Wichita Falls, TX — The Anna Coyotes held firm in a tense area battle, outlasting the Palo Duro Dons 38–35 to advance to Round Three of the 5A Division II playoffs. It was a meaningful return west for head coach Seth Parr, who first made his name in the panhandle coaching ranks, and a proud night for Anna ISD Superintendent Dr. Toby Tucker, who also shares deep West Texas roots.

But more than anything, it was a night where the Coyotes proved they can win a gritty, high-pressure playoff football game — even when momentum refused to stay on their side.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

Anna wasted no time asserting control.
Just moments into the game, Jaden Parker powered in a 2-yard touchdown to give the Coyotes a 7–0 lead. Palo Duro’s first drive ended with a turnover on downs, and Anna immediately marched back into scoring position.

Early in the second quarter, quarterback Ziondre Williams connected with Ace Traylor for a smooth 20-yard touchdown strike, pushing the lead to 14–0.
Though a Palo Duro interception briefly shifted momentum, the Coyotes punched back with urgency — Ace Traylor ripped off a 30-yard touchdown run to restore a two-score lead at 21–7.

Palo Duro closed the gap to 21–14 late in the half, but Williams found Roaen Nylander deep downfield to set up Desmar Marroquin’s short field goal, sending Anna into halftime ahead 24–14.

A Third-Quarter Exchange of Haymakers

Both teams came out swinging after the break.

Williams struck first, firing a 45-yard bomb to Nylander to extend the lead to 31–14. But Palo Duro quarterback Julian Reese II refused to let the Dons fade away, answering with a flurry of long passes and red-zone quarterback keepers.

Twice Palo Duro trimmed the deficit.
Twice Anna responded.

Williams muscled in a 2-yard rushing score to make it 38–21, and Marroquin stayed perfect on PATs, giving the Coyotes a cushion heading into the fourth.

But nothing about this night was comfortable.

Palo Duro’s Final Push Falls Short

The Dons made their final surge midway through the fourth, grinding out a 1-yard touchdown run to close the gap to 38–35. With the home crowd roaring and Palo Duro gaining confidence, Anna faced the pressure of holding off a furious late charge.

Two drives stalled.
A turnover looked possible.
But with under four minutes remaining, the Coyotes delivered the possession they desperately needed — bleeding the clock with disciplined running and clean execution until Palo Duro ran out of time.

It wasn’t dominant.
It wasn’t smooth.
But it was the kind of playoff win that reveals a team’s backbone.

Final score: Anna 38, Palo Duro 35.

One Town Down Highway 5: A Rivalry Renewed in Round Three

Now the Coyotes turn their attention to a matchup that needs no introduction in Collin County — a Round Three showdown with Melissa, the powerhouse one town down Highway 5. And this one carries weight. Heavy weight.

This time, the rivalry shifts to a neutral site with familiar meaning: Allen High School’s Eagle Stadium, where Anna will take the field as the home team on Friday, November 28th at 3 p.m. It’s a venue etched into Anna football history — the last time the Coyotes played there, they stunned Celina in the 2022 4A Division I Region II semifinal, winning 27–24 in a playoff rematch that sent Anna to the deepest playoff run in school history at the time. That game, paired with the 28–25 regular-season win earlier that year, marked Anna’s ascent into regional relevance.

Now, two years later, Eagle Stadium becomes the stage for another defining moment.

Earlier this season, Anna and Melissa delivered yet another instant classic — a 40–34 senior night heartbreaker, with Anna driving deep into Cardinal territory before the final push stalled at the 41-yard line. It was a loss that lingered, not because Anna was outmatched, but because they were right there again, inches from flipping the script after last year’s 21–18 defeat.

That’s what makes this rematch different.

This time it isn’t district standings, pride, or bragging rights.

This time it’s part of the march toward a state championship — and a chance to take down the program that has been the measuring stick since Anna entered 5A.

For Melissa, it’s another step in their expected postseason run.

For Anna, it’s a shot at revenge, redemption, and rewriting a rivalry that has delivered nothing but razor-tight heartbreak.

Round Three.

Anna vs. Melissa.

The Highway 5 Rivalry — Friday at Eagle Stadium. Winner moves on.

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