Anna, TX — Despite the festivities of senior night for the second straight year, Anna and Melissa gave fans a rivalry showdown that lived up to every ounce of anticipation — and for the second straight year, it ended in heartbreak for the Coyotes. Last season, it was a 21–18 nail-biter. On Friday night, it was a 40–34 classic that came down to the very last drive.

How It Happened

The game swung back and forth all night. After trailing by double digits in the second half, Anna clawed their way back behind the relentless running of Ace Traylor and the steady leg of kicker Desmar Marroquin.

With just minutes left, Anna narrowed the gap on a 1-yard touchdown run from Traylor, followed by a Marroquin PAT to make it 40–34. Then came the moment that electrified Coyote Stadium — Anna’s special teams pounced on a perfectly executed onside kick, giving the offense the ball back and one last chance to complete the comeback. With Anna deep in Melissa territory with under two minutes left. The crowd could feel it — the chance to erase last year’s sting and make a statement in one of the toughest districts in the state.

But just like last year, the final push came up short. The last series stalled at Melissa’s 41-yard line, sealing a 40–34 defeat that felt more like a missed opportunity than a simple loss.

5A-2 Region I District 4: The District of Doom.

This one cuts deeper given the stakes. Anna now sits at 3–1 overall and 1–1 in district play, a respectable record but one earned in the teeth of a brutal 5A Division II schedule. District 4–5A is loaded with contenders, from Frisco Emerson to perennial powerhouse Lovejoy — and now, of course, Melissa, who has proven themselves year after year.

For context, this is only Anna’s second year competing at the 5A level, while Melissa has been here since the 2022–23 season. In that short time, the Cardinals have already established themselves as a 5A powerhouse, consistently making deep playoff runs and building a reputation as one of North Texas’ toughest programs. That’s the backdrop Anna is fighting against — and Friday night proved they can hang.

The Bigger Picture

For the Coyotes, the pain is real, but so is the progress. Few programs make the leap to 5A and compete this hard, this quickly. Seth Parr and his players alike know the margins are razor-thin, and while Melissa once again walked off the field victorious, Anna sent a message to the rest of the district: they’re not just along for the ride.

The road doesn’t get any easier, but this team showed heart, resilience, and growth. And in a rivalry where every inch is fought for, maybe it’s only a matter of time before the heartbreak swings the other way.

But for now — final score: Melissa 40, Anna 34.

The Anna Progress would like to thank Colton Roper for providing the game photography used in this coverage. (@shots_by_ropier)