SHEPHERD — The Shepherd Pirates, standing tall at 6-0, finally met their match Friday night as they hosted one of the most respected and state-ranked football programs in Texas, the West Orange-Stark Mustangs.
While the scoreboard reflected a 42-6 loss, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. The Pirates showed grit, composure, and determination against a well-balanced WO-S team that combined a powerful rushing attack with a sharp passing game.
On defense, Brayden White was relentless, pressuring the Mustang quarterback all night and forcing several incompletions. Weston Hoffart and Eduardo Jaime led the team in tackles, while Michael Weekes joined White in applying heavy pressure with nine quarterback hurries and one sack each.
Offensively, Landen Dellinger continued to shine, grinding out 120 yards on 18 carries and posting Shepherd’s lone touchdown. Ben Coyle added 44 yards on nine carries, showing consistency and toughness against one of the state’s most disciplined defenses.
Looking ahead, Shepherd will travel to Jasper next Friday. The Bulldogs, 0-2 in district after losses to West Orange-Stark (33-0) and Hampshire-Fannett (35-12), will be hungry for a win, but so will the Pirates. Expect a close matchup as Shepherd looks to bounce back with its explosive running game and balanced attack.
The Trojans lost their district tilt against East Chambers 54-6 on Friday.
