Shelby County Today

November 22, 2025 - The Joaquin Rams seized the 2025 UIL Texas Football Conference 2A Division I Region 3 Area Championships with a decisive 41-8 victory.

The Joaquin and Honey Grove Area Playoff game started off with a good defensive battle between the teams. Until, Rams player Cooper Bragg #2 made a 50-yard long touchdown run to put the first score on the board with 4:57 left in the first quarter.

Joaquin’s defense held Honey Grove the remainder of the quarter with it ending Rams 7 - Warriors 0. They went into the 2nd quarter with possession of the ball and Jacob Gatlin #3 made a big 60-yard run to the 10 and into scoring position. A few more plays and Cooper Bragg #2 on a run from around the 5-yard line makes it in for the second touchdown of the game, Joaquin 14 - Honey Grove 0, with 10:09 left in the 2nd quarter.

The Warriors' offense struggled to make movement down the field and failed to connect passing attempts. With just over 5 mins left in the 2nd quarter, Jacob Gatlin #3 increased the Rams lead to 21-0 with a touchdown run from around the 45-yard line. The first half ended 21-0 Joaquin.

The third quarter started off with a strong defense shown by both sides. With 5 minutes left in 3rd quarter, Cooper Bragg #2 made a long run to give the team good field position. Quarterback Trenton Runnels #1 threw to Conner Rios #87 to get the games 1st reception for the Rams. Next play, Trenton Runnels #1 gets into the end zone. The extra-point attempt is stopped and the score is Joaquin 27 - Honey Grove 0 with 3:04 left.

To finish out the 3rd quarter, the Rams defense continued to put pressure on the Warriors. With fog rolling in, the Rams got the ball and Cooper Bragg #2 quickly took it in for another 60-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt was good bringing the score to Joaquin 34 - Honey Grove 0 with 11:05 left on the clock.

The Warriors showed a spark on their next possession, however, on the 3rd down, Joaquin intercepted the ball on a pass attempt by Honey Grove and ends the Warriors chance again to get on the board. On the Rams first play, Amarion Wilson #6 got the ball for a first down followed by Jadyn Brown #9 getting another first down. Amarion Wilson #6 broke through and went untouched into the end zone to bring the Rams to 41 after another good extra point by kicker David Martinez #15, a freshman.

On Honey Groves’ next possession they moved the ball down the field quickly and within a few plays, they made their way into the end zone. A successful two-point conversion gets the Warriors on the board with 8 to the Rams 41.

Degan Lee #4 made a long run on the first play of the Rams possession with 2 minutes left in the game giving the Rams excellent field position on the 10-yard line. The Rams took a knee to end the game with a final score of 41-8.

As the Area Champions, the Joaquin Rams will face the Elysian Fields Yellowjackets in the Quarterfinals on Friday, November 28.

November 19, 2025 - Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing reports are updated each week, usually by Thursday morning. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the information from bait shops, marinas and fishing guides. Only the local lakes are listed below. If you would like to see the fishing report for other Texas lakes, click the following link https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PW.

Toledo Bend

FAIR. 71 degrees; 4.55 feet below pool. There’s really no change from last week, but rain is expected over the next several days, and some fresh water should help the lake conditions a lot. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.

Sam Rayburn

SLOW. Water stained; 80 degrees; 9.19 feet below pool. The lake is slowly falling, creating lots of humps and shallow areas, so boaters should use caution. Water temperature is around 90 degrees, and bass are being caught shallow on points and pockets with topwater frogs and senkos, while crankbaits are working on points and drains and jigs or Carolina rigs are producing off ledges and structure. Crappie are starting to stack up on brush and timber, white bass are schooling off points, and catfish have moved into deeper water and creek channels with cut bait working well. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.

Pinkston

FAIR. Water light stain; 61 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair for fish between 3-6 pounds. Target grass lines and points with flukes on small jig head, or ribbon tailed Texas rigged worms. Crappie are fair on brush piles. Bluegill are excellent on small crappie jigs with a slip bobber. Catfish are slow. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Naconiche

FAIR. Water stained; 63.5 degrees; full pool. The lake has begun to clear, and some good fish are starting to stack up, making it a great time for power-fishing tactics such as squarebills, jerkbaits, glide baits, topwaters, and deep-divers. The early and late bite has been strongest, though midday can still produce fish through the remainder of the fall and winter run. Crappie populations remain good, while catfish continue to be slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Service. Largemouth are slow rattle traps and bladed jigs on shallow grass lines. Crappie are slow to fair with chartreuse jigs. Catfish are slow. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Nacogdoches

GOOD. Water stained; 63 degrees; 1.93 feet below pool. Water temperatures are dropping quickly. Largemouth bass are excellent on swimbaits along grass lines, and bladed jigs in shallow water. Crappie are fair in standing timber with live minnows or chartreuse jigs. Fish are 1.5-2 pounds. Catfish are fair on cut bait or live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

November 11, 2025 - Shelbyville Dragons will play Jewett Leon on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in Palestine at 7pm. Shelbyville will be the visiting team.

Ticket Prices are $8 adults and $5 students. Passes accepted are District Passes, Coaches Passes, Senior Citizen Passes.

Go Dragons!

Below is a link to purchase tickets for Thursday's playoff game. All ticket sales will be online. There will be no tickets purchased at the gate.

QR codes will be posted at the stadium if needed. 

http://secure.payk12.com/school/Palestine-High-School/983/item/275610

November 9, 2025 - Three Shelby County Teams advance to Bi-District playoffs. The Timpson Bears end their season one off from the playoffs with an unexpected win against the District Champions.

The Center Roughriders' win against Rusk 27-20 ends 4A District 8, Division 2 play with the Roughriders in 3rd place with a 3-2 win/loss. This week Bi-District playoffs begin and the Roughriders will travel to face the Van Vandals (3-2) on Friday, November 14 at 7pm in the Jacksonville Tomato Bowl, 200 Austin St, Jacksonville, TX 75766. Van lost to Texarkana Pleasant Grove 56-14 and ended 4A District 7 also in 3rd place.

The Joaquin Rams fell 21-12 to the Garrison Bulldogs for 3rd place in 2A District 11, Division 1. The Rams stand 3-2 in win/loss record. The Rams will travel to Panther Stadium, 1000 S Houston, Bullard, Texas 75757 to play the Centerville Tigers (4-1) at 7pm Friday, November 14. Last week Centerville defeated Corrigan-Camden 42-14.

The Shelbyville Dragons defeated the Hemphill Hornets 49-0 in the last week of District Play for a 2-3 District and 4th place in 2A District 11, Division 1. Shelbyville will face the undefeated Jewett Leon (5-0) and the 2A District 12, Division 1 Champions on Thursday, November 13 7pm at Palestine's Wildcat Stadium, 1600 S Loop 256, Palestine, Texas 75801. Jewett Leon defeated Groveton 42-0 last week.

The Timpson Bears ended their season with a roar as they defeated the 2A District 11, Division 1 Champions the San Augustine Wolves with a final score of 34-13. The Wolves saved their first-string players for the playoffs and the Bears took advantage of it playing all the way till the end. The Bears district play was 3-2 which tied the Dragons; however, the Dragons 17-14 win in week 8 of play against the Bears gave the Dragons the 4th place seat and playoff advancement.

Thursday, November 13
Shelbyville vs Jewett Leon, 7pm (Palestine Wildcat Stadium)

Friday, November 14
Center vs Van, 7pm (Jacksonville Tomato Bowl)
Joaquin vs Centerville, 7pm (Bullard's Panther Stadium)