This Cleburne Yellow Jackets Sports minute is brought to you by Wright Tire Company
Cleburne officially wrapped up its first football season under head coach AJ Sheppard, finishing 2-8 overall. While the record may not stand out, it marks a clear step forward for a program that went winless in 2024.
The next challenge for the Yellow Jackets will be breaking their district losing streak, which now stands at 12 games. To their credit, Cleburne has competed in one of the toughest districts in Class 5A, sharing it with perennial powers Highland Park and Midlothian.
Offensively, the Jackets showed flashes of explosiveness, averaging nearly 350 yards per game. Senior quarterback Luke Stewart capped his high school career with 1,658 passing yards and nine touchdowns, adding five rushing scores. Senior receiver CJ Kensley was his top target, finishing with 700 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions.
Looking ahead, Sheppard’s focus will shift to replacing key offensive leaders while strengthening the defense for 2026.
On the basketball court, the Lady Jackets opened the 2025-26 season in impressive fashion Friday with a 59-38 home win over Midlothian. Cleburne continues non-district play Tuesday with a road matchup at Aledo.