2026 Countdown to Kickoff: West Plains Wolves

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - In just four short years, the West Plains Wolves have done what takes most high school football programs decades to accomplish. They didn’t just build a team; they constructed a Texas Panhandle powerhouse.

Coming off an spectacular 12-2 campaign in 2025, which included an undefeated 5-0 run to a District 2-4A Division I championship and a trip to the Regional Finals, the Wolves are entering the 2026 season facing their most significant transition yet.

This off-season, founding head coach Adam Cummings, who built a formidable 42-13 multi-season record at the school, stepped down to transition into an executive administration role within Canyon ISD.

In addition, West Plains graduated a monumental senior class of “founding fathers”, four-year starters who built the program from its infancy.

But if opponents expect a drop-off, they don’t know the standard that has been established.

Sidelined in Camo: Lofton Takes the Reins

Stepping into the head coaching vacancy is a face the roster knows intimately. Jeff Lofton, the program’s associate head coach for its entire four-year history, has officially taken the helm.

For Lofton, the transition from associate head coach to the top spot has been as smooth as a handoff on a sweep.

“It’s been seamless, as seamless as possible, because all our coordinators are in place and all our coaching staff is here,” Lofton said. “They’re the greatest staff in Texas. I wouldn’t want anybody else coaching them. I’ve trusted them to coach two of my kids already. Just having those guys stick around... it’s been great because we’ve just continued to roll with the standard.”

While his role is new, Lofton’s competitive fire remains unchanged.

Standing on the sidelines, he admits that the urge to strap on pads and join his players hasn’t faded with time.

“From the coaching side, it hasn’t changed from the playing side of me,” Lofton laughed. “I tell them every day just about that I would trade this whistle in for their helmet in a heartbeat. I probably wouldn’t do quite as good anymore, but I think I could go at least a series. It’s exciting. I get nervous before practice, just like you get nervous before games.”

Grooming the Next Wave

With stars like Reid Macon gone, the spotlight shifts to a young but immensely hungry roster.

Taking over at quarterback is Timber Russell, the younger brother of star running back Slade Russell.

On defense, All-State linebacker Cash Lofton, who racked up a staggering 143 tackles last season, returns to anchor the middle.

While outsiders wonder how West Plains will replace its historic graduating class, Lofton emphasizes that the program’s depth has been engineered for this exact moment.

“You know that those guys that are your leaders each year... they’re not going to be there forever,” Lofton explained. “So the process has been, as those guys are going... we’re grooming the young ones to take over. They always, by the time that they’re the guy, are chomping at the bit to lead the team.”

That preparation has kept the program insulated from outside expectations. Despite the target on their backs, the Wolves remain fiercely locked into their day-to-day preparation.

“We’re process-driven over result-driven,” Lofton noted. “That’s a Nick Saban thing. That’s something that we’ve always harped on here is: don’t worry about the end result. That’s going to come if we focus enough on the process.”

A Player’s Perspective: “Back Playing Little League”

For returning senior running back Slade Russell, who returns to anchor the offense after an explosive 2,000-yard, 10-touchdown junior season, the pressure of keeping the program’s dynasty alive feels more like a privilege.

“It honestly feels like I’m back playing like little league,” Russell said. “It’s just fun out here, man. It’s not like anything I’m too worried about.”

With a largely inexperienced squad around him, Russell has embraced his role as a locker-room mentor to ensure the young Wolves get up to varsity speed quickly.

“It feels like something I’m going to have to try to accomplish because, honestly, we’re all young,” Russell said of his senior leadership role. “We all really don’t have much experience, so it’s just something that I have to bring to the table and kind of like coach them up on.”

He is also incredibly confident in Coach Lofton’s leadership, noting that having the veteran associate head coach step up has kept the locker room stable.

“It’s honestly pretty cool, man,” Russell said. “Being in from eighth grade, watching Coach Lofton on the sidelines, just seeing how energetic he was... it’s been awesome. It really hasn’t felt like anything’s changed, honestly. We’ve just been kind of rolling, moving forward like how we always do.”

That continuity has fostered an undeniable bond among the current starting lineup, many of whom have waited years for their chance to shine together.

“Just playing with all my guys this year, man,” Russell said. “It feels like I haven’t played with these guys really since eighth grade. So it’s just going to be fun. I feel like we all got the chemistry, so it’s going to be exciting to see what we got. To represent West Plains on Friday nights... it’s everything to me, it’s honestly kind of been like a dream of mine.”

What to Expect on Friday Nights

When the Wolves take the field to open the season, the guys on the field might be different, but Coach Lofton promises the identity of West Plains football will remain identical to the relentless teams of years past.

“A continuation,” Lofton stated. “Hard-nosed, hard-working kids who have a high football IQ and want to fly around and be relentless.”

2026 West Plains football Schedule

*denotes district games

Copyright 2026 KFDA. All rights reserved.