The Coldspring Trojans found themselves in the middle of a true “hornets’ nest” on Friday night as they traveled to face the 20th-ranked Hardin Hornets. Hardin came ready to defend their ranking, showing early why they are considered one of the top programs in Class 3A.
With only seconds off the clock, the Hornets struck first, quickly setting the tone in front of their home crowd. But the Trojans refused to back down. Despite facing a high-powered offense and a tough defensive front, Coldspring battled every down, showing grit and determination that kept the game competitive in key moments.
The Hornets jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter, but Coldspring answered in the second. After recovering a Hardin fumble deep in Hornet territory, the Trojans capitalized on the opportunity. Quarterback David Rowe powered through a wall of defenders for a touchdown that put Coldspring on the board, narrowing the score to 21-7.
Although Hardin’s experience and depth eventually carried them to a 41-7 win, the scoreboard didn’t tell the whole story. The Trojans are in the first year of a new coaching staff and playbook, and that kind of transition takes time, discipline, and patience. Each week, the players are showing more chemistry, better execution, and a stronger sense of identity as a team.
Although Hampshire-Fannett walked away with a 37-16 win over the Pirates on Friday, Shepherd hopes to flip the script and make a statement against Silsbee.
Against Hampshire-Fannett, the Pirates showed grit against a top-tier team, rolling up 344 yards of total offense — 217 on the ground and 127 through the air.
Landen Dellinger led the way with 18 carries for 105 yards and 2 TDs and went 5-of-7 passing for 111 yards.
Jacorey Davis added 13 carries for 51 yards, and Marshall Reeves had 9 carries for 41 yards.
Cutter Hues pulled in 2 receptions for 50 yards, showing the Pirates’ growing strength in the air attack.
For the postseason, West Orange-Stark has locked up first place in district with a 4-0 record, but the race for second through fourth remains wide open. Both Silsbee and Hampshire-Fannett sit at 3-1, while Shepherd holds a 2-2 record. That means this Friday’s game between Shepherd and Silsbee could completely shake up the playoff bracket.
If West Orange-Stark beats Hampshire-Fannett and Shepherd defeats Silsbee this Friday, there will be a three-way tie, with those teams battling it out for seeding through tiebreakers. If Silsbee wins, they’ll claim second place, Hampshire will likely take third, and Shepherd will round out the playoff bracket at fourth.
One thing is certain, Friday night’s showdown at Shepherd Stadium will be one to watch.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Shepherd Stadium.
