Shiner determined to continue improvement in regional final
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Mike Forman, Advocate Sports Editor
AdvoSports.com Article | Comanche Football | Shiner Comanche Sports Home Page
SHINER - Shiner coach Daniel Boedeker recognized the potential of this year's team.
Shiner is making its first regional final appearance since 2022 when it takes on Junction at 7 p.m. Thursday at San Antonio's Heroes Stadium. photo by Howard Esse, special to the Advocate
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But Boedeker also realized the players would have to maintain confidence and persevere against a difficult non-district schedule.
"We weren't sure," Boedeker said. "We knew we had the capability with some of the kids we had coming out. It was going to be a matter of developing throughout the course of the year."
The Comanches (10-3) lost their first three games to Class 3A opponents, but have not lost since heading into Thursday's 7 p.m. Class 2A, Division II regional final game against Junction (12-1) at San Antonio's Heroes Stadium.
"Playing some really good teams early has helped us correct a lot of mistakes," Boedeker said. "It's helped us grow up. They've learned how to play fast and that definitely contributed to us being able to play right now."
Shiner is still a young team with a small senior class, but it was motivated by last season's loss in the area round of the playoffs.
"The upperclassmen really took that to heart," said quarterback Carson Schuette. "We worked hard during the offseason and made sure we were going to make a run this year."
If You Go:
Class 2A, Division II Regional Final
Shiner Comanches vs. Junction Eagles
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: San Antonio Heroes Stadium
Radio: KYKM, 94.3 FM & KTXM, 99.9 FM
Internet: txthunderradio.com
X: @mikeforman21
Boedeker and his staff noticed the progress in a close loss to Poth, followed by wins over Industrial and Luling, and it continued through District 15 competition.
"You could see it each week," Boedeker said. "Coming off of each game. They're very coachable kids, they love football, they come out here and work hard every day and you're going to get better that way."
Junction, like Shiner, dropped from Division I to Division II in the most recent realignment and reclassification.
The Eagles' lone loss was to Mason and are a threat with their team speed.
"I feel like the defense has improved a lot playing those bigger teams," said linebacker Kye Adamek. "Against their speed, we have to stay low and make them run to the sideline. We've all learned to stay low. Earlier in the season, the younger guys would stand up as the game went along. Now they're staying down. Most of the young backers are learning how to get their gaps."
Shiner's growth has carried it to the regional final for the first time since 2022, but the Comanches are far from satisfied.
"We learned a lot from last year," Boedeker said. "We had a lot of young guys last year so the experience they got was definitely valuable coming into this year.
"The game has slowed down just a tad for them. The knowledge of assignments was so much better than last year and we were able to add things and do things. We've made very few mistakes, which is huge."
NOTES: The winner of the Shiner-Junction game will advance to the semifinals against the winner of Friday's Grapeland-Bremond game.
Mike Forman is the sports editor of the Victoria Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6588 or mforman@vicad.com
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