AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - For the 66th all-time meeting, Amarillo High Sandies and Palo Duro Dons football will go head-to-head this Friday.
In 1956, the Amarillo High Sandies and the Palo Duro Dons played their first high school football game against each other, and even to this day, the rivalry is still as fresh as ever.
For Dons head coach Eric Mims, he is so stranger to this game as a coach, player or a spectator.
“My dad played in this game back in the 70s, myself and my brother played in the game, my son’s playing in the game,” says Mims. “Dad used to tell legendary stories about [how] they didn’t care if they beat anybody else, but they weren’t going to lose to Amarillo High, and that’s how serious it was for them back in the 70s.”
While Sandies head coach Chad Dunnam never suited up for one of these teams, he has seen this rivalry unfold on both sides of the ball.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Years ago, I coached at Palo Duro and I was there for seven years, and we played Amarillo High every year,” says Dunnam. “Now that I’m at Amarillo High and having the opportunity to play it on the other side, it’s just as big.”
This season, Amarillo High — led by quarterback Jett Lopez — is unbeaten and averaging 42.3 points per game.
Coach Mims knows the Sandies offense will be a test for his defense.
“Not letting [Lopez] be comfortable in the pocket, whether that’s with D-line stunts or with linebacker blitzes, we just can’t let him sit back there and throw it,” says Mims. “Then our secondary will have to play well, and those guys have done a great job all year long and got to continue to do it on Friday night.
The Dons come in with an average of just over 27 points of offense, but the defense has allowed just 17 points all season, something the Sandies are well aware of.
ADVERTISEMENT
“[Palo Duro’s] playing great defense right now,” says Dunnam. “They’re fast, they’re aggressive, strong, well-coached. You don’t see them from a schematic standpoint making mistakes, and so they give themselves a chance before the ball’s ever snapped and I think that’s a credit to their coaching staff.”
Amarillo High has run the tables for a majority of the meetings with a 42-20-2 all-time record, but Palo Duro snapped a 17-game losing streak last season after their 20-14 win.
Kick-off is set for 7 P.M. CST this Friday at Dick Bivins Stadium.
You can watch the live stream here.
You can watch highlights on Friday night on The Wrap Up here.
Copyright 2025 KFDA. All rights reserved.