Shepherd opens season with win

The defensive effort for the Shepherd Pirates held a very good New Waverly team to only 6 points for the night. Photos by Charles Ballard

By Charles Ballard
SJNT correspondent

SHEPHERD — The Shepherd Pirates braved the heat and the New Waverly Bulldogs on Friday to post a 23-6 win.

New Waverly had major problems with penalties at the start of the game, costing the Dogs major points. However, the Pirates maintained their composure and managed to force the Dogs to have to kick on fourth-and-long settings.

The Pirates are enjoying a very good quarterback in Landen Dellinger, and junior Preston Stephens looks to have a fantastic season as he scored two of the TDs in the first half without any trouble.

The first quarter ended scoreless, but the Pirates were knocking on the goal line door; on the first play of the second quarter the Pirates pushed the first TD through the goal post. A Pirate interception led to the next score by the Pirates, who also nailed the two-point conversion.

Related Articles

County wins grant to help protect citizens, property from natural disasters

Tarkington takes last game against Shepherd 15-11

It was not until the fourth quarter that the scoreboard got any more action, when Shepherd posted another TD and 2-point conversion. New Waverly managed to post its lone TD in the fourth; the PAT failed, and the Pirates walked away with a win.

Shepherd posted 382 yards rushing, and Preston Stephens had 26 carries for 232 yards with 3 TDs.  Javaris Marsh contributed 9 carries for 96 yards, and Hunter Kyle had 5 carries for 44 yards.

Coldspring

The Trojans steamrolled Liberty on Friday, downing the Panthers 36-9 for a season-opening win.

Coldspring held Liberty to a lone safety in the first half while scoring 22 points. In the second half, the Panthers logged a TD in the third, while the Trojans logged 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Coldspring next faces off against Splendora on Friday.