WALL, TX — Stepping into the shoes of a seasoned quarterback is never easy, but doing so the year after said quarterback won a state championship is on another level. That is exactly what faces Wall’s new QB, Gunner King, this season.
King replaces Landon York after the Hawks claimed the first football state championship in school history in 2025.
The senior backed up York over the past two seasons as Wall transitioned into its new spread offense. More pass than run these days, King will have the opportunity to prove his arm talent early against quality opponents.
York threw for 4,019 yards and 59 TDs on 66% passing with seven interceptions in 2025. He was named the Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year by the Texas Sports Writers Association.
That’s a lot of production that needs to be replaced. King is the young man to do that this season.
“Landon was just incredible for two years, state semis his first year, and then a state championship his second year,” King said after practice last week.
The Wall Hawks celebrate their 25-24 win over Newton in the Class 3A Division II state final on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The key differences between York and King lie in their individual strengths. While York was more of a traditional pocket passer and field general, King will be more dynamic with his legs. Anyone capable of playing defensive back has to have speed on their side, and that alone should give King a card in his deck that York rarely showed a season ago.
As a quarterback, King started for multiple Wall teams between seventh and ninth grade before he assumed the backup role to York on varsity.
However, it is not like King has zero varsity experience as a starter. Last season, he made a name for himself on defense. He was a starter in the secondary in the state game and knows a thing or two about high-pressure situations.
“It’s a completely different mindset going from defense to offense,” King said. “You go from that ‘kill everybody’ mentality to cool, calm and collected."
Wall Hawks Football 2025
Playing quarterback comes with its own kind of pressure. Not only does King need to perform, but he needs to lead his team. Head coach Craig Slaughter said that he is not worried about that at all.
“Gunner, he’s extremely respected,” Slaughter said. “Landon was such a great, humble leader. Well, Gunner is that exact same kid. Gunner was a huge part of our defense. ... He is a tremendous, proven player, a tremendous leader.”
When a football player proves time and time again that they can be counted on in pressure situations, others on the team follow suit. King seems to already have that with the other Hawks.
“He's kind of stepping in that next role,” Slaughter continued. “He'll text me and say, ‘Tonight, coach. We need a light on, we’re up here throwing tonight.’ I have nothing to do with that. That's him getting the guys together and working on his game and again just showing his leadership qualities.”
Wall Hawks' Quarterback Gunner King
He will need that leadership and grit heading into 2026, as Wall faces arguably its toughest schedule yet under Slaughter. Wall faces multiple tough opponents this year, including Class 4A Division I's No. 10-ranked team, Canyon West Plains; Class 6A La Joya; an always strong 3A power and rival in Jim Ned; state-ranked 2A D-I Ozona; state-ranked 4A D-I Midland Greenwood; and private school power Midland Christian.
And that's all before district play begins on the road against Llano, a 3A D-I state semifinalist last year.
While the schedule looks daunting, King is a state champion, and it shows.
“We love a challenge here, so we're looking forward to some tougher teams and just seeing what we've got and seeing what we're made of,” King said.
Wall fans will get their first look at their new quarterback when the Hawks open up their state title defense at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, against Canyon West Plains.
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