The district opening game for both teams. The environment of a college stadium. One of the biggest rivalries in the city. Yeah, it's fair to say Friday's game between Amarillo High and Tascosa is shaping up to be a big one.
The Sandies and the Rebels are heading to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup. It's the opening District 2-5A Division I match for each team and it's shaping up to be a good one.
"Most years it's been a very competitive game between two pretty evenly matched teams," Tascosa head coach Ken Plunk said. "I think there's a lot of excitement and a lot of energy. The most important thing for us, though, is that it's our first district game."
The Rebels come into the ball game with a 3-1 record. Their lone loss came week three to Odessa Permian by a razor-thin margin of 13-12. Fresh off a 56-10 drubbing of Hereford, Tascosa is in a good position.
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The flexbone rushing attack that Rebel fans and opponents have become accustomed to is just as powerful this season. Treshun Wilson and Tayden Barnes have been the biggest contributors thus far. Barnes, a Division I recruit, has compiled 199 yards and six touchdowns on 26 carries while Wilson has put up 291 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries.
On defense, everyone knows how good Avion Carter is by this point. The TCU commit has been outstanding with 31 tackles, four for a loss, and three sacks. There are plenty of other outstanding contributors for the Rebs, though, in Keevin Ledoux (29 tackles, six TFL, three sacks), Brenyn Barnes (41 tackles, four for a loss) and Aushaun Wilson (three interceptions). Plunk knows the Rebs will have to be at their best to start district play 1-0.
"We need to take care of the ball," he said. "We need to eliminate turnovers and execute the game plan without trying to do too much. Don't try to do somebody else's job, just do your job."
For Amarillo, things were rough early as they got off to an 0-2 start to the season. In all fairness, Amarillo opened the season against Midland Legacy and Rio Rancho Cleveland (N.M.), but the Sandies turned the ball over nine times in those two contests. They also lost a pair of defensive stalwarts in senior linebackers Cooper Ivey and Cohen Berry to season-ending injuries.
Again, though, things have turned around since then. AHS knocked off Midland 27-8 in week three before demolishing Odessa High 42-17 last week. After throwing three interceptions in week one and another in week two, new quarterback Mason Graham has been turnover-free the last two weeks while tossing 10 touchdowns on the year.
"I'm proud of the football team we have right now," Amarillo coach Chad Dunnam said. "I'm proud of our group of young men and I'm proud of our coaches. We started off 0-2 and they proved to me and everyone else that they can respond to adversity."
Football schedule for Friday and Saturday
Running back Pius Vokes is coming off a career-best performance against Odessa. The junior rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. Add in the performance of Division I recruit Jameson Garcia (19 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns) and Amarillo has an offense that should strike fear into future opponents.
In a rivalry game such as this one, though, you can throw out the stats. You can throw out the records, expectations and everything else. When a rivalry game this big takes place, anything can happen.
"We realize more than likely that we'll be a big underdog going into this one," Dunnam said. "They are a good football team and I know this is an intense rivalry, but we believe that we are as good as them...It's going to be an electric environment. It's a great game between two great teams with a lot of tradition and we're excited to be a part of it."
District 2-5A Division I football
Where: Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon
Records: Tascosa 3-1; Amarillo High 2-2
Coverage: Follow @hpisani91 on Twitter for live updates, plus post game video, stories and photos to appear on amarillo.com.
The Longhorns will look to bounce back following a heartbreaking loss to Canyon last week. A win in their district opener would go a long way towards rebounding.
The Dons are undoubtedly fuming after their loss to West Plains last week. The Raiders, meanwhile, are riding high after a last-minute win. Both teams will be hungry to take victory in this one.
Both squads are coming off rough losses after promising wins. Kyler Read and Tray Toliver are a pair of exciting dual threat quarterbacks. This one should be fun to watch.
Wellington was considered one of the top teams in the Panhandle entering the season and are off to a 3-1 start. The Panthers are undefeated and have really only been challenged once. This one oughta be a good time.
While the shine of the Cyclones' 2-0 start has faded some after consecutive losses, they've still won more games this year than they did all of last year. Boys Ranch, meanwhile, bounced back from its first loss with a shutout of Morton to go to 3-1. A 4-1 start by the Roughriders would sure be something to talk about.