Colleyville, Texas — For three years, there was little mystery about who would have the football in his hands when Anna’s offense took the field.
Friday night was different.
With three-year starting quarterback Ziondre Williams now at North Texas and longtime offensive coordinator Wilson Rigg now leading the program at Azle, the Coyotes entered 2026 with new faces directing an offense that had become one of the most successful in program history.
Senior quarterback Zephyr Kreye got the first opportunity to take the reins Friday night.
By the end of it, the result looked familiar.
Anna pulled away from Colleyville Heritage for a 49–31 season-opening victory, beginning a new era of Coyote football with seven touchdowns and contributions from all three phases of the game.
A New Face Under Center
Kreye, a senior transfer from Denton Guyer, inherited a significant vacancy under center. Williams started three seasons for Anna and accounted for 127 touchdowns during his career before signing with North Texas.
Kreye brought varsity experience with him from Guyer, but Friday marked his first regular-season start in an Anna uniform.
His first drive began with the Coyotes already trailing.
Heritage marched down the field on the opening possession and scored on the ground to take an early 7–0 lead. Anna responded with a sustained drive of its own, capped by senior running back Juelz Carter’s 16-yard touchdown run.
Desmar Marroquin’s extra point tied the game at seven.
Anna’s defense soon created the first major opportunity of the night, intercepting a Heritage pass and giving the offense a short field.
Kreye took advantage, connecting with sophomore Cor’mond Houston for a 16-yard touchdown to give Anna its first lead, 14–7.
Heritage answered through the air in the second quarter to tie the game at 14, but the Coyotes responded again.
A long Carter run flipped the field before Kreye eventually finished the drive himself, running for a touchdown to put Anna back in front. Heritage added a 40-yard field goal before halftime, sending the Coyotes into the locker room with a narrow 21–17 advantage.
That four-point margin didn’t last long.
Anna struck for a 73-yard touchdown pass on its opening possession of the third quarter, quickly extending the lead to 28–17.
Heritage refused to go away, responding with a rushing touchdown that pulled the Panthers back within four at 28–24.
Anna Takes Control
Kreye scored his second rushing touchdown of the night from two yards out, pushing the lead to 35–24. The Coyotes’ defense followed with its second interception, giving the offense possession around the Heritage 30-yard line.
Once again, Anna turned a takeaway into seven points.
Kreye found Carter for a seven-yard touchdown, and in a matter of minutes, what had been a four-point game became a commanding 42–24 Coyote advantage.
Both of Anna’s interceptions Friday night resulted in touchdowns on the ensuing possessions.
Special teams soon joined the scoring.
Anna blocked a Heritage punt in the fourth quarter, and No. 6 scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 49–24 and effectively putting the game away.
Heritage added one final touchdown through the air before Anna recovered the ensuing onside kick and closed out the 49–31 victory.
Anna Coyotes football during the 2025 season. (Photo courtesy of Colton Roper)
A Familiar Standard
For Anna, Friday’s opener offered the first glimpse of a new era at quarterback — but change under center is not entirely unfamiliar to Seth Parr’s program.
Before Ziondre Williams took over the offense, Evan Bullock arrived from Allen for his senior season in 2022. In his lone year with the Coyotes, Bullock threw for 4,179 yards and 56 touchdowns, leading Anna to a 13–1 record and an appearance in the Class 4A Division I state quarterfinals. His 56 touchdown passes led all Texas high school quarterbacks that season.
Williams succeeded Bullock in 2023 and took the program even further. Over three seasons as Anna’s starter, Williams helped lead the Coyotes through arguably the greatest stretch in program history, beginning with the 2023 Class 4A Division I state championship and followed by consecutive regional semifinal appearances after Anna moved into Class 5A Division II.
Together, those four seasons established a new standard for Anna football. From 2022 through 2025, the Coyotes compiled a 47–9 record, reached at least the state quarterfinals once and the regional semifinals three times, and captured the program’s first state championship.
Now Kreye, another senior who arrived in Anna after playing at a larger program — Denton Guyer — has been handed the offense for his final high school season.
Friday provided only one game of evidence for what the next chapter of Anna football will look like. But 49 points, two interceptions turned into touchdowns and another score on special teams made for a convincing opening statement.
Anna (1–0) will next face Brock as the Coyotes continue their 2026 non-district schedule.
Special thanks to Colton Roper (@shots_by_ropier), who previously provided The Anna Progress with a collection of Anna Coyotes football photos for use in our coverage. All photos featured in this story are from the 2025 season.
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