Junction’s Breakthrough Season Ends With Loss to Shiner in State Quarterfinals

SAN ANTONIO, TX — The Junction Eagles’ breakthrough season ended Thursday with a 27-0 loss to Shiner in the Class 2A Division II state quarterfinals at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.

It was simply a dominant performance by Shiner’s defense, which shut out a Junction offense that was averaging 47 points per game.

The Eagles’ defense did what it could to keep Junction in the game with three stops after Shiner marched inside its 20-yard line.

The final stop was a goal-line stand late in the third quarter to keep the score 14-0, but Junction’s offense went nowhere, and Shiner’s Jarvis Williams returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown for the knockout punch.

Junction finished with a 12-2 record, which was the most wins in program history. 

They won their first district title in 21 years, then won three playoff games to reach the state quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a team that won just two games in 2022.

Shiner (11-3), a perennial power that has won four state titles — most recently in 2021 — moves on to the state semifinals against the winner of Grapeland or Bremond next week.

Shiner put pressure on Junction from the game’s opening drive when the Comanches took 8:05 off the clock. They twice converted fourth downs, including a fourth-and-goal when quarterback Carson Schuette scored on a 2-yard run.

Shiner scored again on the first play of the second quarter on a 4-yard run by Triston Vesely for a 14-0 lead.

Junction’s only real scoring threat came late in the second quarter when Chasen Doyal found Caden Roberts for a 57-yard pass to get to Shiner’s 15-yard line.

However, an interception ended the chance soon after.

Shiner’s Quincy Jones scored the game’s final TD on a 5-yard run with 6:17 remaining.