Azle Overpowers Granbury in Second Half for Homecoming Win | Full Game Report
AZLE, Texas (Oct. 29, 2025) — Under the bright homecoming lights at Hornet Stadium, the Azle Hornets flipped a first-half deadlock into a dominant second-half performance, powering past the Granbury Pirates 35 to 13 on Thursday night.
The win snapped a three-game skid for Azle and gave the Hornets (2-6, 1-4 district) renewed life late in the season, while Granbury fell to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in district play.
After a 7-7 halftime tie, senior quarterback Derrek Vowell (#15) took control, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another. Sophomore running back King Stephens (#2) added two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air, combining for 136 total yards to pace the Hornets.
“It was tied up at half, and honestly, we were dead,” said head coach Devon Dorris. “The sidelines were dead, the locker room was dead. I told them we only get so many opportunities, especially on homecoming, and we needed to bring energy. They did that in the second half, and it made all the difference.”
First-Half Stalemate
Both defenses traded blows through the first two quarters, setting the tone with physical play and key stops. Azle broke through first as Stephens pushed in from five yards out midway through the opening quarter, capping a drive built on short runs and a third-down completion from Vowell to Aiden Mackey (#1).
Granbury answered late in the first when sophomore running back Hunter Rodgers (#18) punched in a short touchdown to tie it, and the teams went to halftime knotted at 7-7 after multiple punts and defensive stands on both sides.
“We played solid defense early,” said Granbury head coach Bobby Allison. “Both sides were locked in, and we challenged our guys at halftime to come out and win the third quarter.”
Hornets Strike After the Half
The third quarter belonged entirely to Azle. Vowell opened the half by leading a seven-play, 60-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown strike to Mackey in the right corner of the end zone. The Hornets fed off the crowd’s energy and never looked back.
“We didn’t play great in the first half,” Dorris said. “But I was proud of the kids for the energy they brought. I really think that was the difference.”
Azle’s defense then tightened its grip. Linebackers Josh Guevara (#20) and Matt Davis (#26) led the unit in limiting Granbury to just 38 total yards in the third quarter while forcing three consecutive punts.
“Those kids played really well,” Dorris added. “Josh and Matt stood out tonight, but I’m proud of our entire defensive line and how they showed up.”
Vowell extended the Hornets’ lead later in the quarter with a 16-yard touchdown toss to Mackey, then kept the ball himself for a short rushing score to push Azle ahead 28-7. Stephens added his second rushing touchdown late in the third, bursting 24 yards through traffic to cap a 21-point quarter.
Pirates Battle but Fall Short
Granbury’s offense showed flashes of rhythm early in the fourth when Austin Reeves (#9) connected with Conner VanQuill (#7) for a 19-yard touchdown, trimming the deficit to 35-13. But turnovers and field position proved costly down the stretch, including a late interception deep in Azle territory.
“We just couldn’t move the chains into the wind,” Allison said. “They executed better than we did in that third quarter. Credit to them, they capitalized on every short field.”
Despite the loss, Allison emphasized the lessons in defeat. “There’s always something to learn,” he said. “We tell our kids all the time to work hard, do things the right way, and represent your community with class. That’s what being a Granbury Pirate is about.”
Homecoming Heroics
For Vowell, the night was special in more ways than one.
“It’s my last homecoming here,” the senior said. “My girlfriend actually won homecoming, so that was really cool. But it’s a big win for us. I think it’s a turning point.”
Vowell finished 13-of-19 passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns, adding 47 rushing yards and another score. Stephens carried 17 times for 94 yards and two total touchdowns, while Mackey caught five passes for 68 yards and two scores.
For Granbury, Reeves completed 11-of-24 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown, with Rodgers rushing for 67 yards and a score.
BOX SCORE
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granbury | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Azle | 7 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 35 |
TEAM STATS
| Category | Azle | Granbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 357 | 228 |
| Passing | 188 | 145 |
| Rushing | 169 | 83 |
| First Downs | 19 | 10 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 (INT) |
| Penalties | 5–45 | 7–65 |
| Time of Possession | 26:30 | 21:30 |
Stats and play-by-play are live in-game estimates.