2026 Countdown to Kickoff: Tascosa Rebels

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - For long-time head coach Ken Plunk and the Tascosa Rebels, the arrival of August means one thing: the grind to perfect the Rebel brand has begun.

Looking Back to Move Forward

The Rebels head into the upcoming campaign following a highly competitive 2025–26 season.

Tascosa finished with an overall record of 7–5, proving their consistency and grit in the highly competitive 5A Classification.

Last year’s campaign was defined by signature moments of dominance and hard-fought resilience.

The Rebels opened the season with a statement 10–0 rivalry shutout against cross-town foe Palo Duro, followed by a mid-season district offensive showcase in a 52–10 blowout over Caprock.

Though the regular season ended on a tough note with a 63–21 loss to Amarillo High, the Rebels proved their postseason mettle. They bounced back immediately in the opening round of the playoffs, capturing a bi-district victory before ultimately being eliminated in the Area Round by undefeated Aledo.

Now, with last year in the rearview mirror, the focus has completely shifted to the future.

Embracing the Summer Grind

Transitioning from the spring offseason to the intense demand of fall camp is never easy, but Coach Plunk is pleased with the athletic foundation laid over the summer.

“We want to get generally more athletic. Just bigger, stronger, faster, more dependable,” Plunk said of the summer focus. “You always have to balance working the skills... balancing those things out to where when they step out here in August, they’re still excited about playing football.”

For the players, that balance means enduring the heat to reap the rewards on Friday nights.

“Two days have been fun. It’s been hot. I’ve been sweating a bunch,” senior wide receiver David Gordon admitted. “Our team looks really good, so I’m excited to see what we can do.”

Senior quarterback Braden Lineman echoed the importance of the physical grind.

“It’s so fun,” Lineman said of the grueling practices. “You just got to make sure you eat right, get sleep and rest and just keep working, grinding through it.”

Navigating Major Offensive Additions

While Tascosa is widely known for its physical, ground-and-pound identity, Coach Plunk teased that some rare changes are coming to the offense this season.

“This is probably the biggest additions that we made in the last decade,” Plunk revealed. “It’s still taught the same way, we’re still going to rep it the same way.”

For a wide receiver in Tascosa’s traditionally run-heavy system, that shift brings both excitement and a familiar responsibility.

“Playing receiver in a Tascosa offense can be a little bit of a difficult task on Friday nights,” Gordon laughed. “I think I’ll take on a good role. I just have to go out there, get my blocks down, because we’re working on trying to throw the ball more. If I can get my blocks down, it’ll definitely help my chances getting the ball thrown to me more.”

Rebuilding the Depth Chart

With a large senior class departing, the Rebels are tasked with replacing key varsity experience. But for players like Gordon and Lineman, stepping into leadership roles has been a natural progression.

“Last year, it was fun. I got to learn from all the seniors,” Gordon said. “Now that it’s my turn, it’s pretty fun... getting to teach all the younger guys how to go. I’m excited for the feeling of Friday Night Lights again.”

Lineman acknowledges that taking the reins of the offense comes with pressure, but he is embracing the challenge.

“It’s definitely nerve-wracking,” Lineman said. “I love that I get to be in this position and be a leader on this team and just do my job and help this team win. It’s been a struggle just getting everyone ready. Trying to be a leader is different, but we’re going to get it done.”

For Coach Plunk, the depth chart is never finalized, and he expects internal competition to push his players to the limit.

“We’ve always been big on... the starting lineup can change at any time,” Plunk stated. “It’s about whoever’s producing the most. We like competition.”

The Non-District Gauntlet

Rather than easing into the year, Plunk is intentional about testing his team early, even if it doesn’t result in a perfect record right out of the gate.

“We like to challenge ourselves in the non-district,” Plunk explained. “Obviously you want to win. There’s never a time you step out on the field that you don’t want to win, but you can go 3-0 and if you didn’t get better, then you’re not successful. You can have a losing record in the non-district, and if you got better and you improved, you accomplished what you like. Ideally, you go 3-0 and you get better along the way.”

No matter who is on the schedule or on the field, the standard for the Rebels remains unchanged.

“I think you can expect more of the same,” Plunk said. “I hope we play good defense. We’re able to control the clock, run the football, act right, all those things... We’re going to be a physical offense, and we’re going to try to lean on the things that kind of are our brand.”

For Tascosa, that brand is built on pride.

“It means everything,” Lineman said of wearing the jersey. “We all take a bunch of pride in what we do out here at Tascosa, and we just love what we do.”

“It feels good to be a Rebel,” Gordon added. “There’s a lot of, like, history behind it, and it’s fun.”

2026 Tascosa football Schedule

*denotes district games

Copyright 2026 KFDA. All rights reserved.