San Jacinto County Sports

Write a comment

Cadyn Barton (No. 9) and Luke Monroe (No. 8) getting ready for the Huntington Red Devils. Noah Vercher (No. 5), junior running back and defensive specialist, grabs Elijah Mansfield before he can get a first down. Photos by Charles Ballard

By Charles Ballard
SJNT correspondent

COLDSPRING — The Coldspring Trojans came back from a disappointing loss to post a 40-0 win over the Huntington Red Devils on Friday to open district play.

The Trojans were on the scoreboard in just a matter of minutes, setting the tempo for the entire game; with 9:10 on the clock, the Trojans posted the first of 6 TDs of the night.

The defense held the Red Devils to 3-and-out, creating more opportunities for the offense, as the Trojans scored again 4 minutes later. Then again with 3:12 on the clock, Coldspring scored again, sending the game into the second with the Trojans leading 20-0.

With 7:14 on the clock in the second quarter the Trojans add another 6 points to their score, making it 26-0.

The Trojans managed to hold the Red Devils to only a few first downs.

The team posted a total of 342 yards on offensive on 37 Plays; total rushing yards for the night was 305 yards. Tyga Parker led the team with 174 yards on 12 carries, followed by K.J. Harden with 73 yards on 13 carries, and Cookie McGowen with 27 yards on 5 carries.

Total passing yardage was 37; Harden caught 1 for 27 yards; Dirk Daigle pulled in 1 for 10 yards; and quarterback Luke Monroe went 2-for-2 for 37.

Shepherd

The Shepherd Pirates rallied to a 32-26 over the Crockett Bulldogs on Friday.

Head Coach Miles Robison said the Pirates started the game down 20-0, but the team kept fighting.

“We made some good adjustments at halftime and scored 16 points in the fourth quarter,” he said.

On offense, the line did a great job, which allowed H.D. Green to run for 133 yards and 2 TDs. Also contributing were Preston Stephens, who had 136 yards rushing and 2 TDs.

Defensively, the Pirates were led by Sheldon Ferguson and Alberto Tovar, and the defensive line took to the field in the second half and dominated and swarmed to the ball.

“It was a great team effort and our kids showed a lot of character by not shutting it down early,” Robison said.

Write a comment

Cody Everett (No. 15) and Tate Stamper (No. 30) haul down Kade Pouncy (No. 4) of the Longhorns during the first half of the Coldspring-Hampshire game on Friday. Odis Bogany (No. 20), of the Coldspring Trojans tackles Cade Craigen (No. 3) of the Longhorns midair during the Coldspring-Hampshire game on Friday. Photos by Charles Ballard

By Charles Ballard
SJNT correspondent

HAMSHIRE — The Coldspring Trojans traveled almost to Louisiana to bring home a 42-12 loss against Hamshire-Fannett on Friday.

The opening kick was the highlight of the game as Luke Monroe received the ball and ran 95 yards up the home-field sideline for the first score of the game. However the point after failed because of a fumble, so COCISD held its only lead.

Not long after, the Longhorns marched downfield for a TD and managed to center punch the ball through the uprights. The Longhorns then recovered a fumbled punt attempt in the Trojans end zone for 14-6 advantage.
Coldspring managed to score one more time in the second quarter.

Hamshire went on to score 14 more points in second half while leaving the Trojans scoreless.

Next up will be Corrigan-Camden, at home, on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Luke Monroe went 3-for-3 for 25 yards in passing, the bulk of which ended up in Easton Dean’s hands, who had 20 yards receiving.

Dean also had 34 yards in 18 carries; and Tiger Parker added 133 yards in 14 carries.

Shepherd

ORANGEFIELD — The Pirates move to 1-2 after Friday’s 48-28 loss Orangefield.

Head Coach Miles Robison said Orangefield is a very good football team, but mistakes on Shepherd’s part didn’t help.

“We had some penalties early on that put us in a hole offensively,” he said. “You can’t make mistakes and beat quality football teams like them. I thought our kids played physical all night. We made a run late in the game but had a few calls that didn’t go our way.”

Robison said the team needs to eliminate turnovers and improve on special teams.

Next up is Homecoming vs. Hempstead on Friday at 7:30 p.m. 

Offensive leaders include H.D. Green with 21 carries for 109 yards and 1 TD; Preston Stephens with 13 carries for 90 yards and 2 TDs; Gage Murphy with 5 carries for 42 yards; and Tanner Lacey with 2 carries for 20 yards and 1 TD.

Write a comment

The Pirates show a lot of power during the first game of the ’22 season. The Trojans Defense was on high alert and blocked Cat passes all night long. Photos by Charles Ballard

By Charlie Ballard
SJNT correspondent

COLDSPRING — The Splendora Wildcats did not have an answer for the Trojan offense and speed, and ended up losing 34-7 on Friday.

The Trojans won the opening toss, and managed to keep that streak going most of the night.

The Cats managed to post a couple of first downs on the opening kickoff, but a fumble and a recovery by the Trojans managed to set up the first score for the Trojans. Easton Dean took a hand-off from Luke Monroe and got the Trojans in excellent field position.

Deep in the first quarter the Trojans posted the first points with just seconds on the clock, and Karson Clark center punched the ball through the upright for the point after touchdown. The pattern was the same in the second, as the Trojans scored again with 41 seconds left in the half.

After the half the Trojans fully took control of the game, while the Wildcats could only manage one score, which came in the third.
The Trojans posted 278 offensive yards for the night, and Luke Monroe had a 100 percent passing rate, going 3-for-3 for 77 yards. Jayden Sparks had 53 yards receiving, and Dirk Daigle had 24 yards and 2-for-2in catches.

Total rushing yards posted were 201, and Dean led with 143 yards on 19 carries. Tiger Parker had 25 yards on 5 carries, and K.J. Harden had 25 yards on 9 carries. Monroe also returned a kickoff for 82 yards and a TD.
The next game will be against Hamshire-Fannett in Hamshire at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Hampshire posted 41 points against East Chambers last week, so it should be a great game to watch.

Shepherd

SHEPHERD — The Pirates move to 1-1 on the season after Friday’s 30-14 win over Tarkington.

The lead in the game swapped each quarter, but a 16-point third for the Pirates was one the Longhorns could not match, giving the game to Shepherd.

Head Coach Miles Robison said Tarkington played well and controlled the clock most of the first half.

“I think we adjusted defensively at half time to make some big stops,” he said. “Our offense had some drives that stalled out early on, but we started executing better which resulted in TDs the second half.”

Defensively, Sheldon Ferguson, Matthew Welsh, Roman Gonzalez and Hayden Washburn played big.

Offensively Gage Murphy, with one TD, and Tanner Lacey had big games at running back. H.D. Green had three TDs rushing.

Jaylon Bradford (No. 22), middle linebacker for the Coldspring Trojans, hauls down a loose Wildcat during the Friday night football game. Easton Dean (No. 10) finds and opening in the secondary of the Splendora Wildcats Defense and carries the ball for another first down.

Write a comment

Shepherd Pirate Defense stops the New Waverly Bulldogs in the second quarter of the first non-district game of ’22 season. Photo by Charles Ballard

By Charlie Ballard
SJNT correspondent

SHEPHERD — The Pirates fought a hard game, but during the last quarter the New Waverly Bulldogs managed to post 44 points to come away with the win.

The Pirates lost 44-32 in the non-district game — the first of the 2022 season. Shepherd looked good, but a few mistakes made the difference in the game.

The New Waverly quarterback was firing bullets all night, and the Pirates just could not contain the pass. They did manage to contain the rushing game fairly well.

Pirate H.D. Green had 20 carries totaling 174 yards, with two TDs rushing and one passing. Preston Stephens had 14 carries for 80 yards. Tanner Lacey had eight carries for 38 yards, and Shepherd posted 315 total yards.

Defensively, Green had two solo tackles while Gage Murphy had three. S. Phillips had seven tackles with one assist.

Next up will be Tarkington at Home on Sept. 9 at 730.