West Orange-Stark at Shepherd: UIL Week 9 Preview

Fri 10/23, 2026, 7:30 PM | Shepherd HS | District 10-4A Division II (UIL)

By Remus Dixon, Gridiron Gumbo

The setup

First place in 10-4A DII on the line.

T-Rohn says: West Orange-Stark at Shepherd, first place on the line. WO-S fans travel with their tradition like it’s a carry-on bag. Shepherd fans brought the stats and want to compare luggage.

Records, results & standings

• CONFIRMED (MaxPreps team schedule, checked Oct. 19): West Orange-Stark 5-2, 2-0 district. Results: W 44-28 @Newton, W 21-9 Nederland, W 42-0 Bridge City, L 18-7 @Bay City, L 23-7 Carthage, W 42-28 @Hamshire-Fannett*, W 38-30 Silsbee*.
• CONFIRMED (MaxPreps team schedule, checked Oct. 19): Shepherd 6-1, 2-0 district (1st). Results: W 42-27 @Hargrave, W 44-0 @Tarkington, W 52-6 @Coldspring-Oakhurst, L 35-0 Madisonville, W 50-0 HSI, W 34-28 @Hardin-Jefferson*, W 36-6 @Jasper*.
• REPORTED (Beaumont Enterprise ‘In the huddle’ district preview, Aug 2026): WO-S head coach Hiawatha Hickman; the Mustangs went 12-4 in 2025 and reached the Class 4A-II state title game. RB Khelvy Jefferson was the preseason player to watch.

* = district game

Storylines & stakes

• Unbeaten in district on both sides, so this is likely the 10-4A-II title game. WO-S has already beaten the two other contenders, H-F and Silsbee.
• Shepherd’s only loss was 35-0 to Madisonville; its two shutouts came against Tarkington (44-0) and HSI (50-0), and it also won 42-27 at Hargrave. WO-S’s losses came to non-district Bay City and Carthage.
• Playoff format: UIL normally advances the top four teams in each district (general UIL format, REPORTED).

Styles & coaching notes

Shepherd’s defense allows 14.6 ppg (SETXsports); WO-S allows 19.4.

T-Rohn says: Shepherd hosts, so the visitors from Orange County will learn that East Texas BBQ and Cajun boudin can coexist in one parking lot. Barely, but they can.

The pick

TAKE: West Orange-Stark 29, Shepherd 21 — WO-S has already beaten the district’s other contenders, Hamshire-Fannett 42-28 and Silsbee 38-30, and both of its losses came outside the district (MaxPreps). Shepherd allows fewer points (14.6 ppg to 19.4, SETXsports) and is at home, but its shutouts came against Tarkington and HSI, and Madisonville shut it out in its only loss.

T-Rohn says: Tradition vs. numbers, and we’re riding with the Mustangs’ tradition. Shepherd fans, bring the noise anyway.

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