CANADIAN, TEXAS -- The Panhandle is home to a rare athlete, one who has taken part in football at the top of the high school ladder. Ryan Alexander doesn't know what it's like not to play in a state championship game. In his three years at Canadian, that's all he's done. Played three won two.

"You hope and you pray about what will happen, and it just kind of happens. It's kind of surreal really it's going to be a big bummer when I leave Canadian regardless of where I go, I'm always going to miss playing here with my buddies and stuff."

His coaches say it's his hard work and commitment day in and day out that has made him one of the best to come through the program. He was a leader even before he hit high school.

"I remember when he was in 7th grade I would help him come up with workouts and things he could do, you don't see that very often with kids that age," said Chris Koetting, Canadian Head Coach.

Ryan says that he doesn't know how to give anything besides his best.

"If I didn't work as hard as I can it just would eat at me if I know I didn't do my best, so I make sure I do all I can do."

Even though he's won two state championships, and has had an amazing career most high school kids only dream of, he's still hungry for another ring.

"I don't think of anything else. All I want to do is win state this year, this is it, we want it so bad it's not even right how bad we want it."

The Wildcats will travel to River Road for their first game this season on August 27th.