Wall Hawks to Open Title Defense Ranked No. 6 in State

WALL, TX — Despite losing numerous starters to graduation — and jumping up to Class 3A Division I — the defending state champion Wall Hawks will open the 2026 football season ranked No. 6 in the state.

Wall returns only three starters on each side of the ball from last year’s team that went 16-0 and won the program’s first state title.

The Hawks must replace quarterback Landon York, wide receivers Reid Robertson and Kellan Oliver, running back Brady Neal and four offensive linemen in Reid Ballard, Baine Jenschke, Rylan Scandolari and Will Alldridge.

Wall’s defense lost players like defensive linemen Dylan Sellers, Ben Taylor and Koen Braden, linebackers Jacob Braden and Gavin Sisson, and defensive back Hagyn Barbee.

The Hawks also graduated standout punter Levi King.

Despite all of those losses, Wall has a standout program led by head coach Craig Slaughter, who is 29-2 in his two seasons overseeing the team.

The Hawks return two playmaking wide receivers in Evan Boehle and Jager Thompson, along with offensive lineman Gage Jacoby.

The big question mark is at quarterback, where senior Gunner King will look to fill the shoes of York, who threw for 4,019 yards and 59 touchdowns last year.

In limited action last year, King was 18-of-30 passing for 291 yards and a TD with no interceptions.

Gunner Garza, who showed potential as a backup running back last year, projects to take over as the starter. Last season, he turned 14 carries into 297 yards and three TDs, an average of more than 21 yards per carry.

Mason Steen, Tate Probandt and Andy Higgins are among the new linemen that are candidates to lead the way up front.

Defensively, Wall brings back linebacker Slayton Hallmark and defensive linemen Steen and Kaden McFarden.

Wall also has the luxury of a returning kicker in junior Tyler Klinesmith.

Wall will have a familiar rival to get past in longtime state power Gunter, which also moved up to 3A Division I and is ranked No. 2. The Hawks will also have new roadblocks like No. 1 Columbus, No. 3 Paradise, No. 4 Franklin and No. 5 Sinton.

Other titans in 3A D-I include defending champion Yoakum at No. 8 and runner-up Grandview at No. 11.

Wall’s season begins at home Aug. 28 against Canyon West Plains, one of five games against teams ranked in the Top 10 last year. West Plains is No. 10 in 4A Division I heading into this season.

Other highlight games include Week 2 against 6A La Joya in Leakey, Week 3 at Jim Ned, Week 4 at home against Ozona, Week 5 at home against Greenwood, and Week 6 at private school state power Midland Christian.

Wall’s district schedule begins Week 7 at No. 14 Llano, a state semifinalist from last year. The Hawks’ regular season ends on the road against No. 17 Ingram Moore.