Midland High produced its best sustained fight of the young season Friday, but Amarillo High owned the final decisive possession. Sandies quarterback Hunter Randles escaped pressure and found wide receiver Jebediah “Jeb” Grammer for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:53 remaining, lifting Amarillo to a 17-14 victory Sept. 11 at Astound Broadband Stadium. The loss dropped Midland High to 0-3.

Midland High recovered after Amarillo controlled the opening half​

Randles gave Amarillo a 7-0 lead with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Caden Virden at 8:37 of the first quarter. Kicker Clay Goodrich added a 30-yard field goal in the second. Midland High quarterback Holt Howard scored on a 1-yard run with 3:03 before halftime. His 21-yard completion to wide receiver Frankie McGehee set up the touchdown.

The Bulldogs’ defense preserved the 10-7 halftime margin when defensive back Carson Ham forced a fumble on a short completion and linebacker Ty Roby recovered it at the Midland High 17. All four Midland players are listed on the program’s current varsity roster; the Amarillo scorers were separately checked against the Sandies’ roster.

A blocked kick and one long drive decided the fourth quarter​

Amarillo blocked senior kicker Rylan Marino’s 35-yard field-goal attempt early in the fourth, denying Midland High a chance to tie the game. The Bulldogs recovered. Howard completed a 45-yard pass to wide receiver Walker Campbell, and running back Evan Taylor scored from 2 yards on the next snap. Marino’s extra point put Midland High ahead 14-10 with 8:32 remaining.

Amarillo responded with the possession that decided the game: 14 plays, 75 yards and three third-down conversions. The Sandies overcame a holding penalty before Randles’ touchdown pass to Grammer. Midland High reached midfield on its final possession but turned the ball over on downs.

The numbers show how narrow the margin became​

Howard completed 13 of 30 passes for 175 yards and rushed 17 times for 53 yards and a touchdown. Campbell caught eight passes for 104 yards. Midland High limited Amarillo to 124 passing yards and 132 rushing yards, but the Bulldogs managed only 58 yards on the ground. Amarillo’s long final drive, the blocked field goal and Midland High’s six penalties for 44 yards provided the separation in an otherwise even game.

WHAT TO WATCH​

The Bulldogs showed meaningful defensive improvement, particularly during a third quarter in which Amarillo failed to score. The next step is finishing late possessions on both sides of the ball.

GAME INFORMATION / NEXT UP​

Final: Amarillo High 17, Midland High 14
Date: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Location: Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland
Midland High record: 0-3

Next: Midland High at Bastrop
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18
Location: Bastrop Memorial Stadium, Bastrop