Friday night marked the final week of regular season play for San Jacinto County football, and while both local teams fell to tough opponents, the season was anything but a loss. Both programs showed tremendous growth, pride, and determination, setting the stage for a promising future under new coaching leadership and rising young talent.
In Coldspring, the Trojans and the Anahuac Panthers combined for one of the highest-scoring matchups of the season, a 105-point thriller that kept fans on their feet from start to finish. The scoreboard may have favored Anahuac, 58-47, but the fight and determination of the Trojans were undeniable.
Both offenses traded touchdowns like heavyweight boxers, with each possession bringing fireworks. In the end, it was a matter of clock management, as Anahuac controlled the final minutes to edge out the win.
Despite the loss, Coldspring’s season was filled with positives. Under a new coaching staff and with a brand-new playbook, the Trojans found rhythm late in the season and built a foundation for success. The 2025 Trojans will return with experience, confidence, and a hunger to reclaim their winning ways. As Coach and players alike have said all season, this is just the beginning of a new era of Coldspring football.
Meanwhile, up the road in Shepherd, the Pirates have punched their ticket to the UIL 4A-Division II playoffs, a tremendous milestone for the growing program. The Pirates finished the regular season 2-3 in district play, landing the fourth and final playoff spot in District 9, Region III.
Last week’s hard-fought game against Hampshire-Fannett tested the Pirates’ depth, as injuries kept several key starters off the field. Still, the team battled fiercely, showing grit and unity throughout the matchup. With playoff qualification already secured, the Pirates used the final week against Silsbee to rest their core lineup and give younger players valuable varsity experience.
While Silsbee took the win 48–0, the real victory for Shepherd came in the form of development, both for their starters healing up and for the next generation of Pirates gaining field time.
As the regular season closes, West Orange-Stark tops the district at 5–0, followed by Silsbee (4-1), Hampshire-Fannett (3-2), and Shepherd (2-3), but the standings don’t tell the full story. For San Jacinto County football, this season was one of renewal, resilience, and growth.
The Shepherd Pirates will now move on to the first round of the UIL playoffs, facing Columbia in what promises to be a thrilling postseason debut for a team that’s made history all year long.
