ARLINGTON, Texas — For the first time in school history, the Anna Coyotes are state champions!
Led by third-year coach Seth Parr, the Coyotes capped off its season with a dominant 26-0 win over the Chapel Hill Bulldogs (Tyler) to win the 4A Division I title on Friday at AT&T Stadium.
Following the game a large crowd of Anna families, friends, and fans, showed up to homecoming of the team at Anna High School. The buses transporting the football team was escorted by Anna Police.
"This is so special to this town, the town needed this," said Debbie Powell.
The Anna Fire Department showered the buses with a water tunnel at West Crossing and Rosamond Parkway. Fans lined both sides of the road as the the buses turned onto the campus.
"It's amazing what success and hard work does for a community," said Anna ISD Superintendent Michael Comeaux.
This is a remarkable moment for a city the size of Anna- a region that has seen explosive growth in the last two decades. Fifteen years ago Anna had a population of 2,000 residents. In 2023 the population is expected to be around 24,000.
"I spent all my life telling people we're fifty miles north of Dallas. I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime," said Randy Powell who played football and graduated with the Class of 73'.
Anna's road to the title included knocking off the defending champions, China Spring, in the area round of the playoffs by a score of 45-21.
Before this season, Anna had never even made it to the state semifinals. They'd only advanced to the state quarterfinals twice -- in 1976 and last season.
Now, in the school's first-ever state title game appearance, the Coyotes are bringing home the hardware.
Anna's (15-1) only loss of the entire season came in a four-overtime, two-point defeat to rival Celina in Week 4.
Celina lost in the playoffs to Stephenville, who later lost to Anna in the state quarterfinal round.
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