HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 5
FROM THE SPORTS EDITOR Strong year for Walker County
ON THE COVER Cover photo by Matthew Piasecki
HUNTSVILLE
LIVING
STAFF
PUBLISHER Lange Svehlak lsvehlak @ athensreview . com
GENERAL MANAGER Traci Gallin traci @ itemonline . com
EDITOR Brenda Poe bpoe @ itemonline . com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Ashley Horton ahorton @ itemonline . com
© 2025 The Huntsville Item , Huntsville , TX All rights reserved Printed in the USA by Publications Press
Well , the football chapter of 2024 is officially closed here in Walker County .
While it didn ’ t end with any state championships for anybody in Walker County , it was still an exciting one that has set the table for another strong year in 2025 .
Sam Houston had a complete turnaround from 2023 and saw them hoist a trophy at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans . It was the Kats ’ first bowl win at the FBS level and gave them a national spotlight they had never seen before . Over the season , the Bearkats checked off several boxes along the way . The only box Sam Houston missed was playing and winning the Conference USA championship game .
In the current state of college athletics , Sam Houston was wrapped into things as most are when success happens . The Bearkats lost K . C . Keeler to Temple and now several players have entered the transfer portal to find a new home . But the success of that team lives on .
Huntsville ’ s season wasn ’ t exactly how they had planned it from the start , but things were still an ultimate success . While the Hornets were riding the high of making it to the regional finals in 2023 , the Hornets had a plan to get back and go even further .
But in Week 1 , the Hornets got punched and it took them a few games to find their footing . But with a second-place finish in one of the toughest districts in Texas , the Hornets made it back to the postseason where they eventually fell to the state runner-up .
Alpha Omega Academy was finally back in a district after playing as an independent in 2023 . The Lions had several seniors ready to make some noise and they certainly did . The Lions advanced to the TAPPS Division II state championship game while collecting a district title along the way .
While they did say goodbye to some seniors ,
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the Lions are fully loaded and ready to come back strong in 2025 .
New Waverly was once again in the postseason and while they didn ’ t get past New Diana , it was still a big step for the Dogs . New Waverly felt adversity all season but came together to play its best ball at the end . Now , they are primed for a run in 2025 . With that , the season is officially over for us and I hope you enjoyed the coverage here in Walker County . As football is over , basketball season is still in the middle of its season , and it ’ s looking like the Hornets will have both teams in the postseason yet again .
And don ’ t forget the baseball and softball seasons are right around the corner . So I look forward to bringing y ’ all the coverage of the local teams .
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Huntsville Living is published by The Huntsville Item and CNHI , LLC . No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means , including electronic retrieval systems , without written permission of the publisher . Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine . Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative .
HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 5