Friday nights in East Texas aren’t just about sports. It's a religion. Honestly, if you’ve ever stood on the sidelines at Lobo Stadium or felt the bleachers shake in Carthage, you know the final digits on the scoreboard are only half the story. The 2025 season wrapped up with some absolute heartbreakers and a few dominant runs that basically cemented certain coaches as legends.
We saw everything this year. Blowouts that were over by halftime. Gritty, mud-caked defensive battles. It was a wild ride.
The Big Winners: East Texas Football Scores That Mattered
When you talk about east texas football scores, the conversation usually starts and ends with Carthage. Coach Scott Surratt has turned that program into a machine. This December, they proved it again at AT&T Stadium. Facing off against West Orange-Stark in the 4A Division II state title game, the Bulldogs didn’t just win; they dominated.
The final score was 49-21.
It was Carthage’s 11th state championship. Think about that for a second. Eleven. Most programs pray for one in a lifetime. They did it with a balanced attack that made a very good West Orange-Stark team look like they were standing still.
But it wasn't just the Bulldogs.
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Small Town Heart and Big Stage Drama
Down in the 2A ranks, Joaquin had a massive year. They made it all the way to the 2A Division I State Championship. It was a grueling game against the Hamilton Bulldogs. Kinda tough to watch if you’re a Rams fan, honestly. Joaquin fought hard but eventually fell 21-7. Despite the loss, the season was a triumph for that community.
Then you had Newton. Man, the Newton Eagles. They were in a dogfight for the 3A Division II title against Wall. This was probably one of the best games of the entire state tournament. It came down to the wire, but Wall edged them out 25-24. One point. That’s the kind of score that haunts a town until two-a-days start up again in August.
Why the Regular Season Scores Set the Tone
You can't just look at the December trophies. To understand the east texas football scores from this past season, you have to look at the rivalries that peaked in September and October.
The Longview vs. Lufkin game is always a bloodbath. On August 29, Longview took the 88th meeting between these two giants with a 34-16 win. Lufkin actually jumped out to a 14-0 lead, which had the home crowd a little nervous. But the Lobos scored 21 unanswered points before the half. Mason Washington was a beast that night, putting up two touchdowns and basically carrying the momentum on his back.
- Longview 20, Marshall 7: A classic defensive struggle that showed the Lobos' grit.
- Texas High 49, Argyle Liberty Christian 37: An offensive explosion that put the state on notice.
- Kilgore 42, Stafford 0: A shutout that proved Kilgore's playoff readiness early on.
The Record Breakers
We have to talk about Kaegan Ash from Mount Enterprise. The kid broke the Texas all-time single-season rushing record this year. He surpassed the previous record of 4,045 yards. When you see a score like Mount Enterprise 64, Alba-Golden 27, you're seeing more than just a win. You're seeing a historical performance.
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Mount Enterprise eventually ran into a buzzsaw in the state semifinals, losing 28-8 to Shiner. But the scores Ash put up throughout the year were video-game numbers.
Beyond the High School Lights
It wasn't just the kids playing. The collegiate level in the region had a rollercoaster of a year too. East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M-Commerce) had a rough go in their 2025 campaign, finishing 3-9.
They had some brutal matchups, including a 77-3 loss to Florida State. Yeah, that one stung. But they showed sparks of life with a 52-45 win over UIW and a close 37-32 victory against HCU on Senior Day. It’s a rebuilding phase, but the fan base is still showing up.
Meanwhile, over in Marshall, East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) went 4-6. They started hot with a 47-8 blowout over Lyon College and a 28-0 shutout of Oklahoma Panhandle State. However, the back half of the season was tough, ending on a six-game losing streak.
Managing the Expectations of East Texas Football
People get really worked up about these games. It’s easy to look at a score like Gilmer 50, Henderson 14 and think one team is just "better." But in East Texas, injuries, coaching shifts, and even local weather play a huge role.
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Kilgore, for instance, had a phenomenal run to the state finals. They looked unstoppable until they hit Stephenville at Jerry World. That game was a defensive masterclass, ending 10-0 in favor of Stephenville. Getting shut out in a state final is a bitter pill, but Kilgore’s 14-1 record speaks for itself.
What the Critics Miss
National recruiters sometimes overlook the depth of talent here because the schools are smaller. But look at the scores against "big city" schools. When East Texas teams travel to Dallas or Houston, they usually hold their own or dominate.
The grit is just different.
How to Track These Scores Moving Forward
If you're trying to keep up with east texas football scores for the upcoming 2026 season, you need a strategy. Don't just rely on the big national apps; they miss the 1A and 2A scores all the time.
- Follow the local beat writers: Guys at the Tyler Morning Telegraph and the Longview News-Journal are in the trenches. They see the fumbles and the holding calls that don't show up on a ticker.
- Use the UIL App: For official playoff brackets and state-level data, it's the only way to go.
- Check the "Under the Lights" segments: Local stations like CBS19 do a great job of capturing the atmosphere, which helps put the scores in context.
The 2025 season gave us 11-time champions, record-breaking rushers, and one-point heartbreaks. As we head into the off-season, the weight rooms in Carthage, Gilmer, and Longview are already full. The 2026 season will be here before you know it.
Next Steps for Fans
To stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, start by reviewing the 2025 All-District lists. This will tell you which star players are graduating and which "young guns" are coming back to lead their teams. Also, keep an eye on the UIL realignment news usually released in February, as this will completely change who plays whom in the upcoming districts. Knowing the district shifts early is the best way to predict which rivalries will define the next set of scores.