HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 11
rush for over 3,000 yards in 2024 season
the drawing board despite 445 total yards of offense .
“ What people didn ’ t realize was Brenham won 11 games this year . Brenham had a running back that everybody saw as one of the best in the country ,” Southern said . “ You don ’ t wanna lose an opener , but I think you have to put seasons into perspective . You learn some things about your team when you lose a football game . I thought everybody responded well to that game .”
Huntsville would rattle off three straight wins from there with a win over 6A Bryan and a massive win over 5A-DI opponent Cedar Park to end the non-district slate and have the Hornets sitting 2-1 at the bye week .
With the long trip to Cedar Park , the Hornets put up 422 yards on the ground and threw the ball a total of five times . Brown had 214 yards and Adolphe had 126 yards , each with two scores . That is when the Hornets looked like they hit their true form .
“ All of our backs that had some opportunities in the second and third rounds of the playoffs last year gave us good production . I think Trae ’ Shawn took a step this year . I saw stuff on film that showed he got better ,” Southern said . “ When we had to move Zay to quarterback , I think we saw the future with everybody . Jerious became one of the best blocking tight ends that I have ever coached . I thought the O-Line was consistent all year . Any time you run the football you ’ ll have a chance to win .”
Huntsville returned to the field after their bye week to face first-year varsity opponent and snagged another big win , but this time they did it through the air . Taylor had his best game to that point completing 10-16 for 144 yards and two scores through the air .
The Hornets headed back home locked in a top-10 matchup with Port Neches-Groves on the Hornets ' home turf after the Indians knocked Huntsville out the previous year .
That game went down to the wire as was about three feet away from overtime as the Hornets trotted out Caleb Culak hit the left upright and left the Hornets with a close loss to the number one team in the state . But that one stung . The Indians had rolled every opponent up to that point and it was a point that could have propelled the Hornets to the top of the polls and would have knocked off the previous state champion and give the Hornets a boost .
With District 8 , 5A-DII having five members from the 2023 postseason , things would not get easier . Huntsville ' s next opponent was an undefeated Montgomery squad that was at the top of the district .
Huntsville ’ s season wasn ’ t necessarily on the line yet , but there was Nederland and a struggling Lake Creek team still ahead for the Hornets .
HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 11