Pete’s Pigskin Preview: Idalou Wildcats

IDALOU, Texas (KCBD) -With an 0-2 start, 2025 first appeared to be an off-year for Idalou. However, the Wildcats would then go on an 10-2 run on their way to the regional finals. Their signature wins were beating Shallowater 45-20, a 42-7 win over Littlefield followed by a 41-6 trouncing of Slaton which awarded them the district title.

During their playoff run, they dominated Dimmitt 49-7, San Angelo Grape Creek 59-12, and exacted revenge over Canadian 24-17. In the state quarterfinals, the Wildcats fell to eventual state champion Wall, who was also the only team to beat them during that stretch. Plenty of Wildcats from last year are primed to do it again.

“I think we have a lot of experience. We have a strong senior class, we’re in a really good place with seniors,” said head coach Clay White. “Anytime you get your oldest kids in your program and you get a lot of them, that’s a good place to be in any football program. That’s what we have this year at every position.”

Even with the No. 4 preseason ranking in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, Coach White tells his players to remain focused on the next game ahead.

“We try to ignore all that. The rankings and publications and all that stuff is outside of our control. All we can do is show up and control what we can control and be excited about the guys we have out here,” he said. “We’re very grateful for the group of seniors that left us and we know we got big shoes to fill.”

Key returners include: Cooper Hammock-Wilson, Carter Haralson, Jude Heard, AJ Huddleston, Kole Lutrick, Hunter McClendon, Alex Mendez, Ceasar Moreno, Peytan Moyers, JT Phillips, and Jose Rodriguez.

Pete’s Pigskin Previews are sponsored by Grid Iron Bells.

2026 schedule is listed below. Kickoff times set for 7 p.m.

• 8/28 Sweetwater
• 9/4 @ Monahans
• 9/11 Levelland
• 9/18 @ Fort Stockton
• 9/25 @ Shallowater
• 10/2 Vernon
• 10/9 @ Roosevelt*
• 10/16 Littlefield*
• 10/23 @ Muleshoe*
• 10/30 BYE
• 11/6 Slaton*