ARLINGTON – Three years ago when Anna’s senior class were just freshmen, the football team posted a sub-par 3-7 record. As sophomores, the Coyotes went 7-3.
Then the team went to another level.
The magical run ended on Friday with the program’s first football state championship 26-0 over Tyler Chapel Hill in the Class 4A Division 1 title game at AT&T Stadium.
After going 13-1 in 2022 – Anna followed it up with a 15-1 mark this season.
It was just the school’s second appearance in a state championship game – and first title – for any major team sport – joining the softball team that played in the 4A final during the 2019 season.
The shutout was also the first at state, in any class, since Austin Westlake blanked Denton Guyer in 2019. It was the first shutout in 4A since Atlanta did it against Marlin in 2003.
Running back Edward Chumley was voted offensive game MVP with 102 total yards and three touchdowns, two rushing. CJ Miller was defensive MVP with a game-high 15 tackles along with five solo tackles and 1 1/5 tackles for loss.
Miller wraps up his season with 197 total tackles and 21 1/2 for a loss.
The Chapel Hill Bulldogs (13-3) – making their first state championship appearance since winning the 3A D1 title in 2011 – came into Friday’s contest averaging over 45 points per game.
But it was all Anna at Jerry’s World.
The Coyotes took the opening drive 65 yards – capped by a 6-yard TD run from Chumley. The defense then held the Bulldogs to a three and out and punt. Anna scored on its second possession thanks to a 22-yard field goal by Camden Schlicht that extended the lead to 10-0 with 52 seconds left in the first quarter.
Chapel Hill’s next three drives also ended in punts and by that time, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing 24-0. Jabari Finnie took a CH punt and returned it 74 yards for Anna to give the Coyotes first and goal at the 8.
Chumley punched it in from the 2 and Anna led 17-0 in the second quarter.
Anna’s next drive began at the CH 38 and four plays later QB Ziondre Williams hit Chumley on a screen that resulted in a 13-yard score to make it 24-0 with 5:25 left on the clock.
The next Chapel Hill drive was going to end in a punt.
Starting at its own 13, the Bulldogs went backwards with two straight false start penalties. Then a tackle behind the line from Miller gave CH a fourth and 20 from the 3. But the snap on the punt went over the punter’s head and out of bounds for an Anna safety that made it 26-0.
Chapel Hill was held to 5 yards on 14 rushes in the first half and 19 plays total on 23 plays. CH had more penalty yards in the first half than total yards on offense. The Bulldogs were called for six penalties for 34 yards. Anna didn’t commit one penalty before halftime.
The Bulldogs opened the third with their best drive – going 72 yards on 15 plays and eating up more than six minutes, but they stalled out after Anna’s Grayson Stewart forced a fumble and Finnie recovered.
Chapel Hill still had a chance to avoid the shutout.
Its next possession was again a long one – 17 plays and 83 yards with 5 1/2 minutes off the clock. CH had first and goal at the 7 and after a five yard rush, it was second and goal from the 2. But then the Bulldogs had two plays with zero gain and it was fourth and goal.
On the play, QB Demetrius Brisbon’s pass was incomplete and Anna took over on downs.
The Anna D held CH to 106 yards rushing and 206 total on 62 plays.
Williams was 17 of 25 for 170 yards and added 19 yards rushing for Anna. Sean Steens caught seven passes for 54 yards and Finnie chipped in three for 65.
Over the past 20 seasons, Anna has only won 8 or more games twice – 2022 and this season. Anna’s 13-1 mark and run to the regional final last year was its best all time before the 2023 squad made history on Friday.
