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MELISSA — Melissa and Anna ranked second and third in offense among the Dallas area’s Class 5A teams entering Week 5, but when the neighboring schools met on Friday night, it wasn’t exactly a fireworks show.
In a contest largely characterized by stout defensive play, Anna’s fumble with 27 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter sealed Melissa’s 21-18 win at Coach Kenny Deel Stadium. Melissa scored its final touchdown, the game-winner, at the 11:57 mark of the fourth quarter. The drive began after senior Jacob Wasserman made a 26-yard interception return.
“These kids played so hard up against that type of offense,” Melissa coach Matt Nally said. “We knew our defense was good.”
Melissa held Anna, which averaged 484 yards per game ahead of the contest, to 326 yards on Friday. The unit forced three turnovers and only allowed two touchdowns.
“Against that team out there, that’s pretty impressive,” Nally said.
Picked to win District 4-5A II, Melissa improved to 3–0 in district play with the victory and completed its first contest of a tough stretch. After surviving Anna, Melissa meets Lovejoy next week. Lovejoy, now led by legendary coach Todd Dodge, beat Melissa 28-7 for the district 7-5AII title last season.
Anna, predicted to finish as the District 4-5AII runner-up, lost its second straight district contest. Before meeting Melissa on Friday, the 2023 Class 4A Division I state champion fell 66-62 to Lovejoy last week.
District 4-5AII, which also includes undefeated Prosper Walnut Grove and 2023 state semifinalist Frisco Emerson, is looking like a beast.
“This thing is like sharpening iron,” Nally said. “Whoever comes out of this district will be ready to go come late November and December football.”
Senior wide receiver Brett Pool scored Melissa’s two first-half touchdowns. He caught a 71-yard pass at the 9:12 mark of the first quarter and a 45-yard touchdown reception about six minutes later. Pool snagged those passes from three-star junior quarterback Noah Schuback, who finished the night with 133 yards and two touchdowns,
Anna found the end zone for the first time with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Edward Chumley rushed for a 1-yard touchdown.
Desmar Marroquin’s 30-yard field goal put Anna within two at halftime, when Melissa led 14-12.
Anna took its first lead of the game when Chumley scored a 3-yard touchdown with 7:24 remaining in the third quarter. That touchdown drive, which put Anna up 18-14, came after Chumley recovered Melissa’s muffed punt at the 8:38 mark of the third quarter.
This was the first time since 2021 that the two programs met. Melissa beat Anna 51-19 and won the District 7-4A Division I title before moving up to Class 5A in 2022. Anna moved up to Class 5A this season. The schools are less than 10 miles apart from each other and could meet again later this fall.
“I heard Edward Chumley on their team say ‘Hey, we’re going to see you in the playoffs,’” Nally said.
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