one of the youngest Class 5A head coaches in Texas. When longtime Randall assistant/head coach Gaylon Selman retired last spring, Sherwood was handed the reigns of the Raiders coming off a 9-4 regional semifinalist run. Like most of the five 3-4A teams Randall was hit hard by graduation with five starters returning (three on offense, two on defense). Senior Tryston Sanchez is capable at quarterback to have a big season as Sherwood was known at Caprock for putting together and offense that goes with what’s working personnel wise whether that was an all-out passing attack or all-out running game. Speaking of Randall’s running game it’s in good hands with junior running back Dylan Ray. Randall will have to gain confidence in non-district with a new system and learning the ways of a new coach. Sherwood knows his team must fall in love with the daily process of what it takes to be successful if a district title is in their future.
4. Hereford: If I had any guts, I’d pick the Whitefaces as the upset special team of the year in the Texas Panhandle and say their future is a district title. Coming off a one-win season what craziness am I talking about? Well, Hereford showed an all-in mentality last season by the timing of the one win late in the season spoiling Randall’s “for sure” district title. With the most starters back (13) of any team in 3-4A, a young gunslinger in sophomore Kalub Ramirez owner of varsity starts under his belt, and third-year Herd coach Adam Naron’s system firmly in place, what’s not to like? Senior defensive end/tight end Marcos Acosta leads the Herd’s front seven, a group that will determine a lot of the Whitefaces success on whether it can stop the run and pressure quarterbacks. Hereford doesn’t need any part of going winless in non-district for the second consecutive year, so early success would be a boost of confidence. Plus, the Herd with its new-look fieldhouse and turf field over the last two years own key district home games vs. Canyon and Dumas.
5. Pampa: Let’s get this out of the way in hurry. If any 3-4A teams have problems stopping the run they will have major problems stopping Pampa in 2023. Coach Cody Robinson returns 10 starters – five on each side the ball – off last year 5-6 playoff team. The returners include sophomore running back Max Neff who burst on the scene last year as a workhorse, physical nemesis to defenses. Neff incredibly eclipsed the 2,000-yard rushing mark as a freshman (2,033 yards) and will be the focus of defenses every time he plays this year. (Note: Neff suffered an arm injury in a scrimmage and could miss the harvesters opening two games). The Harvesters have strong leadership in two-way senior linemen Jerry Machado and Tucker Bruce. Plus, senior tight end Cooper Smith and junior wide receiver Bryce Lynn can put pressure on defenses helping take some focus off Neff. Coach Robinson preaches the philosophy to his players of The First Victory happens in your mind. Simply knowing you can is always your best chance. If Pampa runs the ball and stops the run it has chance to be the best team in this district.
BEST GAME
Randall at Dumas, 7 p.m. Oct. 6
This year so many games could be tagged “Game of the Year” in District 3-4A with so many teams having to answer questions during non-district play. Like the winner of the Hereford at Pampa game on this same October district-opening night I predict will ride the momentum from that W into a playoff berth. But a lot of eyes will be on Dumas, Texas this night because it’s Coach Sherwood’s 3-4A debut with the Raiders playing in one of toughest environments in all of the Panhandle. Dumas loves it some home field Friday nights what with motorcycles revving up, the pitch forks on fire, the field playing East-West instead of North-South, and mostly playing with a physical and feisty attitude in front of their adoring home fans. The winner of Randall at Dumas could ride the W to a district title.
Division II
District 2-4A
1. West Plains: What 12 months it has been for West Plains going from the new kids on the block to the newest team to beat in 2-4A. West Plains was the feel-good story of 2022 as the first-year program went 7-5 reaching the area round of the playoffs with its only district loss to Seminole. The Wolves lost six seniors off that team and coach Adam Cummings returns 31 seniors this year and will play with much more depth. Nobody in this district is handing the title to West Plains but to knock off The Pack teams are going to have deal with an offense that will be much improved under the guidance of second-year starter sophomore Reid Macon (2,273 yards and 19 TDs). The talented and serene Macon has weapons like in wide receiver King Tallant (569 receiving yards). And don’t forget two-way linemen Dawson Hall wrecks havoc inside. But make no mistake about it, the heart and soul of this year’s team is bonded group of 31 seniors hungry to leave their mark forever in West Plains football lore as the first to win a district title.
2. Seminole: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The fingers typing this has witnessed and believes in the way third-year Seminole coach Greg Poynor gets things done. His commitment to relationships with players, every day presenting a positive vibe and some talented players, will make for a special year in Seminole. Now, can Seminole replace three-year starting quarterback Blake Flowers who was the catalyst for a 10-win season last year? That remains to be seen. But with 12 returning starters, eight of those on defense led by linebacker Kevyn Guffey (60 tackles) and defensive back Rowin Donaldson (4 interceptions), you know Seminole will be a tough, tough foe to defeat in district.
3. Perryton: This Perryton squad will be unique as any in the history of Rangers football as it will be playing to bring joy to its hometown devastated by a June 15 tornado. First-year head coach Cole Underwood (he was offensive coordinator last year), a Perryton native, brings back 10 starters from last year’s 3-8 playoff team. Five of the Rangers eight losses were by seven points or less last year so changing the results of close games will be a top priority for Underwood and his players. Perryton must handle and gain confidence during a brutal non-district schedule (like Canyon, Dumas, Canadian and Stratford) if it wants to compete with West Plains and Seminole for the 2-4A DII crown. The Rangers have a strong returning 1-2 punch in the offensive backfield in quarterback Julian Cervantes (1,198 yards passing) and running back frank Jimenez (350 yards rushing). Leading the defense five returning starters are linebackers Sammy Perez and Dalton L’Esperance. Underwood, a popular assistant coach at Amarillo High for several years, knows his team must find ways to improve each week to bring home a playoff berth.
4. Borger: Fourth instead of Levelland? A team that didn’t win a district game last year and finished 2-8? Look, it won’t be a walk in the park but the man taking over the Bulldogs program is a proven winner. Dane Hamrick will guide the Bulldogs in his first frey into the head coaching world. Hamrick is no stranger to success having been a talented college thrower for West Texas A&M track and guiding the Tascosa defense the past few years as its defensive coordinator. Tascosa made lengthy playoff runs under Hamrick, including a state semifinal effort ending in AT&T Stadium. Hamrick has nine starters back from a year ago and will implement a new offensive and defensive scheme which will take time to jell. Borger does have senior leadership on each side of the ball in quarterback KJ Jennings and defensive end Sean Wilson. Hamrick is big on trust and knows for the Bulldogs to reap any kind of success this year the players must learn to trust the coaches and learn to trust each other. His Rebs defenses at Tascosa played with relentless effort and if Borger plays with that trait, the playoffs aren’t out of the question.
5. Levelland: Levelland could change this last place pick. Coach Lyle Leong Jr., who played his college football at Texas Tech as a wide receiver, is in year three of his program. Levelland returns 14 starters – nine on the defense – off last year’s 2-9 playoff team. Wide receiver Jayden Flores and running back/linebacker Austin Ellis are definite playmakers who will give opposing teams fits. No doubt, Levelland has high hopes with 14 starters returning to not only make this cellar pick look silly but bring on a winning record.
BEST GAME
Dalhart at Perryton, 7 p.m. Aug. 25
Look, no doubt when Seminole travels to West Plains on Oct. 6 the District 2-4A D-II world will have all eyes on that game as the winner could easily ride that momentum to a district title. But life is more than a football game and life gets real when Dalhart travels to Perryton opening the 2023 Texas High School football season. Perryton students, fans and players will gather and all know they can finally cheer and let loose after a brutal summer spent recovering from a June 15 tornado that rocked the world of many businesses and homes in Perryton. Families are still homeless from the devastation. But when those Rangers run on the field the evening of Aug. 25, for a moment, anyway, life is sooo good. Football is back.