Texas high school football is more than just a game — it’s a way of life. Dave Campbell's Texas Football is spotlighting a different program from across the Lone Star State, diving into their history, traditions, and legends. From powerhouse programs to hidden gems, Texas High School Football Spotlight is your deep dive into what makes each team unique. Whether it’s unforgettable seasons, iconic players, or fierce rivalries, this series celebrates the schools, communities, and stories that define Texas high school football.

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT: THE AMARILLO SANDIES

THE RUNDOWN
A true old-school power of Texas high school football, the Amarllo Golden Sandstorm has been a mainstay of Texas high school football since 1903, accumulating the third most wins in Texas high school football history (825) and a place among the historic programs not just in the Panhandle, but across the entire state.

BY THE NUMBERS
Class — 5A Division I
Enrollment — 2,169.5
Location — Potter County, up in the Panhandle

TROPHY CASE
State Championships — 4 (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940)
State Championship Appearances — 5 (1930, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1948)
District Championship — 45 (most recent: 2019)
Playoff Appearances — 63 (most recent: 2024)

GLORY DAYS
Any of the three consecutive state title teams back in the 1930s could lay claim to the best Sandies squad ever, but the nod goes to the 1936 team, which polished off a 14-0 record while outscoring opponents 455-66. There’s little doubt, though, that the golden era for the Golden Sandstorm was from 1927 to 1936, when Amarillo went a combined 113-9 over a 10-year stretch.

THE GOAT
Stan Maudlin is a name younger fans may not know, but he’s an icon out in the Panhandle. An all-state linebacker and center who starred for the Sandies back in the 1930s, Maudlin went on to play tackle at Texas where he earned consensus all-Southwest Conference honors and second-team All-American honors, as well as being named the 1942 Cotton Bowl defensive MVP. After a stint in the Army that saw him fly 35 missions in World War II, he was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals, helping them to the 1947 NFL Championship before his sudden death after a game in 1948. Maudlin is a Texas High School Football Hall of Famer and a member of the Texas Longhorn Hall of Honor, and has his No. 77 retired by the now-Arizona Cardinals.

THE ARCHITECT
As far as the best coach in program history, it’s hard to go with anyone other than Blair Cherry, who joined the Sandies in 1930 after six years at Ranger and Fort Worth North Side. He then rattled off an 83-5 record over seven seasons, including back-to-back-to-back state titles from 1934-36. He then went on to the University of Texas to become Dana X. Bible’s assistant before taking over as the Longhorns’ head coach in 1946. He switched the Longhorns from the single-wing to the T formation, and went 32-10-1 in four seasons, including the 1950 Southwest Conference title.

BATTLE LINES
There’s some debate on the biggest rivalry for the Sandies. You could go with the longest rivalry — that’s Amarillo vs. Lubbock, as the Sandies and Westerners have squared off 102 times since 1910 (including 44 wins and counting for the Sandies dating back to 1974). Or you could go with the most heated rivalry, which has to be Amarillo vs. Amarillo Tascosa — better known as “Hell Week” in Amarillo. It’s been known to get rowdy.

HOME TURF
Like their Amarillo ISD brethren, the Sandies call Dick Bivins Stadium home, and have since 1950. Named after a former Amarillo football coach, the beautiful Dick Bivins Stadium seats 15,000 spectators, features a video scoreboard, VIP suites and many more state-of-the-art amenities.

THE YEAR THAT WAS
Amarillo is coming off a decent 2024 campaign — a 6-5 record was good enough to secure fourth place in District 2-5A DI to stretch its playoff streak to 16 seasons, and a first-round upset win over district champion El Paso El Dorado gave them something to cheer about before falling to Richland in the area round.

LOOKING AHEAD
There’s plenty of reason to believe the Sandies will be a force in 2025, most notably behind quarterback Jett Lopez, who set nearly every school record in a breakout junior year. He’ll welcome back his top target in receiver Oliver Parsons and a steady running back in Jude Dunavin. The question is going to be on defense where the Sandies return seven starters from a unit that struggled at times in 2024.

X’S AND O’S
Offense: Multiple Power Spread
Defense: 3-4

ON THE RISE
Keep an eye on sophomore linebacker Raider Payne — aside from having a sensational name for a West Texas linebacker, he could be the next big thing for the Sandies’ defense.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“The Amarillo High football program is one of the most historic programs in the entire state of Texas. The Sandies are currently the third winningest school in Texas high school football. We’ve been playing football since before the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and we’re a staple of Texas high school sports history. And we’re going to be competing for a district championship in 2025.” — Amarillo coach Chad Dunnam