SUNRAY — It’s not much. But for the football program at Sunray Collegiate Independent School District, it’s home.
In many ways, Bobcat Stadium is no different than many other small town football grounds in West Texas. In the age of turf fields, chair back seating and contemporary press boxes complemented by sprawling, on-campus indoor facilities, the grass field and unpretentious layout is a throwback to simpler times.
Since the Bobcats called the place home since 1946, there have been plenty of good years, a plethora of decent seasons and a smattering of lean years. Recently, Sunray boasted fantastic teams, spearheaded by Armando Lujan — the UIL career record holder for passing yards, completions and total touchdowns.
On Sunday, Aug. 3, the world briefly turned upside down for Sunray athletics.
In the early morning hours, straight-line winds knocked down trees and power lines, and caused damage to many homes and businesses within the town of just over 1,700 people, That very same windstorm devastated Bobcat Stadium — demolishing the press box, marring the home stands and smashing the visitor stands and lights beyond repair.
Teacher inservice had to be pushed back, back-to-school events were rescheduled and the first day of school was delayed to August 19.
However, football players and community members gathered and went about business the only way they knew how: by moving forward. Clean up quickly commenced.
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“We actually came out that morning,” said Erin Boatmun, Sunray CISD Superintendent. “We stood along the fence, looked out there and just thought, ‘okay, what do we do now?’ But we looked around. Every house around the football field had people standing in their front yards and going to help their neighbors. You just think ‘okay, we can do it.’ You just pull yourself up by your bootstraps and work until the next day.”
Then, as if it was all part of the plan, Sunray learned about T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest. The Friday Night 5G Lights program started in 2024. The program also had ties to Moore County, as Dumas was one of 16 schools to receive $25,000.
The grand prize, a cool $1 million, could be put toward upgrading a school’s football facilities. Alongside that $1 million is consultation from a stadium experience expert, an upgraded weight room, a tailgate party in 2026 and an all-expense-paid trip for selected school representatives to attend the 2025 SEC Championship game on Dec. 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“High schools across the country can apply, enter and register,” said Luis Moreno, T-Mobile’s market manager for the Texas Panhandle. “Just over 2,100 (schools registered) and the top 25 are our finalists.”
The Bobcats were fashionably late, as the application period for high schools started on July 17. However, Sunray made a surge, fueled by community efforts, celebrity shout outs and helping hands from surrounding communities.
“I had gotten the emails, but we hadn’t applied yet,” said Erin Boatmun. “I thought, ‘we ought to look into that’ but I like to do my research. I thought, ‘We don’t have a choice. This is something we’ve got to do.’ I never thought we’d get very far.”
Through a wave of votes, Sunray was able to crack the top 25.
“Sunray is one of 25,” Moreno said. “They won $25,000, which is phenomenal. They can put that to any facility upgrade they want. So, we’re super excited. The winner gets a complete $1 million renovation, a fitness center renovation from Rob Gronkowski and Gronk Fitness and a big party from T-Mobile.”
To vote for Sunray in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest, cast your vote at http://www.t-mobile.com/brand/friday-night-5g-lights/x
While Sunray received support, donations and large checks from the wireless network operator, the Bobcats became temporary vagabonds. The blue and gold traveled extensively to begin the 2025 campaign, making stops in Hooker, Okla., Abernathy, Stratford and Canadian.
The lone allotted home game, which pitted Sunray against Childress on Sept. 19, was moved to Comanche Field in Stinnett.
“Since the first day of two-a-days, we were working our tails off, helping the community,” said Zeke Grajeda, junior quarterback for Sunray. “It’s kind of like the schedule worked out for us, with all of the away games. But it just didn’t feel right.”
Fast forward to Friday, Oct. 10. Out of the top 25 across the United States, Sunray currently sits fifth in the nation with nearly 200,000 votes.
Progress had been made to Bobcat Stadium, enough to where it was able to host football games.
Earlier in the week, brand new lights were installed, converting darkness into light. The Bobcats celebrated the occasion with a special pep rally.
Orlando Gajardo, owner of the Spinnin’ DJs out of neighboring Dumas, got involved in a hurry. He quickly learned that the existing sound system, which had been connected to the press box, had been blown away in the storm. Due to that circumstance, the sound system had to be powered by generators.
“When I found out about the straight-line winds, which destroyed the stadium, knocked over a train and its railcars, I went out to see the damage. I then reached out to the school, and the school had somebody from the booster club reach out to me. It ended up being the president of the booster club. They asked if later, on a different day, they could reach out for help. I told them ‘whatever they need, whenever they needed,’ I would just come in and take care of it.”
At the rally, Gajardo provided his expertise, which included a sound system, video walls and a giant LED screen.
“Because it wasn’t a football game, we could do a little bit more extra,” Gajardo said. “We ended up doing a countdown, and turned on the stadium lights. My ears still hurt from how loud (the students) yelled.”
“It was really pretty,” Gajardo continued. “It was a really wholesome moment. I had the equipment to help them out. I told them, ‘Hey, next week is your homecoming. Consider that covered, too. So, don’t worry about it. We’re going to be here to help you.”
For Grajeda, it was something to remember.
“It was a once in a million moment,” said Grajeda. “It was a sign that we endured it all. We’re grateful that we just got these lights.”
Then, T-Mobile set up camp before Friday’s game between Sunray and Spearman.
The “Cats” midfield logo was painted magenta, while tents, tables and various games filled the concourse between the decorated home bleachers and the concession stand. T-Mobile also parked a temporary store next to the grandstand, housing its offering of smartphones and other devices.
Prior to kickoff, the Bobcats were greeted by revving motorcycles, hyped themselves into game mode within their massive, inflatable football helmet, and ran through a magenta-colored smoke. At that moment in time, Grajeda had goosebumps.
“It felt amazing,” Grajeda said. “Once we walked in, I got the chills. It was just amazing, and having all of our fans here was really cool.”
Even though Spearman kept the Bobcats winless with a 28-6 decision, it was a victory for the community. At halftime, Sunray CISD was presented with a $25,000 check.
To Sunray head coach Wes Boatmun, it’s a testament of Texans helping Texans.
“The thing that’s great to see is just the support from the people here and around here,” coach Boatmun said. “They fight for their school, and they fight for their kids. It’s been the hardest start of school for my family that we’ve ever had. But there’s always hope that things are going to turn, that things are going to get better.”
“It’s kind of like being in the type of game that we played (against Spearman),” Boatmun added. “When is that hope going to be rewarded? When is that faith going to be rewarded? But the people around here, like the kids on the field, they’re going to get up and they’re going to keep trying. They’re going to do what they need to do. They’re going to pour their heart into what they do for their kids and for the community.”
According to Lynx head coach Brandon Reagan, Spearman was glad to take part in Sunray’s festivities.
“It was cool,” Reagan said. “I feel for them. It sucks that this is their first home game of the year, and I’m glad they were able to play one now. Hopefully, they can get a few more in before the year’s over. I hope they can get the full makeover.”
The work isn’t over yet for Sunray. The Bobcats are trailing different kinds of foes, hailing from far-off places such as Dierks, Ark., and Lebanon, Ore., to Dexter, Maine, and Rathdrum, Idaho.
Time is ticking, as well. Supporters from near and far can vote once a day, every day, from now through Oct. 24.
“We’re smack in the middle of voting,” said Moreno.
With the voting period nearing its home stretch, Sunray is aiming to clinch the top spot. According to Moreno, it’s a matter of getting the word out to places like Lubbock, Midland, Odessa and from Dallas and Fort Worth, alongside neighboring states in Colorado, New Mexico and Colorado.
“I’ve been brainstorming,” Erin Boatmun said of her plan to vault the Bobcats into the number one spot. “I’m not a salesperson, I’m an educator. We’re going to engage our littlest Bobcats, get some on video and ask people to vote for us. The next thing is to educate people and say, ‘Do you realize how many people live in the Panhandle and who live in the South Plains? If all of those people, in theory, would vote once, we would win.Then, if you can’t get everybody, if half the people would vote twice, we would win.’ You kind of start doing the math on some things.”
“It doesn’t cost you any money, and you don’t get spam emails,” the Sunray CISD superintendent added. “It doesn’t do anything other than, hopefully, fill your cup a little bit. Ours is overflowing.”
Coach Boatmun echoed his wife.
“I think it would be something along the lines of ‘are we still Texas if we can’t make this happen?'” Boatmun said. “But it’s no one’s responsibility. It’s our responsibility to fight for our place and to try to push the message. We can’t make people vote, but we can try to fill them up with some pride. We can try to lean on their grace and mercy. But I think it’s enough to say that Texans are for Texas, and that’s all that has to be said.”
Grajeda kept his message short and sweet.
“Just vote once daily, that’s all we’re asking,” Grajeda said. “Hopefully, we can get as many votes to get that number one spot.”
In the broader perspective, it’s much more than the clashing of pads, grappling in the trenches and who can score more points than who by the final horn.
“This is beyond football,” Moreno said. “A lot of cities have come together for spirit. It’s West Texas helping West Texas.”
From buying and returning his equipment within a day’s time to handling major events, Gajardo has lended a helping hand for benefit dances and concerts.
“It’s not that Sunray wants the upgrades, they need the help,” Gajardo said. “There’s a difference for some of these schools who are competing. They want the upgrades, and I get it. Sunray needs it. Everybody has been putting in their little bit of help.”
Despite how the Bobcats finish, it has been a road of recovery and healing. No matter how the story concludes, the fellowship and camaraderie has brought Sunray and the whole of West Texas together for a noble cause — a restoration of normalcy, and a means to celebrate a sport that many hold close to their hearts.
“We’re just happy to provide a little bit of extra happiness,” Moreno said. “We’re happy to provide a little bit of motivation, and some togetherness.”
For a state that often views the gridiron as a shrine and observes Fridays as much as attending services on Sundays, football is something special.
“Small towns revolve around football,” said Reagan. “The whole community shuts down to come out and watch. If (Sunray) can get some help from T-Mobile and get a new stadium built, that’d be awesome.”
Coach Boatmun leaned on Texan pride. That same identity which spans from places such as Bobcat Stadium to the complex metropolises of the Metroplex, and born from within the Alamo, Goliad and San Jacinto and on full display whenever residents wave the Lone Star Flag.
“It’s special,” Boatmun said. “T-Mobile wanted to ask me what I thought about our chances. I just told them, ‘Look, if the state of Texas has anything to say about this, then we’re coming home with that $1 million. People in this state are Texans, first and foremost, and nobody in Arkansas can stop that. I have faith that it’s going to happen, and we appreciate every vote. If there’s a surge, we can’t pay attention to that. We just have to keep our nose down and do what we’re doing right. The more people we can get on board, the better.”
“I do believe that Texas is going to step up and help Texas,” he added.
Superintendent Boatmun was thankful for the support, through and through. She also knows that when the time arises, Sunray would be quick to help those who have been there for them.
“All these folks are voting for us, and we don’t even know them,” she said. “How do we ever repay them, other than paying it forward and to be good to somebody else? At the end of the day, we may be competitors on the field, but we’re humans. It’s the right thing to do, not because you’re going to get something out of it. When somebody else needs somebody to rally for them, we want to be there.”