3. Odessa Permian: Mojo is always dangerous just by the jersey alone. The tradition-rich program led by Jeff Ellison returns 16 starters off a team that won eight games last season and made a run to the second round of the playoffs. Be sure to keep an eye on 2,000-yard running back Gavin Black. This dude is dynamic.

4. Midland High: The Bulldogs continue to build and get better each and every year. Last season, head coach Thad Fortune’s team won eight games. But this is a brand-new team with not a lot of veteran presence. The one the Bulldogs do have going for them, is the trenches where two-year starter Pule Primus stands tall at 6-foot-4, 330-pounds.

5. San Angelo Central: It wasn’t that long ago the Bobcats were a premiere program selling out San Angelo Stadium in late in the playoffs hosting Allen. However, things haven’t gone the way for Central of late, but with 14 starters back including receiver Gavin Edwards, the tides maybe a turning.

6. Odessa High: Last year was a struggle for OHS. The Bronchos won just two games and went winless through league play. In his second year, head coach Erik Hartman is hoping to see much improvement with nine starters returning.

Best game

Oct. 3: Midland Lee at Frenship

It’s always the obvious pick to take one of the state’s greatest rivalries and chose Lee vs. Permian. When looking at October and how the district is going to shape up, there is a lot of football between then and mid-August but it’s hard not to bet Peoples Bank Stadium in Wolfforth won’t be jam packed when the Rebels come to town for a “Little Southwest Conference” showdown with the Tigers.

-Kale Steed

District 2-5A

Division I

1. 1. Abilene High: Brayden Henry is healthy. That means nothing but trouble for 2-5A DI defenses as the 5-foot-9 quarterback who runs a 4.4 40-yard dash returns for his senior season. Abilene lost Henry after game seven last year to an injury and while still plenty good, the Eagles were not the same team without the school-record holder in many categories. But to win 2-5A DI you have to have more than a QB and Abilene does with nine starters returning on a defense that played with speed and helped win eight games and a playoff game last year. Being ranked No. 9 by Dave Campbel like AHS is doesn’t guarantee success, but it is a sign of good things to come.

2. Amarillo High: If numbers are your thing, the Sandies will be a big thing in 2025. AHS returns 32 lettermen and 15 starters from a team last year making the playoffs and winning a playoff game. One of those starters back is senior QB Jett Lopez. A conversation for best QB in the 806 that does not include Lopez, is a farce. He holds the AHS school record for most TD passes in a season at 34. The Sandies also have 1,200-plus yard rusher back in senior Jude Dunavin. And, and get this, one of the top receivers not only in the 806, but Texas returns in Oliver Parsons. Then add in an o-line AVERAGING 300 pounds. Now, the AHS defense gave up 42 or more points in five of 11 games last year. That has to be fixed if a district title is in the cards for head coach Chad Dunnam.

3. Tascosa: Where, where, where to predict the Rebs district finish in 2025?  That’s a legit question because 39 letterman and 11 starters return off a team going three rounds deep in the playoffs last year. Plus, if any team can say their strengths include quarterback and d-line, what coach wouldn’t sign up for that? That’s the case for Tascosa as dual threat Coltyn Fulton will open 2025 (coming off ACL injury last year) as the first three-year starting QB since Tascosa High opened its doors in1958. Then you have Krush – yes, Krush, how cool of name is that! – Johnson a Texas Tech commit on the d-front leading the way. Tascosa is dangerous.   

4. Lubbock Monterey: Welcome to 2-5A DI coach Jason Sims. If that name looks familiar, it should. Sims made a name for himself as head coach down the road a bit from Amarillo in Childress and makes the move this year at Monterey from assistant to head coach. Monterey is coming off a 5-1 effort in district with 13 starters back. And big doesn’t begin to explain Monterey. Take a bow d-lineman Javion Ramon, 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds. Step up KJ Russell, all 6-2 and 245 pounds of you ready to start for the fourth straight year. We see you o-linemen Felipe Pesina and Jacob Mosely, each weighing 310 pounds and standing 6-2. It’s going to be the Monterey Mash in 2025. Can you stop it?

5. Caprock: Oh, you live in Amarillo guy writing this, you are saying to yourself, so this is a homer pick putting The Rock over a pair of Lubbock schools. Not at all. Lessons will be learned from Caprock opponents that this Horns team is bonded together tighter than a shoelace in a  knot. Led by a core of seniors seeking to get this program jump started after 1-9 and 2-8 seasons, don’t overlook The Rock. It’s coach Rowdy Freeman’s third year at the helm and he has found his groove  and comfort zone as a head coach. Add senior leader Xavier Vargas who has skills as a RB/DB and the most underrated QB in the district in Juan De La Cruz and things are perking up. Now, I didn’t say a district championship here, but I do say much improved from the past two years.

6. Lubbock Coronado: Head coach Andrew Roy is back for year two coming off a 3-7 overall and 2-4 district record. Coronado does have 14 starters back and Roy played a bunch of underclassmen last year who come in this year ready to improve on things. No doubt, these Mustangs can run led by DB Willie Crain at 4.5 in the 40 and arguably one of the top DI prospects in all of Lubbock. What has to change from last year is not giving up an average of 39.3 points per game and upping the ante on consistent offense (scored 14 or fewer points in six of 10 games last year).

7. Lubbock High: Hey, the Westerners started 3-1 last year under head coach Juan Rodriguez and I see a similar start this year with starting QB Zach Reyna back. Problem is this dadgum district brings it week after week and the Westerners seem to lack the depth to handle three teams – Abilene High, Tascosa and Amarillo High – each ranked in Dave Campbell’s top 25. Then you have city rivals Coronado and Monterey to deal with, two teams the Westerners haven’t beaten since 2007. If the Westerners make the playoffs, more power to them. It will be THE story of the 806 since last time Lubbock High made the playoffs was in 1975.

Best game

Oct. 3: Amarillo High at Abilene High

I know this is one only week two of the district season and you can’t even clinch a playoff berth yet, let alone decide a district championship. Trust me, this game will be an absolute delight to watch, and the winner takes a huge step toward a district title. Last year, 105 points were scored between the two teams. Abilene High led 35-27 at half before settling on a 63-42 victory. You know what? Both starting quarterbacks from last year’s game return in AHS’ Jett Lopez and Abilene’s Brayden Henry. Buckle up, Abilene is the place to be Oct. 3.

– Lance Lahnert

Division II

1. 1. Lubbock Cooper: Cooper is Cooper. Yeah, Lubbock Liberty nearby for the past two years has socked a hole in Cooper’s depth, but Chip Darden can flat out coach. In his seventh year with Cooper, Darden hasn’t won fewer than eight games and owns a gaudy 62-17 record.  So what’s to question in 2025? Ryan Rodrguez is back for his third year of starting at QB. D-lineman Sione Vaea wrecks havoc up front and made 90 tackles with nine sacks last year. You get it. Cooper is going nowhere in 2025 but it’s usual place and that’s competing for a district title and winning playoff games.

2. Wichita Falls Memorial: Joe Castles is an offensive coordinator’s dream and a defensive coordinator’s nightmare. While football is a team game and one player doesn’t guarantee success, Castles is a flat-out gun slinger who will win games in the clutch. The Abilene Christian University commit has thrown for 5,987 yards in his career and 75 TDs. Memorial also has a 1,000-yard rusher returning in Eric Powell and wide receiver Jamri Dean has 4.4 speed and good hands. Memorial lost a lot of good players off last year’s team, so many are questioning how can it be better than last year. I’m not one of those.

3. Palo Duro: Oh my, the hype is real for these Dons. I get the question marks. Palo Duro missed the playoffs last year and finished 5-5, despite claiming the unofficial Amarillo city champs title beating Tascosa, Amarillo High and Caprock. So what’s to like about these Dons? What’s not to like. Over the summer Darien Lewis committed to North Carolina to play for THE GOAT Bill Belichick and is a two-way beast at linebacker/safety and running back/wide receiver. Vern Blair is a shut-down corner and committed to UNLV. Deuce Reese is the junior QB back from a year of starts where he threw for 2,233 yards and 20 touchdowns. Linebacker Keima’j Barnes made 174 tackles in 10 games last year. The vibe and confidence PD coach Eric Mims has built with this year’s Dons one can’t doubt this might be the start of quite a playoff run.

4. Abilene Wylie: Some might think fourth place is a disrespect for Wylie. After all, this team went 6-0 in district under coach Clay Martin last year. But Wylie must replace nine starters on defense from last year and the way this district is loaded at the top, that might hinder the chance for repeating as district champs.

5. Abilene Cooper: Look, this might be a crazy pick since Cooper is a ticket-puncher to the playoffs riding an 18-year consecutive playoff appearance streak. What Cooper will have to do to make it 19 playoff years in a row and improve on last year’s 4-7 record is take advantage of two three-years starters on the offensive front in Kayden Bryan (6-2, 315) and Jayden Flores (6-1, 275).  That could easily happen as tradition rides each with Cougars.

6. Plainview:  I’m telling ya overlook Plainview this year and quarterback Seth Mayberry will torch your defense. Mayberry isn’t the tallest at 5-10 but when you are about to start your fourth year at varsity, not a lot defenses can do to frustrate you. We can talk returning starters (nine on offense), we can talk three-year returning starters in DBs Brock Nails and Zachary Soilz, but what Plainview needs is simply a statement win to ignite the confidence in a program that has won 29 games over the past 10 years and not had a winning record since 2014 (6-5).

7. Wichita Falls Legacy: Rough one last year for Legacy’s first year as a school ending up winless at 0-10. Greg Davis takes over as coach for year two arriving from Mansfield Lake Ridge as its defensive coordinator. And Legacy needs that makeover on defense allowing 46.6 points per game last year. Sophomore Knox Hodges has a year of varsity experience under his belt and that should help the son of former Hereford great Slade Hodges. Just win, baby is the motto this year for Legacy.

Best game

Oct 17: Palo Duro at Lubbock-Cooper

This is one of those to be The Man you have to beat The Man games. Although a tip of the cap deservedly goes to Abilene Wylie for winning District 2-5A DII last year, Cooper is The Man. Palo Duro players and coaches absolutely believe this is the year of the Dons. This game arrives in the middle of the district season and should determine who will ride away with district champ hopes.

– Lance Lahnert