MARSHALL MAVERICKS
"FOR RED AND WHITE SHALL WAVE ON HIGH IN STRENGTH AND PURITY....
TO HONOR YOU WE'LL EVER STRIVE THROUGHOUT ETERNITY!!!!"
DISTRICT 9-5A DIVISION II
662 ALL TIME PROGRAM WINS
For the third time in eight seasons the Huntsville Hornets have ended Marshall's playoff drive. The hobbled Maverick offense was no match for the Hornets who came away with a 21-7 win. Marshall finishes at (8-3). They now await realignment to see where they will land for 2026-27.
The rivalry between Marshall and Whitehouse is only 20 years in the making, but it has grown into one of the most heated since its beginning. The Mavericks outmatched the Wildcats in every phase of the game Friday night as Marshall ran away with a 49-7 blowout win. The Mavs enter the playoffs as the #2 seed from 7-5A and will host Huntsville for Bi-District.
The Mavericks escaped Rose Stadium Friday night with a thrilling 43-42 win over the Tyler High Lions in the 2025 Season Opener. Marshall went for the 2 point conversion and the win with just under 2 mins left in the game. The #25 Mavs (1-0) now prepare for arch-rival Longview Photo Credit Geoff Mckay
For the third time in eight seasons the Huntsville Hornets have ended Marshall's playoff drive. The hobbled Maverick offense was no match for the Hornets who came away with a 21-7 win. Marshall finishes at (8-3). They now await realignment to see where they will land for 2026-27.
HORNET STING MAVERICKS AGAIN IN PLAYOFFS
INJURIES, PENALTIES, & MISSED OPPORTUNITIES DOOM MAVS IN LOSS
PHOTO CREDIT GEOFF MCKAY PHOTOGRAPHY
The Marshall Mavericks saw their post season come to an end at the hands of the Huntsville Hornets for the third time in eight seasons Friday night.​​
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Huntsville walked away with a 21-7 victory, marking their third post season win over Marshall including 2018's Region Semifinal win and 2019's Bi-District win.
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The Hornets wasted no time getting on the board as they scored on their first offensive play of the game when QB Zay Adolphe went 58 yards for the touchdown and the quick 7-0 lead with 9:23 left in the first.
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Each team would trade punts the remainder of the first stanza as the score would remain the same.
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Huntsville put together another impressive drive and looked to be taking a two score lead before the Mav defense forced a fumble and gave Marshall the ball at their own 35.
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The hobbled Maverick offense was only able to drive to the Huntsville 42 before failing to convert a fourth down attempt.
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The Hornets again drove deep into Marshall territory, getting down to the Mav 23 yard line before they fumbled for the second time, giving Marshall the ball once again with the score remaining 7-0.
But the Mavs could muster no offense once again before unleashing a monster 73 yard punt by Grimaldo.
That would be the final highlight for the half for both teams as Huntsville would go into the locker room with a 7-0 lead.
Huntsville would open the second half with their most impressive drive of the game, going 67 yards for the touchdown and the 14-0 lead.
Marshall then put together their best drive so far on the night when they got down to the Huntsville 30, but a fumble by running back Green ended the threat with game remaining 14-0.
The Hornets put an exclamation point on the third quarter with their final score to take a commanding 21-0 lead with 1:47 showing in the stanza.
Marshall finally found the endzone in the fourth to cut the lead to 21-7 with 5:19 left in the game...but it was too little too late.
The Mavs recovered back to back onsides kicks, but penalties negated both, all but sealing the game for the Hornets.
Marshall finished the night with 194 yards of total offense. 164 rushing and 28 passing.
Huntsville finished the night with 319 yards; 219 on the ground and 100 passing.
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The Mavericks end the season with a record of (8-3). Coach Hammett has a two year record of (18-6).
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Congrats to the Mavericks on another strong season!
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Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and family members for a memorable season!
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REALIGNMENT LIKELY TO BRING CHANGES
DISTRICT 7-5A LIKELY TO SEE CHANGES FOR 2026-2027 SEASONS
PHOTO CREDIT GEOFF McKAY
The biennial realignment by the UIL is coming this winter and the speculation train has left the depot with wild predictions of who will remain, who will stay, and who will join the current 5A Div II district that Marshall calls home.​​
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Marshall
Texas High
Mount Pleasant
Hallsville
Whitehouse
Nacogdoches
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These five will all 100% remain in the classification. The question is....will they remain in the same district?
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As recently as 2015 Marshall, Texarkana, and MP were in a northern district that included Greenville....while Whitehouse and Nac were in a district with Corsicana and Ennis. There's always a possibility that could occur again.
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Marshall has also been paired with a district more centered around the I-20 corridor while MP and Texas High were send West down I-30. Also a possibility to happen again.
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There have also been rumors of Nacogdoches being sent South to join the likes of Huntsville, Montgomery, and PNG.
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There is also speculation of one school dropping down to 4A. The Jacksonville Indians have been a bubble school for the last 2-3 alignments. They were in 4A Div I in 2022 and 2023 before moving back up to 5A in 2024. There is a possibility they could be dropping down once again. It's a close call until UIL announces the cutoff numbers in December.
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Last but not least is the possibility of teams moving up from 4A Div I to 5A Division II.
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Pine Tree is at the top of that list. The Pirates were in the current district since 2002....but dropped to 4A in 2024. There is high speculation that PT is headed back to 5A.
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Lindale is also in the mix of moving up.... They too completed in 5A in the late 2010's before dropping to 4A in 2020. They will be anxiously awaiting their 4A/5A fate in December as well.
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More questions are...does the UIL put all of East Texas into one district...or split them up into two districts.
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A super district could look something like this:
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Marshall
Texas High
Mount Pleasant
Hallsville
Whitehouse
Nacogdoches
Pine TreeW
----questionable----
Lindale
Jacksonville
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A 9 team district would be unprecedented for ETX 5A Div I football.​​
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It's all speculation now. The picture will be clearer after cutoff numbers are announced. Stay tuned!!!
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