After going 5-7 last season, the Shiner Comanches came into this season looking to get back to form and return to AT&T Stadium for the first time since 2020 and 2021, when they were back-to-back state champions.
Just like 2023, the Comanches got off to a slow start, taking three straight losses to 3A teams with a 22-15 loss to Hallettsville, a 23-0 loss to Rice Consolidated, and a 21-14 defeat to Poth, who ended up as a 10-0 state-ranked team. Shiner would then take down 3A teams Vanderbilt Industrial 49-28, which was the most points the Comanches would give up the entire regular season, and Luling 56-7, for a 2-3 start before heading into district play.
District play is where we would see the dominance that was Shiner’s defense. After Charlotte had to forfeit the district opener, the Comanches would march through district play, going 4-0 in their next four games with a combined score of 195-16. The Comanches finished 7-3, claimed the District 15-2A-DII crown, their first district title since 2021, and went into the playoffs as one of the favorites to take the 2A-DII title.
The dominance over 2A teams continued for Shiner into the playoffs, as they dominated Woodsboro and Brackettville with a combined score of 123-13. They then took down Granger 43-23, which set up a regional final matchup with a 12-1, state-ranked Junction squad. The Shiner defense would shine again as they mauled Junction 27-0 to send the Comanches to the state semifinal to take on Bremond. Bremond gave Shiner all it could handle, but the Comanches weathered the storm and survived with a 41-33 win, sending Shiner back to the state championship for the first time since 2021.
Shiner would enter the title game in an unfamiliar position as the underdog, as they were taking on state favorite Muenster. Muenster had just cruised through the playoffs, winning comfortably in all five games, with their closest matchup coming in a 49-26 win over Gruver in the state semifinal. The championship was a back-and-forth rollercoaster to finish the opening night of games at AT&T Stadium that week, but Muenster would score with 40 seconds remaining, as the Hornets took down the Comanches 36-29.
A down-to-the-wire loss in the state championship is the most heartbreaking way for your season to end. Still, after a 5-7 season last year and a 0-3 start to this season, a state championship appearance for the first time since 2021 is something the Comanche faithful should be proud about.
