Anna downs Stephenville in Texas high school football playoffs

Coyotes end first half with three-score run in 41-21 win against Stephenville in 4A Division I regional title

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS - Anna used a run of three straight touchdowns to eventually motor its way into its first-ever state semifinals.

Sophomore quarterback Ziondre Williams threw three unanswered touchdown passes in a span of just under six minutes in the second quarter, enabling the Coyotes to break open what had been a close game against Stephenville. 

Anna went on to win, 41-21, in the Class 4A Division I Region II championship Friday night at Birdville ISD Stadium, the first regional championship in program history.

Anna (13-1) moves on to next week's state semifinals against Decatur, which beat Brownwood, 38-35, for the Region I title, also on Friday night.

Williams threw TD passes of 13, 42 and 5 yards in that pivotal three-touchdown scoring barrage in the second quarter as the Coyotes erased a 14-10 deficit.

His first TD throw was set up by an interception from Abram Greer off a tipped pass from teammate CJ Miller, with Greer returning it to the Stephenville 17.

Then from the 13, Williams threw a screen pass to senior receiver Sean Steens, who broke a couple of tackles and dashed into the end zone with 6:44 left until halftime, as Anna went up 17-14.

The Coyotes' defense forced a punt, and Anna took over with excellent field position at the Yellow Jackets' 42. That's when Williams threw a deep pass toward senior receiver Jacob Emmers.

Anna receiver Jacob Emmers

Despite being heavily blanketed by a Stephenville defender, Emmers was able to make an incredible catch along the sideline and walk into the end zone, as Anna built a 24-14 advantage with 5:43 left in the quarter.

Anna forced another punt, and once again, its offense went to work. The Coyotes marched downfield, and with 45 seconds left in the half, it was Williams again finding Emmers on a fade route into the end zone from 5 yards out.

Anna quarterback Ziondre Williams  / Photo by Buck Ringgold

The Jackets did take the second-half kickoff and put together a 15-play drive that took more than half of the third-quarter clock, with Gafford throwing a 20-yard TD to Noah Bullion to cut Anna's lead to 10, 31-21. Stephenville then executed a successful onside kick, with Bullion making the recovery.

However, seconds later, the Coyotes got the ball back by forcing a fumble on a running play. The score remained 31-21 until 5:35 left in the game, when Anna senior kicker Camden Schlicht hit a 25-yard field goal.

Anna then held Stephenville on downs inside the Jackets' 35 with 4:09 left.

Then the Coyotes' defense put the finishing touches on the regional title as Jadun Mason-Davis picked off a pass with 27 seconds left and raced untouched into the end zone from 15 yards out.

Anna players celebrate after the Coyotes' 41-21 win against Stephenville in the Class 4A Division I regional championship game on Dec. 1, 2023

Anna held Stephenville to 261 yards total offense, including just 58 yards on the ground. The Coyotes, meanwhile, amassed 382 total yards.

Williams was 13-of-21 passing for 183 yards and his three second-quarter TDs. Junior tailback Edward Chumley rushed for 102 yards on 16 carries and scored the team's first TD. Emmers caught four passes for 61 yards and two TDs.

The Coyotes jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead. Schlicht connected on a 30-yard field goal; then after the Coyotes recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Chumley sprinted 16 yards into the end zone.

Stephenville (11-3) answered right back with a 16-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard keeper on third-and-goal from quarterback Ryan Gafford.

Then, just like what Anna did on the ensuing kickoff, the Jackets did the same thing on the immediate kickoff, forcing a fumble and making the recovery at the Coyotes' 30. That set up an 8-yard pass from Gafford to Tristian Gentry on the opening play of the second quarter, as Stephenville took its first lead, 14-10.

Stephenville's defense then held on the next series, forcing a field-goal attempt. But the kick went wide left. However, moments later, Greer made his interception off the tipped pass, giving the Coyotes momentum from there the remainder of the first half.

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveTX