West Texas 2024 Look Ahead: West Plains stepping up

Photo: Twitter

Scott Hood January 31, 2024 @ 08:27 PM

<p>Few teams in West Texas won 12 games last season but Amarillo West Plains was one of them as the Wolves reached the quarterfinals (regional final) of the Class 4A, D2 playoffs in just their second year of existence.</p>   <p>However, 2024 promises new challenges for West Plains as the Wolves are expected to move up to Class 4A, D1 when the UIL announces the biannual realignment on Thursday. As a result, West Plains will have new district rivals, including Canyon, Amarillo Randall, Hereford and Dumas.</p>   <p>It will definitely be a step up in competition for West Plains.</p>   <p>“It will be a huge jump for us moving up from Division 2 to Division 1,” West Plains head coach Adam Cummings said. “With each move up in classification, the stakes get a little higher and the competition gets a little tougher. We've had some of those teams on our schedule the past two years. So it won't be a huge shell shock for us. We have to prepare the kids for the step up in competition by focusing on discipline and accountability.”</p>   <p>Cumming previously served as the defensive coordinator at Canyon, so he's familiar with the district.</p>   <p>“It's a really quality district and has been for years,” Cummings said. “I think our kids are excited about it. We've played Canyon and Hereford. We've competed against Dumas and Pampa in 7-on-7 during the summers. Getting to play Randall is exciting for everybody. We have three teams from the Canyon ISD competing in the same district.”          </p>   <p>West Plains lost their first (Bushland) and last (Glen Rose) games of the 2023 season. In between, the Wolves won 12 straight games behind a high-powered offensive attack led by sophomore quarterback <strong>Reid Macon</strong>, senior RB <strong>Jordi Hernandez</strong> and senior WR <strong>King Tallant</strong>.</p>   <p>“I can't say enough about our senior class,” Cumming said. “They bought in from Day 1. They were 28 of them. What they did to lay the foundation for future generations to come of West Plains Wolves was really special. The long term impact they will have speaks volumes. They set a great example for future teams.”     </p>   <p>Macon threw for 3,306 yards and 35 TD in 14 games while Hernandez rushed for 1,917 yards and Tallant made 94 receptions. The latter two, though, are graduating, so West Plains must find worthy successors.</p>   <p>Macon's return in 2024 assures the Wolves will have an experienced quarterback behind center. Rising sophomore <strong>Slade Russell</strong> will likely move up to the No. 1 RB role. Defensively, LB <strong>Tryston Hernandez</strong> returns after making 79 tackles with 15 tackles for loss and 3 QB hurries in 2023.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/king_tallant/status/1746967444999024653?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JarrettDiggs28/status/1750677887009669365?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_LAYLAY2x_/status/1750700746704601358?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/FBCoachCummings/status/1751423385802854768?s=20 </div></figure>

Few teams in West Texas won 12 games last season but Amarillo West Plains was one of them as the Wolves reached the quarterfinals (regional final) of the Class 4A, D2 playoffs in just their second year of existence.