SHINER òòò½ÊÓƵ” After a three-year hiatus, the Shiner Comanches are back in the state championship game.
The last time the Comanches headed to Arlington in 2021 they beat Hawley 47-12 to cap off back-to-back state championships.
Shiner (12-3) seeks a fifth state championship as it returns to AT&T Stadium to face Muenster (13-2) in the Class 2A, Division II state championship game at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™re happy to be here, but weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re not satisfied,òòò½ÊÓƵ Shiner quarterback Carson Schuette said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe want to win this game, thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s the goal every year, win the state championship and to finally be here feels amazing, but the jobòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not finished.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The biggest challenge Muenster presents Shiner is with its quarterback Casen Carney. Carney has thrown for 2,990 yards and 34 touchdowns this season, while rushing for 1,446 and 28 touchdowns.
òòò½ÊÓƵœOffensively they have some weapons, but the biggest one is going to be the quarterback,òòò½ÊÓƵ Shiner head coach Daniel Boedeker said. òòò½ÊÓƵœHe makes a lot of plays for them in the run game, heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s very good at extending plays in the passing game, so weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re definitely going to have to have a plan for him and weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to have to play very good football to match him.òòò½ÊÓƵ
In the semifinals against Bremond, it was Schuette who led the Comanches. The quarterback ran for 258 yards and four touchdowns, while passing for another 94 yards.
Shiner needed Schuette to take over last week after falling behind 12-0 in the first quarter. The 12-point deficit faced last week was the largest deficit Shiner has faced since a 21-7 deficit against Poth on Sept. 13.
The Comanches ultimately were able to come back and win. Shiner had not played a one-score game since the 21-14 loss to Poth.
Winning last week after trailing by multiple scores has boosted Shineròòò½ÊÓƵ™s confidence.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThat comeback was just proving to ourselves that we work very well together as a team,òòò½ÊÓƵ Shiner linebacker Kye Adamek said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis week we know we have to come out of the locker room at a high level and ready to play, not sluggish like we did last week.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Shiner has reached the state final by doing what it does at a high level. Defensively, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s about rallying to the football and gang tackling. On offense, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s controlling the ball and the clock and keep the opposing offense off the field.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt comes down to us playing really sound football, playing our technique and doing our job,òòò½ÊÓƵ Boedeker said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis week is going to require us to be good tacklers, thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s really going to be tested this week and offensively weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to have to be clean.òòò½ÊÓƵ
After an 0-3 start Shiner has won 12 straight games. Against Class 2A, Division II competition the Comanches are 12-0 with only one win coming by less than 18 points until last week.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThat was everything just to see these guys fight like that and see us fight back,òòò½ÊÓƵ Schuette said. òòò½ÊÓƵœTo be able to come back and win meant everything to us and now we know we can come back even if we get down early.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The emphasis for Shiner this week is to play clean, mistake free football.
òòò½ÊÓƵœYou canòòò½ÊÓƵ™t make mistakes in this type of football game, or any game this time of year,òòò½ÊÓƵ Boedeker said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe have to be able to control the line of scrimmage, the trenches are going to be big and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s going to be a matter of who can make a play at a crucial time.òòò½ÊÓƵ
