Canyon football meets West Plains in playoffs for our Game of the Week

Here's a look at the best regional semifinal high school football playoff games in the Texas Panhandle.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Canyon (8-4, 2-3) vs West Plains (11-1, 5-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Happy State Bank Stadium

For the second time this season, the Wolves and Eagles will square off in Canyon.

This time around, though, there's even more on the line, as the winner earns a spot in the Region I-4A Division I title game. West Plains defeated Canyon 39-10 in District 2-4A Division I competition, but the Eagles are 4-1 over the last month with the group's lone loss coming by one score.

After a 4-1 start to the season, Canyon made a head coaching change prior to district play, replacing Todd Winfrey with Matt Lovorn. The Eagles didn't reach the postseason in 2024, but have rebounded with a strong playoff run this year, reaching the third round for the first time since 2020 with a 31-28 win against Brownwood after beating Ysleta 66-14.

Leading the way for Lovorn's squad is the battery of junior quarterback Brox Hacker and senior wide receiver Bayler Schilling.

In the Eagles' first two playoff games, Hacker has thrown for 496 yards, 8 touchdowns and 4 incompletions — while adding 190 yards rushing and another pair of scores on the ground. Schilling accumulated a combined 309 receiving yards and 5 touchdown catches against Ysleta and Brownwood.

This week, though, the Eagles are tasked with a strong West Plains team that reached the state semifinals last season and has aspirations of making another run deep into the postseason. The Wolves' only loss of the year has come at the hands of defending TAPPS state champion Liberty Christian on the road in overtime.

Adam Cummings' team knocked off El Paso Irvin 85-0 in the first round and took down Lampasas 42-7 in area.

Other games to watch in the Texas Panhandle

Canadian (11-1, 4-0) vs Idalou (9-3, 4-0)

2 p.m. Friday, Dick Bivins Stadium

Last week: Canadian 56, Coahoma 27; Idalou 59, Grape Creek 12

Canadian and Idalou met last season in an epic playoff game that saw Andy Cavalier's squad come out on top. And this year's contest should make for another exciting contest.

Gruver (10-2, 3-1) vs Ropes (11-1, 5-0)

2 p.m. Friday, Happy State Bank Stadium

Last week: Gruver 40, Wink 14; New Home 21, Stamford 20

Like Canadian and Idalou, the Greyhounds and Eagles met in the playoffs last year. Kurt Haberthur's squad came away the win, and the 2025 rematch should make for a fun game.

West Texas (12-0, 5-0) vs New Home (10-2, 4-1)

2 p.m. Friday, Floydada

Last week: West Texas 30, Hawley 26; New Home 21, Stamford 20

The Comanches continued their unbeaten campaign with a victory against a strong Hawley squad and is now one win away from the Region I-2A Division I title game.

Randall (10-2, 4-1) vs Stephenville (12-0, 4-0)

5 p.m. Friday, Snyder

Last week: Stephenville 55, Dumas 7; Randall 24, Burnet 14

The Raiders' defense will have a tough test this week against one of the Lone Star State's top Class 4A programs.

Miami (12-0, 3-0) vs Klondike (12-0, 3-0)

5 p.m. Friday, Snyder

Last week: Miami 58, Sands 57; Klondike 46, Motley County 34

The last 6-man football team standing in the Texas Panhandle takes on another unbeaten squad in what could be a thrilling matchup.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Games of the Week: Canyon football vs West Plains, 5 others to watch