Canyon can run the rock

Since taking over as the offensive coordinator three years ago and the head coach last season, Canyon alum Matt Lovorn didn’t take long to put his imprint on what he wanted the Eagles to look like. During his time at Stratford, Lovorn’s teams were known as a physical ground and pound team making the pass game much more dangerous. That pattern is eerily similar in Canyon. Through the first six games, Lovorn’s offense is wearing opponents down behind a massive offensive line and a loaded backfield.

That was on display Friday night when Canyon (5-1 overall, 1-0 in district) dismantled Hereford 52-7 in a District 2-4A Division I opener. Canyon wore down the Whiteface defense chewing up 420 yards rushing with six touchdowns.

While Eagles usually soar through the sky, this Eagles punches in the mouth. On the year, Canyon has totaled 1,974 yards rushing (329 yards per game) and scored 26 TDs. Senior Austin Turner leads the group with 817 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Brox Hacker has 418 yards with four touchdowns and Tripp Miller has added 266 yards with six scores.

“I really like the depth we have at running back,” Lovorn said. “Coming into the season, we knew we had an offensive line that could move people off the ball and the backs to take advantage of it. We’ve been developing those guys since I got here and we wanted to make sure we had several backs that can go and not just run one guy all the time.”

Booker’s Biddler relieved of head coaching duties

Just 48 hours before its District 1-1A Division I matchup with Claude, Booker ISD decided to move in a different direction by relieving head coach David Biddler of his football coaching duties while moving longtime assistant and defensive coordinator Shane Woods into the interim head coaching role. Biddler will remain on as athletic director as well as the head softball coach at the school.

The Kiowas were 4-2 under Biddler on the season and looking to capture their third straight district title.

Biddler took over the reins of the Booker program when the school decided to move from 11-man to Six-Man football in 2023. The Kiowas were 7-4 in that inaugural outlaw season before being placed in Division I district action with realignment in 2024. Booker made the Class 1A Division I area round of the playoffs in both years while Biddler posted a 30-9 record in three and a half seasons before being relieved.

The Kiowas, now 4-3 on the season, struggled in Friday’s district opener falling to Claude 48-0.

Ja’Deion High in the house at Hereford

Former Hereford great and Texas Tech wide receiver Ja’Deion High was in attendance for the Whitefaces home game against Canyon on Friday night. The 2013 Hereford grad is currently living in Lubbock training young athletes through his Aztec Athletics. Since graduating from Texas Tech, the love of football hasn’t left High. High is entering his fourth year playing for the United States men’s national flag football team. High has won three gold medals with the US men’s team including a 2024 IFAF Men’s Flag Football World Championship victory and he is now set to compete with the team in the 2028 Summer Olympics that takes place in Los Angeles, Calif.

“Being a part of the national team is amazing,” said High, who is now 32-years old. “It’s allowed me to travel and see the world. I always wanted to do that and this has given me the opportunity. I was at a Dallas Tournament years ago playing in a flag football league, and the head coach of the national team was there. He started talking to me and asked if I’d be interested in trying out, and I was able to make the team. Now I’ll be competing in the 2028 Olympics, so it’s been a lot of fun.”

During his playing days at Texas Tech, High, a senior in 2018, played in 40 career games for the Red Raiders catching 83 career passes for 1,027 yards with five touchdowns.

District 2-2A Division I is up for grabs

If Friday’s opening games were any indication, District 2-2A Division I is going to be a lot of fun to watch play out. Tulia made the biggest buzz by overpowering Olton on the road 54-36. The Mustangs (6-1, 0-1) had been unbeaten on the year before running into the Hornets, who improved to 1-0 in the league and 3-3 on the year.

Tulia wasn’t the only team making noise. Farwell had struggled since the beginning of the season, however, the Steers put it all together at home Friday by handling Hale Center 37-28. The Steers are now 2-5 overall and 1-0 in district. Hale Center, a league favorite in August, is now 4-3, 0-1. Floydada (4-2) had the open week to kick off district, but the Whirlwinds are a much improved team under head coach Jeff Smith. Things should stay interesting in Week 8 with Farwell visiting Tulia and Olton traveling to Floydada.

9 undefeated teams remain

Following Week 7 there are nine undefeated teams still standing in the Press Pass Sports coverage area. In Class 4A, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty and Lubbock Estacado are both 7-0. Randall moved to 6-0 following a 51-17 win at Pampa. Idalou remains the lone Class 3A team undefeated at 6-0 while Gruver (7-0) and Wheeler (6-0) are the final two left in Class 2A. At the Class 1A level, the same three teams remain the same. Boys Ranch improved to 6-0 for the first time in school history. White Deer and Hart were both on bye weeks, so those two teams stay at 6-0.