08/31/2026
The Cleburne Yellowjackets opened the 2026 football season with a 54-27 loss to Granbury, despite a 274 yard night on 29 carries by senior running back Zaidyn Husband. Junior quarterback Dax Stewart, starting his first game and succeeding older brother Ryan as signal caller, had a solid debut and completed 13 of 26 passes for 147 yards as well as mixing in a six yard TD scamper of his own. Stewart's leading receiver was freshman Ja'Raye Scales, who hauled in three passes for 51 yards.
The Yellowjackets drew first blood of the contest on Stewart's touchdown run, but the Pirates countered with a 12 play, 79 yard to knot the score at 7-7.
A big kickoff return by Brashawn Brown set Cleburne up at the Granbury 49 and Cleburne wasted little time (1:16 to be exact), scoring on the third play when Husband thundered 42 yards to paydirt and Kenton Brown's PAT made the score 14-7. Again the denizens of Hood County struck quickly to tie the score at 14-14 on a four play drive keyed by a 41 yard pass and capped off by a 16 yard by elusive QB Caleb Johnson, who gave the Yellowjackets fits all night.
While still in the first quarter and starting with the ball at the 14, Cleburne turned in a very efficient one play, 86 yard drive and when Husband crossed the goal line the Yellowjacket went back ahead 21-14.
Granbury came right back with a 14 play, 75 yard drive to tie the score once again at 21 all. Stewart directed the Yellowjackets to the Granbury 38, but a touchdown run from there was called back on a penalty and the drive stalled with Cleburne turning it over on downs at the Pirate 22. Granbury's possession started with a 41 yard completion and finished with a 15 yard touchdown and a 28-21 lead, one which the visitors would not relinquish.
After a kickoff return to the 36, the Cleburne offense moved inside Granbury territory, but would eventually turn the ball over on downs. On the first play of the ensuing drive, the Granbury tailback scooted around the end for 71 yards to inside the Cleburne ten and on fourth and goal, they would push it in and extend their lead to 34-21.
After Cleburne had a short drive and punted the ball away, the Pirates took possession of the ball at their 31 and instead of running out the clock, content to take their 34-21 lead into the locker room at halftime, they attempted to move the ball downfield but junior defensive back Landon Moser stepped in front of a Johnson pass at the 44 yard line and Cleburne was in business with 41 seconds. Two runs by Husband and a completion by Stewart to senior wideout Junior Amaya, after keeping the play alive with some nifty footwork, moved the ball to the 10 yard line, but time ran out before they could run another play.
Granbury returned the second half kickoff to the 42, scored in four plays and the score was 41-21 Pirates with 10:26 still to play in the third quarter. Cleburne fumbled on their next possession, but the defense forced a Granbury punt. Cleburne started at their 35, but went "three and out" and from their 24 the visitors ran seven plays and missed a 35 yard FG. The Yellowjackets' next drive started off promisingly, but a fumble ended progress.
The Pirates capitalized on the turnover with a five play drive to run the score to 47-21 with 11:37 left in the game. Cleburne retaliated with an 8 play, 68 yard drive featuring a 24 yard completion from Stewart to junior WR Logan Sheriff and a 22 yard keeper by Stewart. A nine yard plunge by Husband would bring the score to 47-27. The Pirates then went 70 yards in 8 plays to close out the scoring on a one yard run by Johnson.
Cleburne plays this week on Thursday when they travel to historic Farrington Field in Ft Worth for a battle of Yellowjackets when they face Arlington Heights, where former Cleburne great Ky Kelm is on the staff. Kickoff is at 7:00.
