Four wins might not seem like much. But for Thomas Jefferson, those 2024 victories — one of which was awarded retroactively by forfeit — matched its total from the past seven years combined and resulted in the team’s best season in almost a decade.
Three of those triumphs came against UIL opponents, something the Patriots hadn’t achieved since 2017. Player participation and fan engagement showed an uptick, too.
The Patriots will look to continue that progression in their third year under veteran head coach Bobby Estes. They will need to bolster an offense that averaged just 15 points per game, which is still an improvement over the prior season, when the Patriots were shut out seven times.
Although positions will need to be ironed out, there is returning talent on both sides of the scrimmage, including Nehemiah Alexander, Aaron Oliva, and Latavian Williams.
Trinity Christian
New head coach Trey Haverty, a former longtime college assistant, takes over for Steve Hayes, who is now the school’s athletic director.
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Haverty will look to jump-start a program that has struggled to break through while playing in the most challenging TAPPS district in the state. The Trojans were 3-8 last year and dropped seven of their last eight games, most by lopsided margins.
TCA should benefit from the return of starting quarterback Hunter Flatt and leading receiver Chase Griffin, along with size up front with Kieffer Barclay, Collin Kilgore, and Aiden Coppage. However, the defense allowed 41.6 points per game.
Shelton
Having posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in decades, the Chargers now aim to stay on track for sustained success, and perhaps a TAPPS postseason breakthrough.
Shelton returns quarterback Heston Dios but must still replace most of the other key players in a run-based offensive attack that averaged 38.4 points per game.
Several starters will play on both sides of scrimmage for third-year coach Ed Barry, including linemen Anthony Coppolino and Ryder Wiedenbaker.
