2025 RECORD OVERALL RECORD: 8-4 DISTRICT RECORD: 5-1
Grapeland SANDIES
Joe Elerson
Sports Writer sports @ palestineherald. com
Grapeland Head Football Coach Jordan Wood said even with an 8-4 record, he was proud of the fight of his team this year.
With a second round exit to Bremond and two of the losses coming to the Tigers, the Sandies proved they could play this year.
“ I don’ t think our record how good we really were this season,” Wood said.“ We have got to take a step as a program to get better so we can win those games that we were close in. Looking back, that is the biggest takeaway is that we were a better program than what our record looks like.”
The other two losses came to Frankston, who finished 11-1 overall and Mount Enterprise, who finished 14-1 as the state runner-up in Class 2A, Division 2.
“ We played some really good football teams,” Wood said.“ The four teams that we lost to all had an undefeated regular season. We thought we were good enough to be one of those types of teams.”
When it comes to the athletes, Wood said replacing some of the impact players will be interesting as they lose Sean Walker, Maleek Johnson, Keavy Bruins and Jesse Ellington to graduation.
“ It is always tough in replacing as many as we are,” Wood said.“ We have some good linemen and skill players coming back. When you have to replace three starting linemen, that is where it gets a little scary.”
Wood expects to see leadership from Lane Olson, Trace Brazzil and Ethan De Leon on the offensive line.
“ We have three guys in Lane Olson, Trace Brazzil and Ethan Deleon, who will all be good football players,” Wood said.“ We will need multiple guys to step up for us and you don’ t come up with Jesse’ s
most often. We are trying to have a great offseason to get these linemen ready to go. We need them to play good football for us.”
With a veteran head coach in Wood coming in at year No. 6, the players should be able to adjust to his style quick.
“ We have to keep growing and that starts during the offseason with getting stronger and coming together,” Wood said.“ We will be in year six of me being here with our offensive and defensive systems. We have to get better now and we have a lot of holes to fill with kids growing up. They have to be bigger, stronger and faster and that is the goal.”
22 WINTER EDITION 2026