Here are my picks for this week's high school football games:
Caprock (1-4, 0-1) vs. Amarillo High (4-2, 1-1)
This is the 38th all-time meeting between these two Amarillo city rivals, a series that first kicked off in 1963 but took a 23-year pause somewhere along the way. History leans heavily toward Amarillo High, and so does the present.
Caprock had last week off, likely spending it dissecting what went wrong in their 42-7 district-opening loss to Abilene. The Longhorns’ offense never found rhythm, and the defense couldn’t slow anything down. On the other side, Amarillo High is still trying to make sense of how it blew a 21-0 lead to Abilene last week before losing 24-21. That collapse will sting — but it also might refocus a team that has the talent to compete for a district title.
AHS quarterback play and offensive depth should simply be too much for Caprock to handle. Expect the Sandies to get back on track in convincing fashion.
Prediction: Amarillo High 45, Caprock 7
Abilene Wylie (4-2, 2-0) at Palo Duro (4-1, 1-0)
Palo Duro continues to be one of the best stories in the area. The Dons’ defense is stingy — we’re talking Ebenezer Scrooge levels of stingy (young ones, Google him) — giving up just 7.4 points per game. Last week’s 42-point road win at Memorial turned heads across the district.
Wylie comes in on a high note after beating rival Abilene Cooper, and they’ve got enough offensive weapons to test Palo Duro’s tough front. But this one’s at Bivins Stadium, and the Dons are believers — so am I. Even with a few injuries, the energy, the defense, and the confidence at PD are real.
The winner here could very well control its own destiny for the district crown.
Prediction: Palo Duro 35, Wylie 27
Dumas (4-1) at Randall (4-1)
Now this is how you open district play. Both teams have legitimate championship aspirations, and the winner will have a clear path toward that goal.
Randall has had an extra week to stew after a frustrating 14-7 loss to Lubbock Estacado. That bye week probably did them some good — a little extra time to heal up, clean things up, and prepare for a high-powered Dumas offense led by standout quarterback Colton Mills. Mills has been lighting up defenses all season, but the Raiders’ defense and homefield advantage could make the difference here.
Expect a physical game that stays close until the final minutes.
Prediction: Randall 28, Dumas 14
Canyon (4-1) vs. West Plains (4-1)
This one could be dramatic on and off the field. Canyon made headlines earlier this week by parting ways with head coach Todd Winfrey and promoting offensive coordinator (and Canyon alum) Matt Lovorn to the top job. Lovorn’s résumé speaks for itself — he led Stratford to a 2A state title — but this is a tough situation to step into midseason.
Even under normal circumstances, Canyon would be facing an uphill climb. West Plains is a legitimate state contender, loaded on both sides of the ball and playing with purpose. Expect the Wolves to set the tone early and keep their foot on the gas.
Prediction: West Plains 45, Canyon 17
Final Thought:
Week 7 feels like a turning point for a lot of these programs. Amarillo High and Palo Duro can make statements. Randall and Dumas could decide a district’s pecking order. And Canyon — well, they’ll be looking to stabilize amid change. In a region that loves its football as much as the Panhandle does, you can bet every snap will matter.
