EDNA òòò½ÊÓƵ” Edna has the chance to win its third straight Texas Region IV high school football championship Friday night.
For the last three seasons, Edna has dominated the region in the postseason, fashioning a combined 11-0 record with only one game being decided by single digits. The Cowboys (13-0) get the opportunity to defend that title Friday night against Llano (12-1) at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThis is what weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been waiting for, for a year now, and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a process. There are steps to it,òòò½ÊÓƵ Edna head coach Jimmie Mitchell said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis is really what weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been working our tails off to get to.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Ednaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s goals in 2024 are more than just a regional championship. But in order to accomplish them, a 12th straight regional playoff win is necessary.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt means a lot to be back here, especially with it being my last year,òòò½ÊÓƵ Edna senior Braylen Harris said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™m trying my best to go out the best we can and our goal is to make it way past the regional championship. We want to play for a state championship.òòò½ÊÓƵ
In order to reach those loftier heights, the Cowboys and Harris must first defeat Llano.
Llano advanced to the regional final after a thrilling 30-29 comeback victory over Goliad. It is a Goliad team with whom Edna is is very familiar with. The teams play in the same district.
òòò½ÊÓƵœSeeing them against Goliad kind of gives you a barometer, and the barometer says theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re good,òòò½ÊÓƵ Mitchell said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIf you can beat Goliad youòòò½ÊÓƵ™re good because Goliadòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a good football team. I know we had them here and we handled them OK, but it was a hard fought battle and thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s what weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to be in for Friday.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Llano not only won, but did so after trailing 19-0. Llanoòòò½ÊÓƵ™s ability to come back and play for four quarters opened Ednaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s eyes.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThey play with heart, and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s impressive just not giving up when youòòò½ÊÓƵ™re down like that,òòò½ÊÓƵ Harris said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIt makes us come in more hungry, especially since we didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t have one of our best games last week. We want to come more hungry and show everybody we belong in the state championship.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Harris has benefitted the last two weeks by the return of Keegan Hicks. Hicksòòò½ÊÓƵ™ presence makes it more difficult for teams to focus their coverage on Harris in the passing game.
With Hicks and Harris, it gives quarterback Chase Schubert another reliable target in the passing game. The senior quarterback is the full-time starter for the first time in his career. But after 13 games, heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s operating as a veteran.
òòò½ÊÓƵœChase is a really good quarterback and he makes me look good a lot of the time,òòò½ÊÓƵ Harris said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI have to give a lot of the credit to him and he lets me go do what I do best.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Edna beat Universal City Randolph 42-28 last week, but nobody within the program is happy with that performance. Edna wants to go further than it has the last two seasons, which means winning this week and next.
This week, the goal is turn in the best performance yet and get the bad taste from the regional semifinals out of their mouth.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t perform how we wanted to and thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s really bothering us right now,òòò½ÊÓƵ Harris said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe think we got our bad game out of the way. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to be good for the rest of the year, and now weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re mentally locked in for Llano.òòò½ÊÓƵ
NOTES: The Edna-Llano winner will advance to the semifinals against the winner of Fridayòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Columbus-Franklin game. Franklin defeated Edna in the semifinals the last two seasons.
