Season Outlook
Amarillo High football coach Chad Dunnam enters his ninth year at the helm, a streak marked by a remarkable consistency: the team has qualified for the playoffs every season he has been at the helm. After a challenging 2025 campaign that ended 2-9 overall and 2-4 in District 2-5A Division I, Dunnam is focused on restoring the program’s identity, starting with a fortified defense.
The defensive unit returns several standout performers, giving the coaching staff a solid foundation on which to build. Senior wide receiver/defensive back Creed Cavalier, who logged 90 tackles and three interceptions last season, is slated to be a three‑year starter and will anchor the secondary. Joining him are fellow seniors Grant Ladd, a 6‑foot‑4 offensive lineman, and Oliver Crinella, a 6‑foot‑1 defensive lineman who recorded 62 tackles and 6.5 sacks in the previous year.
Key Players to Watch
Cavalier’s blend of size and playmaking ability makes him a dual threat on both sides of the ball, while Ladd’s experience and physical presence provide stability to the offensive line. Crinella’s pass‑rushing prowess adds a disruptive element that opposing quarterbacks will have to contend with. Together, the trio represents the core of a defense that has never missed the playoffs under Dunnam’s guidance.
Offensively, the team will look to inject new energy into a unit that struggled to find rhythm in 2025. Coach Dunnam has emphasized creativity and balance, hoping to capitalize on the returning defensive talent while developing a more dynamic attack.
Opening Matchup
The season kicks off on August 28 at Dick Bivins Stadium, where the Bulldogs will host longtime rivals Palo Duro. The matchup promises to be a litmus test for the Bulldogs’ revamped identity, and a victory would set a positive tone for a schedule that aims to steer the team toward a playoff run.
Beyond the field, longtime sports journalist Kale Steed, founder of Press Pass Sports, continues to chronicled the Bulldogs’ journey. Steed, a multiple award‑winner of the Lone Star Conference Kirk Hill Writer of the Year and THSCA Putt Powell Award for Sports Writer of the Year, provides in‑depth coverage that helps shape community expectations and media narratives around the program.