AREA MENU: Final Old High home game stands out in Week 9 schedule
How do you honor 120 years of history?
It’s an impossible task, but it’s one Wichita Falls High coach Grant Freeman has battled throughout this final season of Coyote football.
And it’s not like this is just another football program. It’s one of the most storied programs in Texas high school football history with six state championships, 96 all-state players and seven All-Americans.
On Friday, the Coyotes play their final game at Memorial Stadium with an 8 p.m. kickoff against Burkburnett. This is assuming Old High doesn’t end up hosting a playoff game at the stadium that has served as the team’s home since 1970.
Freeman has invited all former Coyote players to be part of a pregame ceremony and line the tunnel as the current team takes the field.
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A fireworks show has also been planned following the game.
And is this enough? Even Freeman admits it isn’t. But again, honoring 120 years of Coyote football is impossible.
With all due respect to what Rider has done by honoring a different decade of alumni each home game — it’s been incredible seeing legends recognized each week — the Coyotes have twice as many years of teams and players to honor than the Raiders.
The best way for Freeman and Co. to honor the legacy of this program is to win.
The Coyotes set high expectations for their final season by advancing to the state quarterfinals in 2022. And despite a 2-5 record, this team still has a chance to live up to those expectations.
Winnable games lie ahead for the Coyotes, including this final game for the Red and Black at Memorial Stadium.
WEEKLY SPECIAL
BURKBURNETT at WFHS
When/where: 8 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium
Live updates: Follow @Hull_TRN, @CoryHogueSports & @Naomi_TRN on X (formerly Twitter). Watch on wfisd.net/youtube. Listen on 100.9 or jackwichitafalls.com.
Records: Burkburnett 2-5, 0-1; WFHS 2-6, 1-1.
Last game: Decatur 51, Burkburnett 21; Decatur 58, WFHS 0
Last meeting: WFHS 24, Burkburnett 14 (2022); WFHS leads all-time series 26-7.
Players to watch: Burkburnett, Kyler Kirkland (RB/LB, Sr.), Garrett Bailey (LB, Jr.), Buddy Owen (OL, Jr.); WFHS, Ivy Kelley (DB, Sr.), Ivory Kelley (DB, Sr.), Jacobey Clay (LB, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: These two Wichita County programs didn’t really form a rivalry until the 1990s. The Bulldogs and Coyotes were in the same district for the entire decade, and this is the second district matchup between the two since 2000. They had only met 12 times before 1990 with the Coyotes winning each meeting. The rivalry was renewed in 2018, although the scheduled matchup in 2020 didn’t take place because of COVID-19. WFHS has won all four meetings during this recent renewal, including 2019’s matchup that was cut short when a lightning delay kept the non-district game from resuming after halftime. … Both teams experienced blowout losses to Decatur in its last game with Burkburnett’s coming two weeks ago. The Bulldogs were open last week. … Burkburnett senior running back Kyler Kirkland ranks fourth in the area with 810 rushing yards. … WFHS junior quarterback Zage Gravitt is sixth in the area with 1,243 passing yards. The Coyotes also boast the area’s top three tacklers, including Ivy Kelley (116), Ivory Kelley (92) and Jacobey Clay (92).
PigskinPrep.com says: WFHS by 11.
PREMIUM ENTREES
IOWA PARK at VERNON
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Lion Stadium
Live updates: Follow @trnsports on X (formerly Twitter.) Listen on network1sports.com/station/kvwc (Vernon) or network1sports.com/station/iowapark.
Records: Iowa Park 3-4, 2-0; Vernon 6-1, 1-1.
Last game: Iowa Park 48, Bowie 14; Vernon 42, Breckenridge 20
Last meeting: Iowa Park 28, Vernon 25 (2022); Vernon leads all-time series 29-23-1.
Players to watch: Iowa Park, Parker Allen (QB, Sr.), Carter Sales (RB/DB, Sr.), Barrett Brown (RB/LB, Sr.); Vernon, Kale Sherrill (QB, Sr.), Adarius Williams (RB/DB, Jr.), Tru Gipson (RB/DB, So.).
Why it’s tasty: These two teams have played every year since 1970 with all but two of those meetings being district matchups. Iowa Park has won eight straight against the Lions, which is the Hawks’ longest win streak in series history. … Vernon believes it has a a legit chance of ending its losing streak to Iowa Park, although it's the Hawks who currently have command of the District 3-3A Division I standings. The Hawks are 2-0 and tied atop the standings with Clyde despite a rough non-district slate. … Both teams feature run-heavy offenses with multiple backs capable of being the leading rusher on a given night.
PigskinPrep.com says: Vernon by 10.
WINDTHORST at ARCHER CITY
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Wildcat Stadium
Live updates: Follow @ArcherCoSports on X (formerly Twitter). Watch a live stream on NFHSNetwork (Archer City, paid subscription).
Records: Windthorst 5-2, 3-0; Archer City 3-3, 1-2
Last game: Windthorst 56, Munday 0; Haskell 34, Archer City 33
Last meeting: Windthorst 28, Archer City 13 (2022); Windthorst leads all-time series 29-11-1.
Players to watch: Windthorst, Brock Belcher (QB, Fr.), Brayden Berend (WR/DB, Sr.), Kolby Teakell (WR/DB, Sr.); Archer City, Laine Hall (RB, Sr.), Landon Smith (QB, Jr.), Kline Mayo (LB, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: The Archer County Showdown remains one of the area’s best rivalries despite Windthorst’s current 14-game win streak in the series. According to research conducted by Archer County News and TRN Sports freelancer Will Edwards, over the previous regular season meetings dating back to 2013, the average margin of victory for the Trojans has been 10 points. If you remove the 55-14 outlier in 2015, that margin shrinks to 6.5 points with Windthorst owning two 1-point wins in 2013 and 2020. The Wildcats’ most recent win in the series came on Oct. 10, 2008, in a 34-7 victory on the road. … The game holds important playoff ramifications for both teams. A win would go a long way to getting the Wildcats into the postseason, while Windthorst hopes to do its part in setting up a district title showdown with Seymour next week.
PigskinPrep.com says: Windthorst by 14.
APPETIZERS
PALO DURO at RIDER
When/where: 4 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium
Live updates: Follow @CoryHogueSports and @Naomi_TRN on X (formerly Twitter). Watch on wfisd.net/youtube. Listen on ROHOSportsNetwork.com.
Records: Palo Duro 3-4, 1-1; Rider 5-2, 2-0.
Last game: Abilene Cooper 28, Palo Duro 21; Rider 34, Abilene Wylie 14
Last meeting: Rider 42, Palo Duro 21 (2022); Rider leads all-time series 7-4.
Players to watch: Palo Duro, Darien Lewis (QB/DB, So.), Ali Hopson (LB, Sr.), William Richmond (DL, Sr.); Rider, Tyrone Morgan (WR/DB, Sr.), Kenji Johnson (RB, Jr.), Jre Donnell (DL, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: Rider is chasing its first district title since 2008, taking a massive step toward that goal with last week’s victory against Abilene Wylie. … Palo Duro was close to still being undefeated but had its fourth-quarter comeback bid against Abilene Cooper fall short, losing 28-21. Rider owns a 42-21 victory against Cooper. … Rider is outscoring its opponents by an average of 31.4 to 16.7. The Rider defense allows 259.3 yards a game and 3.7 yards per rush attempt. Rider’s pass rush has been elite with seniors Jailyn Gibbs (nine) and Jre Donnell (eight) sitting first and second, respectively, in the area with sacks. That duo combined for seven sacks last week.
PigskinPrep.com says: Rider by 27.
HIRSCHI at SNYDER
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Tiger Stadium
Live updates: Listen on network1sports.com/station/hirschihuskies. Watch on NFHSNetwork (Snyder, subscription required).
Records: Hirschi 3-3, 1-0; Snyder 3-5, 0-2.
Last game: Hirschi 27, Graham 26; Graham 49, Snyder 6
Last meeting: Hirschi 56, Snyder 14 (2022); Hirschi leads all-time series 1-0.
Players to watch: Hirschi, Javian Frazier (RB/DL, Sr.), Jimmell McFalls (QB, Jr.), Reginald Demps (TE/DL, Sr.); Snyder, Easton Stewart (QB, Sr.), Daenin Smith (RB, Jr.), Tony Cagle (OL/DL, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: Hirschi shocked the district and region with a 27-26 victory against Graham two weeks ago. The Huskies had an open week to celebrate the big win and now get back to work against Snyder, which lost to Graham by 43 points last week. … The Huskies are looking to claim a fourth consecutive district title and fifth in the past six seasons, and a victory against Snyder continues them on that path. … Hirschi quarterback Jimmell McFalls has thrown for 1,011 yards and 13 TDs while rushing for 396 yards and three TDs.
PigskinPrep.com says: Hirschi by 15.
FULL MENU
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Friday unless noted. Schedule is subject to change.
Friday, Oct. 20
District 2-5A Division II
Palo Duro at Rider, 4 p.m.
District 4-4A Division I
Burkburnett at WFHS, 8 p.m.
District 3-4A Division II
Hirschi at Snyder, 7 p.m.
Graham at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
District 3-3A Division I
Iowa Park at Vernon, 7 p.m.
Clyde at Bowie, 7 p.m.
District 5-3A Division II
Merkel at Jacksboro, 7 p.m.
District 6-3A Division II
Henrietta at Callisburg
S&S Consolidated at Holliday
City View at Valley View
District 4-2A Division I
Hawley at Olney, 7 p.m.
District 6-2A Division I
Nocona at Tioga
District 2-2A Division II
Quanah at Shamrock, 7 p.m.
District 7-2A Division II
Petrolia at Munday, 7 p.m.
Haskell at Seymour, 7 p.m.
Windthorst at Archer City, 7 p.m.
District 4-A Division I
Knox City at Northside
District 9-A Division I
Perrin-Whitt at Bryson
District 6-A Division II
Benjamin at Harrold
Paducah at Chillicothe
District 7-A Division II
Throckmorton at Woodson
District 8-A Division II
Gold-Burg at Forestburg
Strawn at Newcastle
TAPPS
District 1 Division III
Wichita Christian at Lubbock Christ the King, TBD
Open: Electra, Crowell
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: WFHS-Burkburnett, Archer City-Windthorst high school football previews
