2026 West Texas Football Dream Tour

We’ll start our tour in Wall, where the Hawks will open up their title defense after bringing home the school’s first state championship back in December. It won’t be an easy season opener by any means as Wall welcomes a Canyon West Plains team that is ranked No. 10 in the state in Class 4A Division I.

For the Hawks, they’re moving up to 3A Division I, where they’ll be ranked No. 6. It’s a ranking built on respect, because this will be a largely new-look Wall team as the Hawks return only three starters on offense and defense.

Wall fans will get their first look at new quarterback Gunner King, who will try to replace the state’s 3A Offensive Player of the Year, Landon York. This is a tough landing spot for King against a West Plains team that went 12-2 last year, though the Wolves return only two starters on each side of the ball. The Hawks’ defense will also have their hands full against 2,000-yard running back Slade Russell.

This is a big-time matchup to kick off the season.

Alternate routes: Reagan County at Mason, Abilene High at San Angelo Central, Eldorado at Christoval, Junction at Goldthwaite, Robert Lee at Jayton

Week 2

Rankin at Water Valley

This is a rematch of last year’s meeting in the 1A Division I state semifinals, where Rankin upset Water Valley 54-46. The Wildcats were undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the state, and they had already 45’d Rankin earlier in the year. Water Valley was seemingly on a collision course with No. 1 Gordon, but the Red Devils crashed the party.

Now it’s Water Valley that will be the underdog. The Wildcats are ranked No. 14 heading into the season, while Rankin is No. 1. The Red Devils return four starters from last year’s state finalist, including running back Matthew Ramos, who had a 207-yard performance against Water Valley last year.

As for the Wildcats, they bring back just one starter, but he may be the best six-man player in our area. Branson Lacy had over 1,500 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving last season, and he also had 115 tackles on defense. Expect Water Valley to build another contender around him.

This early September meeting could be a preview of another Water Valley-Rankin showdown late in the playoffs.

Alternate routes: Mason at Hamilton, San Angelo Central at Mansfield Lake Ridge, Wall vs. La Joya (at Uvalde), Brady at Ingram Moore, Iraan at Junction, Miles at Christoval

Week 3

San Angelo Lake View at Lubbock High

Lake View and Lubbock High had an incredible offensive shootout last year with the Chiefs hanging on in a 50-49 thriller. We’ll turn our tour north and head up to the South Plains to see the rematch.

Lake View lost a lot of firepower from last year’s team, but the Chiefs return third-year starting quarterback Chris Alvizo, and that alone is reason to believe in the offense again. He was an efficient 19-of-25 passing against Lubbock High last year for 274 yards.

The Westerners also took a big hit from graduation and lost running back Bo Davis, who ran wild for 356 yards in last year’s meeting. 

In their last 10 meetings since 2012, Lake View and Lubbock High have had five games decided by seven points or less, so this series has had a history of producing close games. Let’s hope for another exciting one this year.

Alternate routes: Wall at Jim Ned, Ozona at Junction, Sonora at Eldorado, Hamilton at Brady, Mason at Granger, Sands at Water Valley

Week 4

Mason at Junction

A Hill Country setting for a couple of longtime rivals who each played in the state quarterfinals last year? Yes, please.

Mason and Junction — separated by about 45 miles of Hill Country — each return this year with aspirations of making another deep playoff run. Mason is ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 2A Division I, while Junction is No. 11 in 2A D-II.

Mason brings back nine starters on offense and eight on defense, led by district MVP Slade Buell, who rushed for over 1,300 yards last year and was an all-state linebacker. They also added the district's Offensive MVP, Luke Tharp, who rushed for over 1,500 yards and is a standout defensive back.

Junction took a much bigger hit from graduation, but the Eagles have a handful of playmakers back, including running back Koda Bierschwale, who produced over 700 yards of offense, and big-play wide receiver Casen Roberts.

Junction ended a streak of 18 straight losses in this rivalry last year with a 27-16 win on the road over Mason. The Punchers will try to regain the upper hand in this rivalry when they meet again in Junction.

Alternate routes: Richland Springs at May, Brady at Ballinger, Sterling City at Robert Lee, Ozona at Wall, Lohn at Olfen, Garden City at Sands, Water Valley at Klondike

Week 5

Midland Greenwood at Wall

Our tour swings back through Wall this week for another high-powered matchup as the Hawks host a Greenwood team that went 13-1 last year and reached the state quarterfinals. The Rangers enter this season ranked No. 15 in the state in Class 4A Division I.

This is part of a loaded nondistrict schedule for the Hawks that also includes games with Class 6A La Joya, Jim Ned, Ozona and Midland Christian. And that all leads up to Wall’s district opener at Llano, a state semifinalist last year.

Greenwood returns five starters on offense and three on defense. The Rangers have some talented athletes Wall will have to contend with, including new quarterback Andrick Rodriguez, who has 4.4 speed.

This will be another big test for Wall, and we should have a better idea at this point of what the 2026 Hawks look like.

Alternate routes: Bangs at Grape Creek, Lake View at Big Spring, Robert Lee at Garden City, Ballinger at Reagan County, Coleman at Eldorado, Water Valley at Westbrook

Week 6

Richland Springs vs. Whitharral (at Baird)

This matchup in the Big Country east of Abilene marks the 25th anniversary of these two teams meeting in the 2001 six-man state final. Whitharral won that game 27-20 when the Coyotes were stopped about 15 yards short of the goal line as time ran out before they could run another play. 

That was the second state title for Whitharral, which hasn’t won it all since. As for Richland Springs, the Coyotes had never won a state title at that time. Now they have the most six-man titles in Texas history with nine.

Richland Springs is coming off a loss in the state final last year, but the Coyotes should again be a top team. They’re ranked No. 4 in the state in 1A Division II with four returners on both sides of the ball. However, they’ll have a new head coach in James McIntyre, and they lost all-state spread back Cohen Ethridge, who transferred to Menard.

Whitharral went 9-1 last year and won its district, though the Panthers return only two starters on each side of the ball. They’ve also moved up to 1A D-I, but games like this will help prepare them for a tough district.

Alternate routes: Sonora at Christoval, Lake View at Levelland, Llano at Brady, Garden City vs. Union Hill (at Strawn)

Week 7

Menard at Water Valley

We’re more than halfway home as our tour moves into district play. Could this matchup be a changing of the guard? Water Valley has been our area’s best six-man team the last two years with back-to-back trips to the state semifinals. The Wildcats have a new challenger for their district title, however, with Menard.

The Yellowjackets are ranked No. 13 in the state in 1A Division I after last year’s 11-1 record. Menard returns three starters on each side of the ball, and the addition of all-state spread back Cohen Ethridge from Richland Springs could be a game-changer.

Water Valley is still ranked No. 14 — and the Wildcats were picked by Texas Football to defend their district title — but this will be a new-look team with only all-state running back Branson Lacy returning.

This may be the best six-man game of the season in the Concho Valley.

It has to be mentioned that another must-see battle will be taking place the same night down in the Hill Country when defending state champion Wall opens district play at Llano, a state semifinalist from last year. 

Alternate routes: Wall at Llano, San Angelo Central at Greenwood, Pflugerville Connally at Lake View, Richland Springs at Cherokee, Coleman at Brady

Week 8

Ozona at Sonora

Now our tour heads south to Sonora, where this projects to be the title game in District 4-2A Division I. 

No. 16-ranked Ozona is the defending champion, but the Lions lost some key pieces from last year’s team — most notably superstar running back Christian Villarreal, who rushed for 3,667 yards last season. Ozona has the No. 2-ranked offensive line in the state in Class 2A, according to Texas Football, but can the Lions find new playmakers?

Sonora, meanwhile, returns most of last year’s team, including third-year starting quarterback Aaron Segura. The Broncos also return their top four receivers from last year, along with speedy running back Armani Coronado. They have the firepower, but can their blockers up front rise to the level to challenge Ozona?

These rivals have played nearly every year since the 1920s, so expect a great atmosphere down in Sonora.

Alternate routes: Midland Lee at San Angelo Central, Mason at San Saba, Rankin at Garden City, Menard at Eden

Week 9

Christoval at Ballinger

We’ll stay in the same district and head north to Ballinger for a game that could have a big say in who earns the fourth and final playoff spot.

With Ozona and Sonora predicted to take the top two spots, followed by Forsan, it’s Christoval that was picked by Texas Football to claim fourth in front of Ballinger. The Bearcats will argue with that, especially considering they beat Christoval 13-6 last year.

Ballinger returns eight starters on both sides of the ball, and the Bearcats have a wild card with quarterback Wyatt Clemens, who threw for 250 yards in his only game last year before he was lost for the season with a broken leg. He’s back for his senior year and could help Ballinger’s offense take flight, especially with 6-foot-4 wide receiver Hunter Kresta as his top target.

Christoval returns four starters on offense and five on defense, including junior quarterback Ty DeBusk, who was the district’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year last season. Can DeBusk and a young offensive line continue to grow and lead the Cougars back to the playoffs?

This should be a closely contested battle with a lot riding on it.

Alternate routes: Sterling City at Menard, Plainview at Lake View, Bronte at Paint Rock, Richland Springs at Rochelle, San Angelo Central at Odessa High, Wall at Early

Week 10

Brady at Mason

This tour will now head back to the Hill Country at the newly rebuilt Puncher Dome. The iconic football stadium was damaged during a 2024 storm, forcing Mason to use temporary bleachers the last two seasons. The Puncher Dome’s return coincides with Mason regaining its familiar position as one of the state’s elite teams.

After a 1-3 start last year — which included a 24-22 loss to Brady — Mason reeled off nine straight wins to reach the state quarterfinals. With nine starters back on offense and eight returning on defense, the Punchers will begin this season ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 2A Division I.

Brady, located just 30 miles away from Mason, is dropping from 3A D-II after a 7-4 season. The Bulldogs bring back four starters on offense and five on defense, led by 6-foot-5, 365-pound lineman Nasir Menefield. He’ll be the centerpiece of what could be one of the best battles in the trenches we’ll see all year with these two strong lines.

This game should have district-title and playoff implications written all over it.

Alternate routes: Andrews at Lake View, Coahoma at Grape Creek, Ballinger at Sonora, Reagan County at Ozona, Buena Vista at Garden City

Week 11

San Angelo Central at Odessa Permian

We’ve traveled all over during this tour. Now we’ll go west to finish it at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa for this historic rivalry between the Central Bobcats and Permian Panthers.

Permian is the defending District 2-6A champion, and the Panthers are favored to win it again. They return seven starters on offense and six on defense from last year’s 11-2 team, including quarterback Kayden Vickers, who took over late in the season and threw for 383 yards in the playoff opener. Wide receiver Aaron Navarette is also back after a 1,088-yard season.

While Mojo is certainly back, the Angry Orange is on the rise as well. Central went 8-4 last year, a remarkable jump from a one-win season just two years ago. The Bobcats return six starters on offense and five on defense, including quarterback Micah Smith, who was selected as the district’s Preseason Offensive MVP by Texas Football. Running back Zeyvion Johnson, who rushed for 1,042 yards as a sophomore, also returns. UTSA commit Ethan Boyd anchors the offensive line.

If we’re lucky, this game could be a classic. What a way to finish off our West Texas Dream Tour.

After this, all roads lead to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the state championships.

Alternate routes: Eldorado at Iraan, Sterling City at Water Valley, Bronte at Robert Lee, Ozona at Ballinger, San Saba at Brady, Ingram Moore at Wall

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