ANNA — After Anna won its first state championship last December, Seth Parr felt stress set in.
Anna’s 26-0 bludgeoning of Tyler Chapel Hill in the Class 4A Division I state title game served as the perfect send off for the school’s last contest in Class 4A. But that achievement was followed by uncertainty and change.
“One day, I’ll be able to enjoy it. As soon as that game was over, I’m thinking we’re having to replace all of the defense,” Parr said. “With success, you’ve got some coaches that get a chance to move on, so we’ve had to deal with that.”
Anna is also moving up to Class 5A Division II this year, where it will share a district with state power Melissa, Todd Dodge-led Lovejoy and Frisco Emerson, a 5A Division II state semifinalist last season.
District 4-5AII has been dubbed “the new District of Doom,” and should provide a big welcome to Class 5A for Anna.
“If we moved up last year, the tone would be totally different,” Parr said. “It wouldn’t be as urgent because I knew what we had and I was very confident, no matter [if we played in] 5A or 4A with that group. Now, this group, we’re getting a whole new 11 on defense. Luckily, we got a lot of offensive guys back.”
A veteran defense proved pivotal in Anna’s state championship shutout of Chapel Hill. That unit allowed Chapel Hill just 19 yards of offense in the first half of the title game. Senior linebackers Grayson Stewart and CJ Miller starred in the game, with Miller being named the contest’s defensive MVP.
While Anna loses those two leaders, along with Tulsa signee Jacob Emmers and Sean Steens at wide receiver, it returns quarterback Ziondre Williams, running back Edward Chumley and offensive lineman Peyton Miller.
Williams had a breakout season as a sophomore, passing for 2,860 yards and 39 touchdowns. The rising junior with offers from UTSA, Louisiana Tech, Pitt and Texas State completed 61% of his passes, while rushing for 838 yards and nine touchdowns.
He’ll have protection from rising sophomore Miller, a phenom with more than a dozen college offers, and will wield rising senior Chumley in the backfield. Chumley, the offensive MVP of last year’s 4A Division I state championship, rushed for 1,035 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023.
Rising senior wide receiver Ronald Bell, who had 34 receptions for 495 yards and seven touchdowns last season, also returns. Bell missed stretches of last season due to injury.
“I think he’s better than he was then,” Williams said of Bell. “He’s gotten way better on his footwork. He’s faster, and his hands got even better. His hands are immaculate.”
Williams will have another weapon on offense in Ashton Ansley, a three-star wide receiver who transferred to Anna from Tomball Memorial.
“We’ve got a good lineup still, so as long as we work everyday, we’re going to get better,” Williams said.
Before Anna tackles district play, the team will meet Fort Worth Southwest and Gunter to open the season.
That means Anna won’t meet rival Celina, which remained in Class 4A Division I, this season. The Texas high school football world won’t get to see one of the state’s most exciting rivalries play out on the field in 2024, but Parr thinks skipping that game this year is the best thing for his team right now.
“We were going to play Celina Week 1, and have them and Gunter. And then Melissa and Lovejoy. I didn’t think it was very smart,” Parr said. “And it’s such an emotional game. But we’ll pick it back up again.”
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