Owls secure historic win
Examiner photo by Carter Benton Pedro Martinez recovers a Trinity fumble to set up the Owls second of four first-quarter scores. The Owls beat the Tigers 58-6.
ANDERSON – Anderson-Shiro notched a historic win surpassing their previous single-season win total of eight. The Owls picked up their ninth win Nov. 3, a 58-6 win over the Trinity Tigers on senior night at Owl Stadium to close out district play.
Anderson-Shiro (9-1, 5-1) finish in second place in District 123A Division 2. The Owls are looking for another historic win Friday, Nov. 10, in the Bi-District Round of the playoffs. A win would mark the first Bi-District Championship for the Owls.
Feathers will fly as the Owls face-off against the New Diana Eagles (7-2, 4-2) at Crockett High School. The Eagles finished third in District 11-3A Division 2. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
Seniors in band, cheer, sports medicine and football were honored in an emotion mid-field ceremony along with their loved one prior to the game.
The Owls went to work shortly after the ceremony scoring four first-quarter touchdowns. Quarterback Connor Daley called his own number and scampered over 50 yards on the first play from scrimmage to take a 6-0 lead.
Following a Pedro Martinez fumble recovery, Daley connected with Kagan Stephens for a 12-yard touchdown throw. Senior Jarvis Haynes ran in the conversion.
After a defensive stop, Haynes kept the Owls rolling with an 8-yard run, his first of three rushing scores. He also ran in the conversion. At the 2:49 mark of the opening quarter, Haynes leaped a Tiger defender at the goal line for another 8-yard score. Ta’Colby Calhoun rushed for the conversion to give the Owls a 30-0 lead.
Haynes finalized the first-half scoring hustling in from the 7-yard line. Pierce Goodwin made a great catch to add the conversion. The Owls led 38-0.
Trinity’s lone spark of the game was returning the opening kick of the second half for a touchdown. The conversion failed.
Ta’Colton Calhoun carried the rock in for the Owls first score of the second half at the 7:34 mark. Kieran Gill kicked his first extra- point of the season to push the lead to 45-6.
Ta’Colby Calhoun made his presence felt with a touchdown as the quarter expired by getting a touchdown. Zach Baker had several nice runs capped by his first career touchdown. Gill connected on his second extra-point of the game to close the scoring 58-6.
Historic season by the numbers • The Owls picked up their ninth regular season win, most in school history.
• Senior Jarvis Haynes capped a stellar regular season with 1,027 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 two-point conversions. He is in rare but familiar company. He joins his brother Woody Haynes as a 1,000-plus yard rusher.
• Connor Daley passed for 1,316 yards with 18 passing touchdowns, 377 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
The Owl Defense pitched three shutouts and only allowed 12 total touchdowns. They also forced 32 turnovers (19 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries) on the season.
After the game, a very excited, and Gatorade-soaked Owl Head Coach Brad Hodges, spent a few minutes reflecting on the record-breaking season. “I am just so proud of this group of play ers and coaches,” he said. “They put in a lot of hard work to get here. This was a real team effort.”
Hodges quickly turned his attention to upcoming playoff game, “Our season continues next week, and we have a lot of work left to do.”
If you can’t make it to Crockett for Anderson-Shiro’s Bi-District matchup against New Diana, follow the Navasota Examiner Sports Facebook page for live scoring updates and short videos.