Anna, TX— One yard. One play. No time left.
Anna quarterback Zephyr Kreye kept the ball himself and crossed the goal line as time expired Friday night, delivering the Coyotes a dramatic 16–14 homecoming victory over Frisco High School.
The walk-off touchdown completed a 76-yard final drive and capped a rainy, defensive battle in front of the homecoming crowd.
The victory kept Anna undefeated at 6–0 and came in the Coyotes’ lowest-scoring game of the season.
Anna entered the final minutes trailing 14–10 and running out of opportunities.
After the Coyote defense forced another Frisco punt, Anna took possession at its own 24-yard line with roughly three minutes remaining.
The drive initially moved slowly. Anna advanced to its own 30 before converting a third down to reach the 41 just before the two-minute warning.
Then the Coyotes began moving quickly.
Anna crossed midfield to the Frisco 47, followed with consecutive first downs to the 33 and 19, and eventually reached the 14-yard line.
The drive nearly ended there.
Facing fourth down inside the final minute, Anna converted to earn a fresh set of downs at the Frisco 5. The Coyotes moved closer but found themselves facing third down from the 3 with only seconds remaining.
On the final play, Kreye called his own number.
The quarterback kept the football and pushed across the goal line from one yard out as the clock expired, turning a 14–10 deficit into a 16–14 Anna victory.
Homecoming belonged to the Coyotes.
Coyotes Take Early Lead
The finish provided a dramatic bookend to a game Anna had led for much of the night.
After Frisco opened the game by kicking off, the Coyotes’ first possession crossed midfield but came away without points. Anna’s defense responded by forcing a Frisco punt, pinning the Coyotes at their own 12 for their second possession.
Anna then put together its first scoring drive.
The Coyotes worked from deep in their own territory all the way inside the Frisco red zone. After being pushed back to the 19, Kreye connected with Brayden Brayy Spinks for a 19-yard touchdown.
Desmar Marroquin added the extra point, putting Anna ahead 7–0 late in the first quarter.
The defense immediately made its presence felt again. Cam Pettijohn sacked Frisco on its ensuing possession, helping Anna carry the seven-point advantage into the second quarter.
Neither team scored before halftime.
Frisco intercepted Anna twice during the second quarter, but the Coyotes’ defense repeatedly prevented the turnovers from becoming points. Frisco was held scoreless through the entire first half, sending Anna into halftime ahead 7–0.
Anna quarterback Zephyr Kreye (#17) drops back to pass during the Coyotes’ game against Frisco Emerson earlier this season. Colton Roper (@shots_by_ropier)
Frisco Answers
Anna threatened to extend its lead during the third quarter.
Beginning at its own 18, the Coyotes drove deep into Frisco territory before a missed field goal ended the possession.
Frisco took advantage.
After taking over at its own 25, Frisco advanced to the Anna 37. From there, Lowery Asel broke free for a 37-yard rushing touchdown. Asel added the extra point himself, tying the game 7–7 with less than three minutes remaining in the third.
Anna responded with another sustained drive and reached deep into Frisco territory as the quarter expired.
The Coyotes ultimately settled for points early in the fourth, with Marroquin connecting on a 25-yard field goal to restore Anna’s lead at 10–7.
That advantage lasted only seconds.
On the ensuing kickoff, Asel broke loose again, this time taking the return 80 yards for a touchdown. His extra point suddenly put Frisco in front 14–10.
One Last Chance
Anna’s next opportunities produced little.
The Coyotes were forced to punt on their ensuing possession and later lost a fumble near midfield with about five minutes remaining.
That turnover gave Frisco an opportunity to drain the clock and potentially put the game away.
Anna’s defense refused to let it happen.
The Coyotes stopped Frisco and forced a punt, giving their offense the ball back at its own 24 with approximately three minutes remaining.
It would be Frisco’s final possession.
Anna drove 76 yards down the field, converted a crucial fourth down and put the football at the doorstep of the end zone.
Then Kreye finished it himself.
With the clock reaching zero, the Anna quarterback kept the ball and crossed the goal line for the game-winning touchdown.
Anna scored fewer points than it had all season. But it was still enough.
Anna remains undefeated at 6-0.
Special thanks to Colton Roper (@shots_by_ropier) for contributing the earlier-season photography featured in the article.
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