Wakeland football has made history this season, breaking the record for most games won to start a season at 8-0. From thrilling victories against rival Reedy to dominant performances against Centennial, and a suspenseful win over Frisco, Wakeland has set the bar high for the rest of the season.
This brings a new energy that pushes the team forward.
“It’s a great accomplishment and big for the football program,” sophomore Jack Youngblood said.
In this article, we’ll recap the dramatic comeback win against rivals Reedy, the unforgettable homecoming night game against Centennial, and the nail-biting finish against Frisco. Wakeland isn’t looking to match past success — they’re focused on achieving more and making a deep playoff run this season.
Wakeland took on the Reedy Lions at Kuykendall Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 18. The game started off slow, with Wakeland down 0-10 going into the fourth quarter. Jayden Maples connected with Grayson Myer on a 9-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 7-10. Later, the two found each other again for a go-ahead 56-yard touchdown, making the score 14-10.
Reedy had three minutes left on the clock to respond. Their quarterback scrambled for a first down near midfield, but Wakeland’s defense tightened up and came up with a big fourth-down stop to turn the ball over. Wakeland took the field with the final minute in victory formation, bringing the clock down to zero and securing the win.
The team’s chemistry brought them together to take the victory. The players give credit to the time they spend together off the field.
“We have team events and dinners every week, and we all trust each other to do our jobs,” junior Edward Selig said.
The win solidified Wakeland as a serious playoff contender, and the fans loved it.
On Oct. 3, the Wolverines faced the Centennial Titans under the bright lights of Toyota Stadium during the homecoming game, a matchup with the potential to go down in the record books. Projected to win big, the Wolverines stayed humble, treating each opponent the same.
“We take every week seriously and just try to win every week. We all believe we have a chance to be the best team this school has had,” junior Edward Selig said.
With the crowd roaring under the stadium lights, Wakeland got off to a hot start and never looked back, beating the Titans 42-0. The Wolverines dominated the ground game, rushing for 206 yards, while senior quarterback Jayden Maples added 188 yards through the air. The defense also put on a show, allowing zero points and constantly pressuring the Titans throughout the game.
The dominant victory in this homecoming classic showed that Wakeland is here and ready to build off its hot start.
Following the record-breaking win against Centennial and the dominant victory against Heritage, Wakeland had a chance to extend its record and reach 8-0 on the season. On Thursday, Oct. 16, playing at The Star, the suspense was high in this rivalry game.
Wakeland got off to a good start, with quarterback Jayden Maples throwing a touchdown to Lucas Mangham and a pair to Cedric Thornton, giving Wakeland a 24-14 lead going into halftime. However, this wouldn’t be an annual rivalry game without something big happening.
Frisco fought back, eventually taking a 28-27 lead with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter. On what seemed to be the final drive of the game, Wakeland marched down the field, reaching the 4-yard line. The offense kept it on the ground, looking to take the lead, but the Frisco defense came up big, forcing a fumble with four minutes remaining.
The chances were looking slim, but the Wakeland defense did not give up, forcing a three-and-out and a Frisco punt with two minutes left. Once again, Wakeland drove down the field all the way to the 1-yard line.
With time running out, junior running back Braxton Cole muscled his way into the end zone with six seconds left. After a successful two-point conversion, the Wolverines took a 35-28 lead with seconds remaining.
The Frisco offense ran out of time, and the Wolverines extended their record-setting season to 8-0. This accomplishment can be felt around campus as the team continues its success.
“It’s been very exciting, which is making it more fun to go to the games and watch as a fan,” sophomore Jack Youngblood said.
Make sure to show up for the Wolverines next week against our biggest rivals, The Lone Star Rangers!
