Junction’s Dream Season Ends With Loss to No. 1 Shiner

HUTTO, TX — The Junction Eagles have produced the two winningest seasons in program history the last two years.

Both times, however, those seasons came to an end in the state quarterfinals against Shiner.

The No. 4-ranked Eagles gave the No. 1 Comanches a better game this time, but Shiner pulled away late for a 22-6 win Friday at Memorial Stadium in Hutto.

It was a matchup of two of the best defenses in the state in Class 2A Division II, and that’s what defined the game for much of the night with the score tied 6-6 at halftime.

Shiner took the lead for good with 9:49 left in the third quarter when Jarvis Williams broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play.

The Comanches then put the game away when Williams scored on a 7-yard run with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter.

“I thought our defense did a fantastic job all night,” Junction head coach Scott Freeman said. “Our defensive coaches put together a great plan, and the kids executed well. Shiner’s just good enough that if you miss one assignment, they make you pay, and that happened a couple times tonight.

“Unfortunately, offensively we sputtered at times and in certain situations, but that’s more of a credit to Shiner than anything else.”

Junction lost to Shiner 27-0 last year in a game the Eagles weren’t quite ready for. They simply didn’t have much big-game experience considering they were a two-win team as recently as 2022.

The Eagles brought back a lot of key starters this year, along with Freeman as head coach, and they put together the first 13-win season in program history, following last year’s first 12-win season.

“Proud doesn’t begin to describe it,” Freeman said. “These guys, I’ve been with them since they were seventh- and eighth-graders. I’ve watched them flourish as football players and men. It’s all you can hope for as a head coach. Obviously, we’re hurting. It’s disappointing and not fun right now. But like I told them, this ain’t the worst thing that’s going to happen to you. It feels like it right now, but this is a step into helping you become a man. …

“I’m going to miss those guys. It’s been the most fun I’ve ever had as a football coach. They mean the world to me, and I hope they know that.”

Junction’s season ended with a record of 13-1. Shiner improved to 14-0 and will play No. 5 Mount Enterprise next week in the state semifinals.

Shiner struck quickly Friday to take a 6-0 lead on Quincy Jones' 5-yard TD run just 3:56 into the game.

Junction responded on a 3-yard TD run by Bierschwale with 1:56 left in the first quarter.

That's where the score would remain the rest of the first half in a defensive battle.

Junction couldn't break through offensively the rest of the night — an impressive feat by Shiner's defense an Eagles' offense that was averaging 43 points per game.

Shiner was averaging 46 points per game, but the Comanches were held in check most of the night.

Shiner will continue chasing its fifth state title in program history next week against a Mount Enterprise team led by running back Kaegan Ash, who just set the state's single-season rushing record Friday in a 64-58 win over Bremond. The mark of 4,045 yards had stood for 72 years and was set by Sugar Land's Kenneth Hall. Ash may face his toughest yet against Shiner.

Shiner 22, Junction 6

Junction   6   0   0   0 — 6

Shiner   6   0   8   8 — 22

First Quarter

S - Quincey Jones 5 run (kick blocked), 8:04 remaining

J - Bode Bierschwale 3 run (kick failed), 1:56

Third Quarter

S - Jarvis Williams 45 run (two-point conversion good), 9:59

Fourth Quarter

S - Williams 7 run (two-point conversion good), 8:47