Editor’s note: This is a quarterback series highlighting of some of the top returning signal callers across the Texas Panhandle leading up to the kickoff of the regular season.
Last season, Dumas quarterback Colton Mills made program history.
As a sophomore, Mills reset the record book with a single season passing record of 3,016 passing yards. Colton’s accolade was enough for first team all-district honors, pushed Dumas to a 5-7 record and finished with an area round appearance in the Class 4A, Division I playoffs.
Going into his junior campaign under center, Mills is already the Demons’ all-time leading passer, netting 4,887 total yards. He’s also tossed for 54 touchdowns — so far.
Colton is just getting started. He’s thrilled to get the new season going, all while building up his confidence.
“I’m very excited,” Mills said. “I was really quiet my freshman year. I feel like I’ve gotten better at (leading and vocalizing) throughout the past few years.”
The rest of this story is only for subscribers.
Over the course of his career, Dumas head football coach Aaron Dunnam has seen Mills’ progression firsthand.
“He’s come a long way,” Dunnam said. “I believe he’s a little bit of the total package. He has super arm talent, and he’s really growing. In his first year, he was just reacting and playing the game. Last year, he was starting to learn our offense and understanding how to read defenses. I really noticed from last season, was his ability to keep plays alive.”
“He’s a competitor,” Dunnam added. “What I’ve really started to see lately, is his ability to lead. He’s a quiet kid, but I’ve really challenged him to speak up and lead his team with his voice. He’s starting to do just that.”
Colton certainly didn’t sit still over the course of the summer. Instead, he worked to boost his skills.
Along with participating in summer strength and conditioning, Mills led the Demons to its sixth straight 7-on-7 State Football Tournament appearance this past June. At Veterans Park in College Station, Dumas won their Division II pool with victories over Paris and Cuero but bowed out after their opening round bracket contest against Lake Dallas.
Then, came the camps. Mills took part in football camps conducted by Eastern New Mexico (June 9) and New Mexico State (June 15), before taking off for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the University of Alabama’s football camp on June 21.
Mills then wrapped up his summer slate with workouts with Tarleton (July 7) and Midwestern State (July 19). His favorite one was pretty obvious.
“It was definitely Alabama,” Mills said. “It was great for me to get the experience, seeing all of the other players, the college players and the college coaches.”
The Demons have a highly competitive slate for 2025, hosting Caprock in their season opener on Friday, August 29, at Demon Stadium.Trips to Borger (Sept. 5) and Canadian (Sept. 12) follow, before Dumas returns home to take on Plainview (Sept. 19).
Before District 2-4A play begins, the Demons square off against Bushland on the road. Dumas’ designated league is stacked once more, with Randall, Canyon, Hereford, West Plains and Pampa on the docket.
“I’m ready for them,” Mills said of his district opponents.
Mills has the playmakers around him, making note of running back Zbastian Jara and wideout Blake Robinson. On defense, Mills tipped his cap to junior linebacker Shooter Coon and sophomore teammate Kelton Dill.
Dunnam acknowledged the big guys up front.
“I really think we’re going to see some really good stuff from our offensive line,” Dunnam said. “They’re going to pave the way for both our quarterback and our running backs.”
Even with one of the tougher schedules in the Texas Panhandle, experts still slot the Demons for a postseason berth.
Dunnam has goals for Mills this season, along with winning games and going beyond the area round of the postseason. Dunnam also understands that Mills has ambitions of playing quarterback somewhere in the intercollegiate realm.
“I want him to be more of a vocal guy,” said Dunnam. “He’s a kid that’s going to show up every single day, but we need more than that. He wants to play college football. Some people are going to count him out because of his size, but his ability to lead a group of young men can bring him to the top. It will allow him to be able to play with some of those kids that are maybe bigger than him.”
Mills’ big goals are simple. He wants to establish a camaraderie among his teammates, and he wants the Demons to win.
“I just want to win, because nobody here likes to lose,” said Mills. “We just want to build relationships and become better as a team.”