Friday nights in East Texas aren't just about a game. They’re a full-blown spiritual experience. If you’ve ever sat in the aluminum stands at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, you know that Tyler High School football carries a weight that most programs simply can't touch. It’s a legacy built on three state titles and a roster of legends that sounds like a Pro Bowl invitation list.
But honestly? The last few years have been a bit of a rollercoaster for the Lions.
Under Head Coach Rashaun Woods—yes, the same Rashaun Woods who tore up the Big 12 at Oklahoma State and went in the first round of the NFL draft—the program is in the middle of a gritty rebuild. We’re talking about a 4-7 season in 2025. On paper, it looks like a struggle. But if you were there for the 66-70 shootout loss against Highland Park or the nail-biting 17-16 win over Joshua, you’d know this team is a few bounces away from being a juggernaut again.
The Rose City Rivalry: What Really Happened in 2025
You can’t talk about Tyler High School football without mentioning the "Rose City Rivalry" against Tyler Legacy. It’s the 70th meeting of these two schools, and the vibe in the city leading up to that game is basically electric. In 2025, Legacy took it 48-21, narrowing Tyler High's all-time series lead to a razor-thin 35-34-1.
It was a tough night for the Lions. Caden Granberry and Trey Haralson tried to keep them in it with a few touchdown connections, but Legacy’s ground game was just too much.
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Yet, even in a loss, the Lions showed why they’re the heart of the city. Before the kickoff, students from both schools revealed the results of the 35th Annual Pantry Raid. They collected 27,077 pounds of food for the East Texas Food Bank. It’s one of those things people forget when they’re screaming about play-calling: these kids are actually out here changing their community while wearing those Lion helmets.
The Rashaun Woods Era and the 5A Grind
Coach Woods took over a program that has seen better days, record-wise, but the talent is undeniably there. The 2025 roster was led by seniors like Caden J. Granberry at quarterback and Trusten Mallard on the line.
One thing most people get wrong is thinking Tyler High is "down" just because the record isn't 10-0. Look at the schedule they play. They’re in District 7-5A Division I. That means they’re banging heads with Highland Park, Midlothian, and Burleson Centennial every single week. There are no "off" nights in this district.
The 2025 season ended with a heartbreaking 43-50 loss to Cedar Park in the playoffs. 50 points! The offense is explosive. Granberry and his favorite targets like Cadarius McMiller and Trey Haralson were putting up video game numbers. The issue has been the defensive side of the ball, where they’ve struggled to get stops when it matters most, like in that 43-49 loss to Midlothian.
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Notable Alumni: The "Cujo" DNA
If you want to know why people in Tyler are so obsessed with this team, just look at who has walked through those locker room doors.
- Earl Campbell: The "Tyler Rose." He’s literally the blueprint for the modern power back.
- Aaron Ross: A Jim Thorpe Award winner and two-time Super Bowl champ.
- Greg Ward Jr.: The guy who basically willed the Houston Cougars to relevance and then reinvented himself in the NFL.
- Kendall Hunter: A beast for the 49ers for years.
When a kid puts on the Tyler High jersey, they aren't just playing for their friends; they’re playing for the ghosts of the 1994 "Showstopper" team that beat Plano East in the most famous high school game ever televised. That 1994 game won an ESPY for a reason. It’s baked into the soil here.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Lions?
So, where does Tyler High go from here?
The 2026 outlook is actually pretty bright, despite losing some key seniors. The core of the team is young. Markeithian Potts and Sedaedrien McGee are names you’re going to hear a lot more of. The coaching staff is focusing heavily on tightening up the secondary and finding more consistency in the trenches.
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If you’re a fan or a scout, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Defensive Reform: Coach Woods has been vocal about needing to limit the "big play" explosive scores that haunted them in 2025.
- Quarterback Transition: With Granberry graduating, the battle for the QB1 spot this spring will be the biggest story in town.
- The Schedule: Expect a heavy non-district schedule again. They don’t duck anyone.
The reality is that Tyler High School football is a sleeping giant. The history is too deep and the talent pool in East Texas is too rich for them to stay at .500 for long.
If you're planning to catch a game next season, get to Rose Stadium early. Wear blue. Buy a program. And don't leave until the final whistle, because if the history of this program has taught us anything, it’s that the Lions are never truly out of it until the clock hits zero.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the 2026 Schedule: Follow the Tyler ISD athletics portal in late spring for the official UIL realignment and schedule release.
- Attend Spring Ball: The annual Blue-White scrimmage is the best way to see the new quarterback battle firsthand without the Rose Stadium crowds.
- Support the Pantry Raid: Keep an eye out for the 36th Annual food drive during the next rivalry week—it's a tradition that matters more than the final score.