2023-2024 Sports Schedules (Links below updated)
Three Shelby County teams have made it through the Bi-district round of the 2023 Texas UIL Football Playoffs and they have advanced to the Area round.
The Shelbyville Dragons mounted an exciting comeback last week to defeat the Groveton Indians by a 35-28 score. The Dragons are now 6-4 this season and they will face the 10-1 Cooper Bulldogs on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 7 p.m., at Bullard Panther Stadium.
The Tenaha Tigers defeated Hull-Daisetta by a 52-12 score. The Tigers are 9-2. They will face off with 9-2 the Dawson Bulldogs on Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m. at Athen’s Bruce Field.
The Timpson Bears are 11-0 after they beat the Corrigan-Camden Bulldogs 68-7. Timpson will next play Wolfe City (9-2) at Gladewater’s Murphy Stadium at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 17.
November 14, 2023 - Shelbyville Football team will play Cooper High School in Bullard at Bullard High School on Friday, November 17 at 7pm in the Area Playoff Game. The Dragons will be the visitors. Tickets are $5. Senior Citizen, District and THSCA Passes will be accepted at the gate.
To buy tickets online, click here.
November 14, 2023 - Parent Meeting Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 6pm at the Center HS library.
Middle School and High School parents are invited to attend.
Hallsville Bobcats Stadium on Friday, November 10, 2023 –
The Center Roughriders 2023 varsity football season was ended on Friday with a 69-42 Texas UIL Football Playoff Elimination loss to the Gilmer Buckeyes. The two teams came into the game with identical 7-3 records, Center was the third place representative of District 8 4A-2 and Gilmer was the second place representative of District 7 4A-2.
There were plenty of fireworks in this game as the two teams joined up to score a combined 111 points.
Center’s first drive stalled and they punted the ball to Gilmer who scored the game’s first touchdown with 9:24 minutes left in the first period when Will Henderson took a handoff 48-yards for the score. Brayden Pate added an extra point kick and GHS led 7-0.
Center answered at the 8:12 mark of the first period when Brandon Barnes scored on a 44-yard touchdown run which capped a 65-yard drive. Carlos Hernandez added the extra point kick which tied the game at 7-7. The Center defense stepped up on Gilmer’s next drive and forced the Buckeyes to punt the ball back to them.
‘Rider runningback Caden Dixon gave Center their first lead at the 4:12 mark of the first quarter with an electrifying scoring run from 34 yards away. Hernandez’s extra point kick was blocked but alert Center defenders caught the Buckeyes in the endzone for a rare 1-point conversion safety. The ‘Riders led 14-7.
Henderson answered with 3:03 still left in the first stanza when he bolted through the Center defense for his second Buckeye’s touchdown from the Center 7-yardline. A 2-point extra conversion try failed and Gilmer trailed Center by a narrow 14-13 score. Center’s next drive was short-lived and they punted the ball back with just seconds remaining in the first period. Henderson wasted no time as he broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run with just 32 seconds left. Gilmer added an extra point kick and took a 20-14 lead into the second frame.
Gilmer scored with 9:42 remaining in the second quarter when Dhrvay Smith scored from 82-yards away to help put GHS up 27-14. Henderson added another Gilmer touchdown to his resume from 82 yards away to boost the GHS lead to 34-14 with 7:03 left before the halftime intermission. Gilmer’s Aron Bell elevated the Gilmer lead to 41-14 with a 13-yard touchdown run with just 1:05 left in the second frame.
Center attempted a 50-yard field goal at the end of the half but Hernandez’s kick bounced off the crossbar just inches short.
Gilmer extended their lead to 48-14 with 6:16 left in the third period with a 5-yard Henderson run which capped a 75-yard GHS drive. Center later answered with a 52-yard scoring drive which was capped by a 1-yard Cash Cross quarterback keeper run with 6:16 remaining. The ensuing Center extra point kick was blocked and Cross had to chase down Eliez Castillo 87 yards downfield to prevent him from returning the live ball for a 2-point conversion run in the opposite direction. Gilmer led 48-20.
Smith scored on a 72-yard touchdown run with 2:56 left in the third frame and another Pate extra point kick gave GHS a 55-20 lead. Center cut that lead to 55-28 when Cross hit receiver Lance Wilburn on a 12-yard touchdown strike and then Cross converted a 2-point extra point try just 17 seconds before the game entered the fourth quarter.
The final frame saw the teams go back and forth. Henderson gave GHS a 62-28 lead with a 20-yard touchdown run. Roughrider Timothy Johnson helped Center answer with a 91-yard kickoff return that cut Gilmer’s lead to 62-34 with 6:53 left in the game. Reserve runningback Day Day Jimmerson extended Gilmer’s lead to 68-34 with 4:10 remaining and backup kicker Miguel Casteneda added another GHS extra point kick for Gilmer’s final point at 69-34.
Center scored the final touchdown at the 2:29 mark when Cross hit Timothy Johnson for a 11-yard touchdown reception. Dixon crashed into the endzone for a 2-point conversion run for the game’s final score. Gilmer took the 69-42 win and will continue to the Area round of the playoffs next week.
November 10, 2023 - Two Shelby County teams will play tonight, November 10 in Round 1 of the UIL State Playoffs.
Here's how and when to catch the action:
Attend the games:
Watch the Live Stream on NFHS Network:
Timpson vs Corrigan Camden
The game will stream on the National Federation of High Schools Network, or NFHS. Here's how to view:
--Step 1. Log on to NFHS at High School Sports Online - Stream Live & On Demand https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/ (It is a paid subscription service)
--Step 2. Subscribe to the network.
--Step 3. Select the game you are interested in viewing.
(The UIL owns all rights to Texas Playoff Games. They have contracted with NFHS to provide the streams for all playoff games. Local broadcasters apply for permission to the NFHS to provide the stream for the network. Watlington/Shires productions has been granted permission for the Bears.)
Timpson (Friday) feature Larry Pierce on the call. Pregame begins at 6:45 featuring interviews with both coaches. Halftime will feature both bands. Stay with Larry for the Postgame.
Watch the Live Stream on YouTube.
Center vs Gilmer
The game will stream on YouTube. Through the generosity of Jeff Adams, attorney at law, the Roughriders Bi-District Game will remain free to view. (Mr. Adams' sponsorship enabled Watlington/Shires to purchase the broadcast rights from the UIL.)
Here's how to find it:
--Step 1. Log on to YouTube and search for NETSN Live. Then click Center v Gilmer. Or click the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs1N6TP7Sxw
Center features Rob Payne, Chris Watlington, and Stephen Shires on the call.
Pregame starts at 6:30 with Coach Meeks, record-setting receiver Lance Wilburn, and the Senior Cheerleaders. Halftime Show features the Roughrider Band and Chaparrals plus an interview with head twirler Whitlee Youngblood. Stay with us for the postgame where we visit with the Player of the Game.
Listen on the Radio.
November 9, 2023 - Playoffs Week 1 of Shelby County Varsity Football
Friday, November 10, 2023
Center 42 - Gilmer 69, Final Score
Tenaha 52 - Hull-Daisetta 12, Final Score
Timpson 68 - Corrigan-Camden 7, Final Score
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Shelbyville 35 - Groveton 28, Final Score
Thursday, November 9, 2023 at Timpson High School –
Timpson senior student athlete Alexis Grigsby signed a letter of intent to play with Stephen F. Austin’s Lady Lumberjack softball program next season. Grigsby is the first lady Bear to sign with a Division I NCAA athletic program.
Timpson students, faculty, press, as well as parents and the community came out to witness the signing and to root the Timpson Bears football program good luck in Friday’s football playoff game.
Alexis was a big part in the Timpson Lady Bears softball program advancing to the bi-district playoffs last season after posting a 17-6 regular season record and earning the district’s fourth seed. She excels at both pitching and shortstop positions on her team.
She plans to major in accounting at SFA and will already hold an associate’s degree after taking extracurricular college courses at Panola College. She chose SFA partly because of the five-year master’s program and a building relationship with the Lady Lumberjack coaching staff.
She says she will have opportunities to help the team at middle infield, as well as possibly, the corner infield positions.
She says she invisions missing Timpson ISD’s small school atmosphere, as well as, the staff, players, coaches Calvin Smith, and new softball coach Richie Bruister.
Four of Shelby County’s five varsity football programs have made the post season and will begin the bi-district round of the Texas UIL State Football Playoffs this week.
The Center Roughriders finished as the third place representative of District 8 4A-2 with a 4-2 conference mark and a 7-3 overall record. They will travel to Hallsville Bobcats Stadium on Friday, November 10 for a 7pm kickoff with the Gilmer Buckeyes. Gilmer is the third place representative of District 7 4A-2 with a 7-3 overall mark and they were 4-1 in district.
The Shelbyville Dragons will travel to Nacogdoches High School on Thursday, November 9 for a 7 p.m. kickoff at with the Groveton Indians Dragons Stadium. The Dragons are the third place representatives of District 11 2A-1 with a 5-4 overall record and a 3-3 conference mark. The Indians are 7-3 and 4-1 in District 12 2A-1 conference action.
The Tenaha Tigers are 8-2 overall and they are the undefeated, 5-0, champions of District 11 2A-2. They will travel to Jasper Bulldogs Stadium on Friday, November 10 for a 7 p.m. kickoff with the Hull-Daisetta Bobcats. The Bobcats are the fourth place representative of District 12 2A-2 with a 4-6, 2-3 record.
The Timpson Bears defeated the Garrison Bulldogs last Friday to stay undefeated. They are now 10-0 and District 11 2A-1 Champions for the fourth straight year. They finished as the 6-0 champions of District 11 2A-1. The Bears will next head to Lufkin’s Abe Martin Panthers Stadium on Friday, November 10, 2023 for a 7 p.m. kickoff with the Corrigan-Camden Bulldogs in the Texas UIL Bi-District Round of the UIL Playoffs. The Bulldogs are 3-7, 2-3 in District 12 2A-1. They are the fourth-place representative of their conference.
November 6, 2023 - Shelbyville will be playing Groveton at Nacogdoches High School on Thursday, November 9 at 7pm in the Bi-District Football Playoff. The Dragons will be the visiting team. Ticket prices will be $5. District passes, coaching passes and senior citizen passes will be accepted.
November 6, 2023 - Emily Pharris is a prime example of hard work and dedication pays off. After winning the Gold last year, it could’ve been easy for Emily to just be complacent and go through the motions going into this season.
However, Emily being the WINNER that she is, not only continued to show up and push herself to new levels, she also took her leadership to a new level. She would always wait for her teammates to finish their race whether at practice or during meets. In fact, that is what one college coach said after the state race. “What I love about Emily on top of her running abilities is how she waited at the finish line to give her teammates water and praise.” This is a testament to the young lady Emily is.
She not only excels in sports, but is also a scholar athlete taking dual credit courses and maintaining a high GPA. Going into the state meet this year, Emily knew she had to set the tempo early, as there were a few girls going into the race with faster regional times than hers.
As her coach, Coach Randall Thomason never worried about that because Emily has always proven to be a champion when it's time to be a Champion.
At the start of the race there was a young lady who jumped out in front of Emily, but it didn’t take ‘Em’ long to take the lead, and one thing about Emily is when she gets the lead - good luck trying to chase her down! As a long distance runner, to be great you have to have a strong mental will to win. Emily, out of all the kids Thomason has coached or been around, has always had a different level of mental strength! In fact, she has rarely had anyone to push her this season.
In practice we don’t have other Emily type runners to help her find that next gear and in meets, all but one this season, Emily has led the whole way. To tell the type of competitor she is, a coach contacted Thomason for Emily to race in a meet mid-season just to go against someone better. When Emily was asked if she wanted to even if it meant her perfect win streak may be gone, she answered ‘yes coach, I want to run against the best.’ Her loss in Hudson to a really good young runner was the only race she lost all season, and until Saturday at the state meet was the race she PR’d (personal record). She was 1 second off the 2A state record at the state meet.
She is a natural leader, student athlete, and all around great young person. The Dragons can’t wait to see what she does in track and field this season and to see how great of a college career she has. She has made the Shelbyville family and community proud and has brought back yet another gold medal to Shelbyville’s already stored tradition of winning and excellence. Way to go AGAIN CHAMP!
2022 and 2023 Cross Country Records
Links below go to an article about Pharris' run and an interview with her:
