STINNET, Texas (KFDA) – Hunter Ashley enters his first season as West Texas High head football coach following a program that went 14-1 and reached the state semifinals last fall, with a new staff and a new identity built around physicality.<\/p>\n
Ashley said the program will look different under his leadership, but the work ethic that drove last year\u2019s success will remain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe season they had last year was tremendous. I think it really reinvigorated the community pride that Stinnett\u2019s kind of known for,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be different. I\u2019m different than what was here. But one thing that will remain the same \u2014 that team won a lot of games because they worked hard and did things the right way. And we\u2019re going to continue doing that here in Stinnett.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team identity<\/p>\n
Ashley said physicality will define how the Comanches play on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk a lot about physicality. We want to be known as a physical team,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a really tough schedule and we want people to know when they play the Comanches that they\u2019re in for it all night long.\u201d<\/p>\n
New leaders stepping up<\/p>\n
Ashley said the departure of key seniors has created opportunities for younger players to take on larger roles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s given our guys a unique opportunity to step into a role that they may not have had to do last year,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cThe guys that make the other people around them better, that are able to hold their peers to a high standard \u2014 that\u2019s a difficult thing for a high school kid to do. And when those guys are able to hold themselves to the standards that we set forth as coaches, that\u2019s when you can have a really special team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Handling the pressure<\/p>\n
Ashley said the expectations that come with last year\u2019s success are something the program embraces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat pressure that we feel is a privilege. There\u2019s communities in our state that don\u2019t value athletics and football the way the people in Stinnett do,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cWe\u2019re a process-oriented team. It\u2019s not always about worrying about the end goal. It\u2019s about figuring out what do I need to do to prepare myself to earn that end goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Message to fans<\/p>\n
Ashley said the community can expect an aggressive brand of football from the Comanches this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur fans ought to expect to see a physical brand of football. Our community deserves it,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cThis is a very prideful community. It\u2019s a very small town. The school is the town.\u201d<\/p>\n
2026 West Texas High football Schedule<\/p>\n
*denotes district game<\/p>\n
OpponentDatevs. TuliaAug. 28@ ShamrockSept. 4vs. GuymonSept. 11@ WheelerSept. 18vs. FritchSept. 25@ RopesOct. 1vs. Bovina *Oct. 9@ Vega *Oct. 16OpenOct. 23vs. Gruver *Oct. 30@ Stratford *Nov. 6<\/p>\n
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