Matt Strasen / Amarillo Globe-News Canadian's Ryan Alexander, left, and Brandon Robinson - starters on the Wildcats' state championship teams in 2007 and '08 - display the trophies the school received. With the two seniors leading the way, Canadian will attempt to win its third consecutive title today and join Amarillo High (1934-36) as the only area schools to win three straight crowns.

The Canadian Wildcats will try to become only the second area football team to win three consecutive state championships when they meet the Goldthwaite Eagles at 5 p.m. today in Lubbock's Jones AT&T Stadium.

If the Wildcats are able to pull off the three-peat, they will join Amarillo High (1934-36) as the only team to win three straight titles.

Since 1936, the only area schools to win back-to-back state football titles are Dumas (1961-62) and Canadian, which won the Class 2A Division II title in 2007 and the 1A Division I crown a year ago.

The only other area schools with three state football championships are Wheeler (1977, 1979, 1987) and Stratford (2000, 2005, 2008). Amarillo High is the only area school with more than three - the Sandies added a fourth in 1940.

Canadian has won 13 straight playoff games. In 2007, the Wildcats won six postseason games by an average of 13.5 points. Last year, their four playoff wins were by an average of 37.5 points, and their three wins this season have been by an average of 33.3 points. That makes their average playoff win over the past three seasons by 25.5 points.

The Wildcats began this season with two returning starters on offense and one on defense.

''That's been the great thing about this team,'' Wildcats head coach Kyle Lynch said. ''We graduated more than 20 seniors from last year's championship team.

''This year we had so many new players, we really didn't know what to expect in the beginning. We struggled early but improved every week.

''These players have been great, and now it's their time to try and get it done again.''

Wildcats senior quarterback Brandon Robinson said the team's District 1-1A win at Stratford on Oct. 16 was probably the turning point.

''It gave us a lot of confidence to win against a team as good as Stratford, and on the road,'' he said. ''Since then, we've continued to improve, and that has been the key.

''Last year we were supposed to win in many people's eyes because of the 2007 team. This year we took on more of an underdog role early, and it made us work that much harder.''

Today's matchup features teams with different offensive styles. It's the no-huddle, fast-paced, spread offense of Canadian vs. the wishbone running style of Goldthwaite.

''They are a very disciplined team on both sides of the ball,'' Goldthwaite head coach Gary Proffitt said of Canadian. ''We've played a couple of teams that run a similar offense, but probably none that is as effective.

''The thing that impresses you most about Canadian is how balanced they are between the run and pass. It's tough to defend them.''

Canadian has rushed for 2,935 yards while throwing for 2,962 this season. Robinson has accounted for 3,646 yards total offense and 48 touchdowns. He has thrown for 2,824 and 31 TDs while rushing for 822 and 17 TDs.

Goldthwaite has rushed for 4,446 yards this season, averaging 317.5 per game. Jonathan Williams has 1,864 yards and 17 TDs, while James Harden has 1,412 with 18 TDs.

If the Wildcats are to have success on offense, they will have to do so against a team that has allowed just 7.4 points per game and has shut out its past three playoff opponents. The Eagles, in fact, have eight shutouts this season.

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Quest for Three-peat

# The Game: Canadian Wildcats (12-1) vs. Goldthwaite Eagles (14-0) for the Class 1A Division I state championship, 5 p.m. today, Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock.

# Online: Follow the game with live blogs from Amarillo Globe-News sports editor Lance Lahnert and sports writer Lee Passmore on amarillo.com.

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How they got here

Canadian Wildcats (12-1)

Date Opponent Score

Aug. 28 River Road 35-25

Sept. 4 Abernathy 35-26

Sept. 11 Woodward, Okla. 43-21

Sept. 18 at Shamrock 54-6

Sept. 25 at Perryton 35-51

Oct. 9 at West Texas 63-7

Oct. 16 at Stratford 35-28

Oct. 23 Booker 69-0

Oct. 30 at Sunray 34-28 (OT)

Nov. 6 Gruver 65-14

Regional

Nov. 20 Wellington 48-31

Quarterfinals

Nov. 28 Olton 55-7

(Semifinals)

Dec. 5 Haskell 42-7

Goldthwaite Eagles (14-0)

Date Opponent Score

Aug. 28 Collinsville 34-0

Sept. 4 at Hamilton 41-0

Sept. 11 San Saba 27-7

Sept. 18 at Mason 13-6

Sept. 25 Merkel 42-0

Oct. 2 at Mart 21-17

Oct. 16 at Chilton 38-30

Oct. 23 Valley Mills 40-0

Oct. 30 at Bosqueville 37-22

Nov. 6 Meridian 35-0

Bidistrict

Nov. 13 Thorndale 34-21

Regional

Nov. 20 Shiner 23-0

Quarterfinals

Nov. 27 Junction 40-0

Semifinals

Dec. 5 Joaquin 34-0

Probable starters

Canadian

OFFENSE

Pos. Player Wt. Yr.

QB Brandon Robinson 190 Sr.

RB Braden Hudson 170 So.

Rec. Bo Albin 165 Jr.

Rec. Isaac Lewis 155 So.

Rec. Jacob Ramirez 165 Jr.

Rec. Parris Robinson 170 Jr.

C Randy Acosta 190 Sr.

G Ryan Alexander 230 Jr.

G John Haley 205 Sr.

T Kade Yarnold 220 Sr.

T Taylor Chappell 275 Jr.

PK Saul Reyes 150 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos. Player Wt. Yr.

DL Taylor Chappell 275 Jr.

DL Ryan Alexander 230 Jr.

DL Carl Lackey 285 Jr.

LB Braden Hudson 170 So.

LB Randy Acosta 190 Sr.

LB Colton Cates 170 So.

OLB Bo Albin 165 Jr.

OLB Saul Reyes 150 Sr.

CB Jacob Ramirez 165 Jr.

CB Austen Covin 150 Sr.

S Chance Walker 155 So.

Punter Will Schafer 155 So.

Goldthwaite

OFFENSE

Pos. Player Wt. Yr.

QB Tyler Horton 160 So.

RB Jonathon Williams 160 Jr.

RB James Harden 175 Jr.

FB Cagan Smith 170 Jr.

TE Garrett Schwartz 170 Sr.

TE Willie Balencia 210 Sr.

C Tac Stewart 220 Sr.

G Keifer Wilson 160 Jr.

G Colton Mitchell 185 So.

T Brayden Tiemann 210 Sr.

T Sergio Vasquez 280 So.

PK Luis Arredondo 175 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos. Player Wt. Yr.

E Cagan Smith 170 Jr.

T Brayden Tiemann 210 Sr.

T Dylan Parrish 175 Jr.

E Willie Balencia 210 Sr.

LB Hunter Melton 175 Jr.

LB Keifer Wilson 160 Jr.

LB Colton Mitchell 185 So.

LB James Harden 175 Jr.

DB Tyler Horton 160 So.

CB Garrett Schwartz 170 Sr.

CB Jonathon Williams 160 Jr.

Punter Tyler Horton 160 So.