Excitement is building across the Texas Panhandle. The Friday night lights are almost back. High school football season is right around the corner, and players, coaches, and communities are gearing up for another action-packed fall.
Starting August 4, teams across the state can begin official conditioning, with full-contact practices allowed five days later. That means now is the time for programs to fine-tune their preparation. As anticipation grows, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football released its annual preseason rankings, listing the top 25 teams in each classification from 5A Division I down to 2A Division II.
The Panhandle is well represented — with 12 area teams earning a place in the rankings, it's clear the region continues to be a powerhouse in Texas high school football.
5A Division I: Amarillo High and Tascosa Crack Top 25
Two Amarillo ISD schools landed spots in the 5A DI rankings:
Amarillo High Sandies – No. 22
Tascosa Rebels – No. 25
Both made the postseason in 2024. The Sandies were ousted by Richland in the area round, while the Rebels advanced further before falling to perennial contender Aledo in the regional round. Both teams return key contributors and have playoff experience to build on, making them teams to watch in 2025.
4A Division I: West Plains and Randall Lead the Way
Panhandle fans should keep a close eye on West Plains and Randall, who are poised for big seasons:
West Plains Wolves – No. 2
Randall Raiders – No. 15
West Plains, under head coach Adam Cummings, made a deep run to the state semifinals last year and nearly knocked off eventual state champion Celina in a one-score thriller. With several starters returning, including two Division I recruits, the Wolves may be the region’s best shot at a state title.
Randall also brings back much of its core after a 9-1 regular season and a regional playoff appearance. Both teams have the tools for long playoff runs.
3A Divisions: Bushland and Canadian Stay in the Mix
Bushland Falcons – No. 17 (3A Division I)
Canadian Wildcats – No. 8 (3A Division II)
Bushland will need to replace key graduating players after a solid season that ended in the area round. But don’t count the Falcons out — they’ve been a consistent playoff team.
Canadian, meanwhile, has become a staple of late-round playoff action. The Wildcats reached the state quarterfinals in 2024 before losing to Wall. They’ve lost some major contributors, including standout QB Clay Kendall, but sophomore Weston Mitchell showed flashes as a freshman and could be the next in a long line of talented Canadian signal-callers.
2A Division I: Panhandle and Sunray Stay Strong
Panhandle Panthers – No. 6
Sunray Bobcats – No. 24
Panhandle’s high-powered offense, led by Army commit Broxton Robinson, will again be a threat after last year’s playoff exit against a tough Stamford team. Sunray, despite losing record-setting QB Armando Lujan and several senior leaders, remains on the radar. Their strong summer showing, including a trip to the state 7-on-7 tournament, proves the Bobcats are reloading, not rebuilding.
2A Division II: Four Teams Represent the Region
No classification in Texas had more Panhandle depth than 2A Division II, with four teams in the top 25:
Gruver Greyhounds – No. 5
Stratford Elks – No. 13
Wellington Skyrockets – No. 20
Wheeler Mustangs – No. 24
Gruver reached the state semifinals last season and brings back senior QB Briggs Satterfield to lead the offense. Stratford and Wellington also made deep playoff pushes in 2024 and return key players. Wheeler, while not as highly ranked, is trending upward and could surprise some folks.
What’s Next?
With practices beginning in early August and opening kickoff around the corner, these rankings are just a preview of what’s to come. While preseason polls are a solid benchmark, anything can happen under the Friday night lights.
For Panhandle fans, the storylines are plenty:
Can West Plains take the final step and win it all?
Will Canadian reload and make another deep run?
Which 2A teams will survive the regional gauntlet?
