Shelby County Today

December 5, 2025 - The Joaquin Rams were the first to get on the board in the 2025 UIL Texas Football Conference 2A Division I Regional Championship with Cooper Bragg making a 6-yard touchdown against Elysian Fields Yellowjackets with 8:46 left in the 1st quarter. The two-point conversion was good and the Rams led 8-0. The Yellowjackets quickly responded 14 seconds later by scoring with a deep pass into the end zone. Their field goal kick was good bringing the game to 8-7.

The Rams offense moved the ball down the field and scored again with 3:03 left in the 1st quarter. Trenton Runnels #1 ran in from the 4-yard-line and Cooper Bragg #2 got the two-point conversion. The Rams' lead of 16-7 stayed the same until the end of the quarter.

Less than a minute into the 2nd quarter, the Rams were in scoring position and Trenton Runnels #1 got into the end zone from around the 4-yard-line. Londell Parker #8 pushed his way across the goal line for the two-point conversion and a widening lead of 24-7 Rams.

The Rams kicked to the Yellowjacks and Conner Rios #87 tackled the Yellowjackets at their 27-yard-line. Elysian Fields gained a couple first downs but then a bad snap resulted in a fumble which was recovered by Aiden Kilpatrick #53. Next play, Joaquin had the ball at Elysian Fields 40-yard-line when Cooper Bragg #2 was handed the ball, broke away, and made it to the red zone at the 10-yard-line. A couple of plays up the middle drove the ball to the 1-yard-line. On 4th and goal, Trenton Runnels #1 scored and an untouched walk-in from Jacob Gatlin #3 for the extra-point brought the score to 32-7 with 7:50 left in the 2nd quarter.

A successful pass play for the Yellowjackets got them into the end zone with 6:40 left on the clock in the first half. The extra point attempt was good; bringing the score to 32-14.

The Yellowjackets kicked off to the Rams and Cooper Bragg #2 caught the ball on the 20-yard-line and returned it to the 45. Next play, the ball was handed off to Cooper Bragg #2 who carried the ball 55 yards for a touchdown. For the first time in the game, the Rams two-point conversion attempt failed and the score was 38-14 with 6:21 left in the 2nd quarter.

The Rams kicked to the Yellowjackets and they got the ball at the 50-yard-line. Next play, the Rams defense kept the pressure on as Amarion Wilson #6 tackled their quarterback who flipped the ball to his running back who is then tackled by Zac Kelley #7 to end the play with an 11-yard loss. The Yellowjackets managed to recover lost yardage and at 4th and 7 threw the ball only to have the play broke up by Zac Kelly #7.

Joaquin increased the margin of their lead  as they made a final touchdown with 8 seconds on the clock before the first half ended. With the ball in the red zone on the 4-yard-line, Trenton Runnels #1 passed the ball to Cooper Bragg #2 who pushed up the middle for the score. For the two-point conversion, the ball was given to Jacob Gatlin #3 who ran it in on the right side. Joaquin lead 46 to Elysian Fields 14.

It’s Joaquin possession going into the 3rd quarter and they moved the ball down the field down to the 5-yard line. The Joaquin running backs pushed quarterback Trenton Runnels #1 across the line for a touchdown. The Yellowjackets make a good defensive play and stop the two-point conversion. The Rams extended their lead to 52-14 with just over 7 mins left in the 3rd quarter.

On the first play after Elysian Fields received the ball, Joaquin’s Jacob Gatlin #3 intercepted a screen pass attempt by Elysian Fields to regain possession of the ball on the 31-yard-line. Next play, Amarion Wilson #6 ran the ball to the 22-yard-line of the Yellowjackets for a gain of 9 yards. On a quarterback fake, Trenton Runnels #1 runs through the line and slides to the 16-yard-line. Two plays more and running back Jacob Gatlin #3 ran in for a touchdown. The Two-point conversion was good as Londell Parker #8 brought the ball into the end zone for a 60-14 lead with 5 minutes on the clock in the third quarter.

The Yellowjackets quarterback broke away down the field when Joaquin’s Zac Kelley #7 had a big take down at the Rams’ 45. The Elysian Field’s quarterback got through again and was brought down by Conner Rios #87 and Amarion Wilson #6. The Ram’s defense continued to put the pressure on the Yellowjackets’ offense shutting down their passing game. With 3rd and 17, the Yellowjackets tried to pass the ball and it was picked off by Amarian #6 with 2:50 left in the 3rd quarter.

The Rams moved the ball down the field. With the line of scrimmage at the Yellowjackets 49-yard-line, Amarion Wilson #6 was handed the ball by the quarterback and made it through the gap to score with 10 seconds on the clock in the 3rd quarter. Rams’ David Martinez #15 kicked a 37-yard field goal to bring the score to 67-14.

Joaquin kicked the ball to Elysian Fields and it was fielded at the 15-yard-line and returned 10 yards before Landon Henry #5 tackled the runner at the 25-yard-line. After a play, the 3rd quarter ended. On the first play of possession of the Yellowjackets in the 4th quarter, Jacob Gatlin #3 intercepted a pass attempt giving the Rams the ball at the 43-yard-line of the Yellowjackets. The next play, Jadyn Brown #9 ran through to the 20-yard-line into the red zone. The ball was handed off to David Martinez #15 who took the ball to the 13-yard-line. Martinez #15 again got the ball taking it to the 5-yard-line and a 1st down. Martinez took possession of the ball again and ran into the end zone, but it was called back for a false start. The quarterback then handed the ball to Jadyn Brown #9 who ran in for a touchdown. David Martinez #15 kicked the ball for a 37-yard field goal for a new score of 74-14.

The Yellowjackets received the kickoff and steadily made their way down the field into the red zone to the 1-yard-line. With 6 mins left in the game, Elysian Fields scored a touchdown and with a good extra point, they brought the score to 74-21.

The game ended with a final score of 74-21 and the Rams advanced in the Region 3 Championship. On Friday, December 5, the Joaquin Rams as the home team will face their District Champions - San Augustine Wolves at Henderson High School with a 7:30pm game time. The Rams fell to the Wolves on October 10 by one touchdown with a final score of Joaquin 21 - San Augustine 28. Tickets are $10. To purchase tickets online: https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/hendersonisd/.

November 22, 2025 - The Joaquin Rams seized the 2025 UIL Texas Football Conference 2A Division I Region 3 Area Championships with a decisive 41-8 victory.

The Joaquin and Honey Grove Area Playoff game started off with a good defensive battle between the teams. Until, Rams player Cooper Bragg #2 made a 50-yard long touchdown run to put the first score on the board with 4:57 left in the first quarter.

Joaquin’s defense held Honey Grove the remainder of the quarter with it ending Rams 7 - Warriors 0. They went into the 2nd quarter with possession of the ball and Jacob Gatlin #3 made a big 60-yard run to the 10 and into scoring position. A few more plays and Cooper Bragg #2 on a run from around the 5-yard line makes it in for the second touchdown of the game, Joaquin 14 - Honey Grove 0, with 10:09 left in the 2nd quarter.

The Warriors' offense struggled to make movement down the field and failed to connect passing attempts. With just over 5 mins left in the 2nd quarter, Jacob Gatlin #3 increased the Rams lead to 21-0 with a touchdown run from around the 45-yard line. The first half ended 21-0 Joaquin.

The third quarter started off with a strong defense shown by both sides. With 5 minutes left in 3rd quarter, Cooper Bragg #2 made a long run to give the team good field position. Quarterback Trenton Runnels #1 threw to Conner Rios #87 to get the games 1st reception for the Rams. Next play, Trenton Runnels #1 gets into the end zone. The extra-point attempt is stopped and the score is Joaquin 27 - Honey Grove 0 with 3:04 left.

To finish out the 3rd quarter, the Rams defense continued to put pressure on the Warriors. With fog rolling in, the Rams got the ball and Cooper Bragg #2 quickly took it in for another 60-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt was good bringing the score to Joaquin 34 - Honey Grove 0 with 11:05 left on the clock.

The Warriors showed a spark on their next possession, however, on the 3rd down, Joaquin intercepted the ball on a pass attempt by Honey Grove and ends the Warriors chance again to get on the board. On the Rams first play, Amarion Wilson #6 got the ball for a first down followed by Jadyn Brown #9 getting another first down. Amarion Wilson #6 broke through and went untouched into the end zone to bring the Rams to 41 after another good extra point by kicker David Martinez #15, a freshman.

On Honey Groves’ next possession they moved the ball down the field quickly and within a few plays, they made their way into the end zone. A successful two-point conversion gets the Warriors on the board with 8 to the Rams 41.

Degan Lee #4 made a long run on the first play of the Rams possession with 2 minutes left in the game giving the Rams excellent field position on the 10-yard line. The Rams took a knee to end the game with a final score of 41-8.

As the Area Champions, the Joaquin Rams will face the Elysian Fields Yellowjackets in the Quarterfinals on Friday, November 28.

November 19, 2025 - Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing reports are updated each week, usually by Thursday morning. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the information from bait shops, marinas and fishing guides. Only the local lakes are listed below. If you would like to see the fishing report for other Texas lakes, click the following link https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PW.

Toledo Bend

FAIR. 71 degrees; 4.55 feet below pool. There’s really no change from last week, but rain is expected over the next several days, and some fresh water should help the lake conditions a lot. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing.

Sam Rayburn

SLOW. Water stained; 80 degrees; 9.19 feet below pool. The lake is slowly falling, creating lots of humps and shallow areas, so boaters should use caution. Water temperature is around 90 degrees, and bass are being caught shallow on points and pockets with topwater frogs and senkos, while crankbaits are working on points and drains and jigs or Carolina rigs are producing off ledges and structure. Crappie are starting to stack up on brush and timber, white bass are schooling off points, and catfish have moved into deeper water and creek channels with cut bait working well. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service.

Pinkston

FAIR. Water light stain; 61 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair for fish between 3-6 pounds. Target grass lines and points with flukes on small jig head, or ribbon tailed Texas rigged worms. Crappie are fair on brush piles. Bluegill are excellent on small crappie jigs with a slip bobber. Catfish are slow. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Naconiche

FAIR. Water stained; 63.5 degrees; full pool. The lake has begun to clear, and some good fish are starting to stack up, making it a great time for power-fishing tactics such as squarebills, jerkbaits, glide baits, topwaters, and deep-divers. The early and late bite has been strongest, though midday can still produce fish through the remainder of the fall and winter run. Crappie populations remain good, while catfish continue to be slow. Report by Eric Wolfe, NacoTack Fishing Service. Largemouth are slow rattle traps and bladed jigs on shallow grass lines. Crappie are slow to fair with chartreuse jigs. Catfish are slow. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

Nacogdoches

GOOD. Water stained; 63 degrees; 1.93 feet below pool. Water temperatures are dropping quickly. Largemouth bass are excellent on swimbaits along grass lines, and bladed jigs in shallow water. Crappie are fair in standing timber with live minnows or chartreuse jigs. Fish are 1.5-2 pounds. Catfish are fair on cut bait or live minnows. Report by Cal Cameron, Cal's ETX Guide Service.

November 11, 2025 - Shelbyville Dragons will play Jewett Leon on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in Palestine at 7pm. Shelbyville will be the visiting team.

Ticket Prices are $8 adults and $5 students. Passes accepted are District Passes, Coaches Passes, Senior Citizen Passes.

Go Dragons!

Below is a link to purchase tickets for Thursday's playoff game. All ticket sales will be online. There will be no tickets purchased at the gate.

QR codes will be posted at the stadium if needed. 

http://secure.payk12.com/school/Palestine-High-School/983/item/275610