By Devin Hasson
GARLAND — When senior quarterback Christian McCaffrey suffered an injury earlier this season, Sachse needed someone to step forward and keep its offense moving.
Austin Taylor has answered the call.
The senior quarterback delivered his biggest performance yet Thursday, throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns as Sachse rolled past Garland 52-16 in its regular-season finale at Homer B. Johnson Stadium.
Taylor completed 18 of 25 passes, highlighted by a school-record 99-yard touchdown strike to Julian Madison, as the Mustangs finished the regular season 9-1 overall and 6-1 in District 9-6A.
Taylor had plenty of support from the Mustangs’ playmakers.
Brendon Quinn rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries while adding five receptions for 66 yards and another score.
DJ Doyle caught six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, giving Taylor a reliable target throughout the game.
Sachse also received contributions from its defense and special teams, which helped turn a competitive opening quarter into a comfortable victory.
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By Art Stricklin
(Click on the link to view a photo gallery from the match: https://www.dotphoto.com/viewalbum.asp?AID=6890194)
ROWLETT — Sachse’s volleyball season came to an end Thursday, but the Lady Mustangs showed the determination and resilience that defined their 2026 campaign.
Facing a powerful Rockwall squad in the Class 6A bi-district playoffs, Sachse battled throughout the match before falling 25-17, 25-7, 25-16 in straight sets.
Despite the loss, head coach Rikki Jones praised her team’s effort and refusal to give up.
“I’m really proud of their determination and fight in this game,” Jones said. “Even when they got down big in the second game, they came back and never quit in the third. That’s something to remember.”
Sachse, a District 9-6A representative, finished its season with a 20-21 overall record. Rockwall improved to 33-9 and advanced to the area round of the Class 6A playoffs.
The Lady Mustangs started quickly in the opening set, taking a 2-0 lead. It would be their only advantage of the match.
Rockwall responded with a strong run to build a 15-6 lead, putting Sachse in an early hole.
But the Lady Mustangs refused to fold.
Behind strong defensive play and timely offense, Sachse reeled off six consecutive points to cut the deficit to 15-12.
Although Rockwall eventually pulled away to win the opening set 25-17, Jones was encouraged by her team’s defensive effort.
“I thought we were a little off on ball control and that cost us some, but we played some good defense and had some nice blocks,” Jones said.
Jones singled out senior Amyah Davis for her performance in the middle, where she helped disrupt Rockwall’s attack with strong defensive play and blocks.
For Davis, the match marked the final appearance of her Sachse volleyball career.
While the Lady Mustangs will lose experienced players such as Davis, Jones also saw encouraging performances from younger members of the roster.
Sophomore outside hitter Khloe Ellis earned praise for her contributions, as did freshman Maddie Juarez, who filled multiple roles throughout the match.
Jones was particularly impressed by Juarez’s composure while playing libero.
“We threw her in as a freshman and I thought she was really steady at libero, which was really impressive.”
After Rockwall dominated the second set 25-7, Sachse continued to compete in the third.
Rockwall jumped out to an 11-5 advantage, forcing the Lady Mustangs to call a timeout.
Sachse responded with another rally, narrowing the deficit and keeping pressure on the Lady Yellowjackets before Rockwall closed out the 25-16 victory.
Throughout the match, a spirited Sachse crowd continued to encourage the Lady Mustangs inside the nearly full gym.
“Make them earn it” became a rallying cry from the stands as Sachse fought to extend its season.
Although the Lady Mustangs could not overcome Rockwall’s consistency, Jones said she was proud of the way her players responded to adversity.
“Rockwall is really tough, we already knew that, I thought they did a good job of controlling the ball and the serve, but we were able to take advantage of their defense a few time and never quit regardless of the score. That is the thing I’m most proud of,” said Jones.
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By David Wolman
(Click on the link to view a photo gallery from the game: https://www.dotphoto.com/viewalbum.asp?AID=6890193)
A second-half rally by Sachse came up 45 yards and five points short in a hard-fought loss to Wylie East on Thursday at Wylie ISD Stadium.
Sachse fell to 8-1, 5-1, while Wylie East improved to 8-1, 6-0.
The Raiders clinched a second straight district championship while handing the Mustangs their first loss.
Wylie East appeared poised to take control of the game.
The Raiders’ defense set up their first touchdown when senior Bobby Davis recovered a fumbled exchange by Sachse at the Mustangs’ 15-yard line.
One play later, sophomore quarterback Victor Young connected with senior wide receiver Amir Porter for a 15-yard touchdown pass, giving Wylie East a 7-0 lead with 1:17 remaining in the first quarter.
The Raiders doubled their advantage late in the second quarter.
Senior running back Victor Ekpo capped Wylie East’s best offensive drive of the game with a patient 4-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0.
Sachse answered before halftime when senior kicker Jonathan Fuentes connected on a 34-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 14-3.
The Mustangs carried that momentum into the second half.
Senior running back Brendon Quinn scored on touchdown runs of 5 and 4 yards, with a 15-yard touchdown run by Ekpo for Wylie East coming between those scores.
Quinn’s second touchdown brought Sachse within five points, but the Raiders’ defense prevented the Mustangs from completing the comeback.
Wylie East junior defensive back Jordan Oshideko tackled Sachse junior wide receiver DJ Doyle at the Raiders’ 45-yard line on the final play of the game to help the Raiders secure the victory.
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By David Wolman
Sachse will send two runners to the Class 6A state cross country meet.
Senior Samuel Ledbetter placed third at regionals with a time of 14:58.3, while junior Dominic Richardson finished ninth in 15:23.5.
Richardson credited the training partnership he has developed with Ledbetter for helping him improve.
“We do all kinds of stuff outside of cross country,” Richardson said. “We go cycling. It’s nice having someone there with you. He paces me.”
The state berth was particularly meaningful for Richardson, who missed qualifying last season by just 0.3 seconds.
“Last year, it was just really bad for me, knowing that I could have done more,” he said. “That was something that I was looking forward to all season and to come up just short was heartbreaking. Now that I’ve come here and PR’d and did what I need to, it feels really good.”
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By David Wolman
Sachse has continued its streak of playoff appearances under head coach Rikki Jones, although the Mustangs did not secure their 23rd consecutive postseason berth until the final week of the regular season.
A hard-fought 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18 road victory over Rowlett on Oct. 20 clinched Sachse’s playoff spot.
Senior Ella Smith led the offense with 27 kills and also contributed 19 digs. Junior Natallie Rainey added 11 kills, while senior Laney George distributed 26 assists and recorded five service aces.
The Mustangs capped a nine-win district campaign with a 25-14, 25-15, 25-21 sweep of Lakeview Centennial on Friday.
Sachse will face Rockwall in the Class 6A Division I bi-district round at 6 p.m. tonight at Rowlett High School.
The Mustangs will look to avenge a three-set loss to the Yellowjackets in last year’s playoffs.
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By Devin Hasson
(Click on the link to view a photo gallery from the game: https://www.dotphoto.com/viewalbum.asp?AID=6890017)
A week ago, Sachse starting quarterback Christian McCaffrey left the game in the second quarter with an apparent injury.
It was a tough injury for the Mustangs, but Sachse still put together a dominant defensive effort to a 48-0 rout of North Garland.
Though he came out as a team captain prior to Thursday’s match-up against Lakeview, McCaffrey did not play. Although his injury was a huge void for Sachse to fill, the Mustangs had more than enough firepower left in their arsenal, earning a 36-10 win over the Patriots.
Sachse’s offense sputtered for much of the first half, but was finally able to make a big play when Austin Taylor hooked up with Brendon Quinn for a 51-yard touchdown pass with just seven seconds left before the break to take a 7-3 lead.
The Mustangs emerged from the locker room and quickly proved it was no fluke, as they used a dominant running game to tally 29 points in the second half to pull away for a 36-10 victory at Homer B. Johnson Stadium.
Sachse improves to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in 9-6A play heading into a showdown with Wylie East next week that will likely determine the district championship.
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By David Wolman
Last season was bittersweet for Sachse’s cross country teams.
The Mustangs placed fifth in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions, marking the highest team finishes in Garland ISD history. However, Sachse fell one place short of advancing both teams to the state meet.
The Sachse boys, fresh off winning their second consecutive district title, have the experience to clear that hurdle this season.
Senior Samuel Ledbetter is seeking his second consecutive state appearance. Ledbetter has won four races this season and is coming off a district championship in 15:43. Junior Dominic Richardson finished second. Junior Sadiki Mburu and senior Ozzy Heredia, who placed fourth and fifth, respectively, at districts, round out a strong top four for Sachse.
“We have a really good top four,” Sachse head coach Kacey Laughery said. “It’ll come down to our No. 5 top runner. If we have a good performance from our No. 5 runner, we should be a shoo-in to qualify for state.”
The Lady Mustangs also have the potential to send several runners to state.
Juniors Arora Ngo (third, 19:32.39), Alicia Payne (fourth, 20:00) and Kaitlyn Herrera (seventh, 20:34) all placed in the top seven at districts. Junior Adeline Moss (12th) and Brisa Morales (17th) also finished in the top 20.
“Placing fifth last year has lit a fire for our returning boys,” Laughery said. “They’re chomping at the bit. The girls have bought in more this year, too.”
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By Devin Hasson
Every program endures its ups and downs over the years, but the Sachse volleyball team has been an exception to the rule.
Since their inaugural season in 2004, the Mustangs have never missed the playoffs, winning several district championships along the way.
But heading into the final week of the regular season, Sachse experienced an unusual feeling — uncertainty.
While the Mustangs are usually designing their playoff T-shirts by this time, there was still work to be done. Sachse entered the final week in a three-team battle with Rowlett and Garland for the final two playoff spots.
The Mustangs had a chance Tuesday to extend their Garland ISD record of consecutive playoff appearances to 23 seasons. Although it was not easy, they did just that, claiming a 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18 victory over the Eagles at Rowlett High School.
Sachse improved to 8-5 in District 9-6A play, and while its playoff seeding has yet to be determined, the team knows it will be playing next week.
With a victory, the Eagles had a chance to forge a three-way tie for third place heading into Friday’s district finale. After dropping the opening set, they stormed back to even the match at one set apiece.
Rowlett got off to a fast start and led the second set from beginning to end. The Mustangs made a late push, and although they came up short, the momentum they built made a difference as the night progressed.
Sachse pulled out a tight battle in the third set to regain the advantage, then seized its opportunity in the fourth to close out the match.
“We did a good job building some momentum in the second set because we were so … I’ve never seen some of the things that I’ve seen tonight, just not staying calm and not trusting what we are going, which is not like us,” Sachse head coach Rikki Jones said. “So they did a good job coming back. It was not pretty volleyball, but it got the job done tonight and gives us more time to practice.”
The Eagles had already rallied once to tie the match, but the Mustangs took an early lead in the fourth set and never relinquished it.
Erin Patton recorded an early block, and Amaya Davis and Ella Smith delivered back-to-back kills to help Sachse gain the advantage. A four-point service run by Laney George, highlighted by two aces, extended the lead to 10-3.
Rowlett refused to go quietly. Kills from Fiona Buford and Casey-Marilyn Mills, along with a block from Katie Levvis, helped the Eagles close the gap to 12-10.
The Eagles were still within two points at 15-13 after a point from Nneoma Okorocha, but Sachse responded with an ace from Harper Holt and points from Fallin Whitmore, Jayla Butler and Smith to stretch the lead to 19-13.
The Mustangs kept Rowlett at arm’s length the rest of the way. Natallie Rainey delivered three kills down the stretch, including the winner on match point, to seal the 25-18 set victory and the four-set win.
“It was really big (Game 4) because you don’t want to go into a fifth set, so taking that third was big for momentum,” Jones said. “If you lose that one, then you’ve got to win two more, so they did a really good job of holding on to the one in the third game and then did a good job of closing it out.”
Sachse had swept the first district meeting between the teams, and it initially appeared the Mustangs might repeat that performance.
Smith dominated the opening set with 10 kills. Although Rowlett kept things close, the Eagles had no answer for the senior outside hitter. Smith recorded four kills during a mid-set surge that helped the Mustangs create some breathing room at 19-15.
Additional points from Smith and Rainey, followed by a kill from Butler on set point, finished off the 25-18 victory.
The Eagles flipped the script in the second set, leading from start to finish.
Buford delivered two early kills, and Thomas added another during a four-point run to open the set. Two more kills from Thomas and another from Okorocha helped Rowlett build a 15-7 lead.
Sachse fought back to within 19-17, but Buford stayed hot for the Eagles, adding three more kills down the stretch to even the match with a 25-21 victory.
Tied at one set apiece, the teams traded the lead four times early in the third before a quick burst allowed the Mustangs to move ahead 11-7.
A strong service run from Smith helped Sachse extend its advantage to six points, but Rowlett countered with a pair of points from Terrian Anderson to close within 17-15.
The Eagles then turned to Thomas, who delivered two kills and a block to help Rowlett take a late lead.
Sachse held its ground, however. Smith provided two more kills, Rainey added another, and Davis delivered the winner on set point to give the Mustangs a 25-23 victory.
Sachse carried that momentum into the fourth set and closed out the match.
The road to the playoffs is different every season. Although this year’s journey featured more twists and turns than usual, Jones said her team could appreciate overcoming adversity to reach its goal of returning to the postseason.
“It is special,” she said. “They are great kids and I love coaching them, but it is a different kind of scenario, day to day, on what we are working on and what we need to do. It is different, but I’m super proud of them because they have shown so much growth, and like tonight, when it got tight, they were able to hold on and find a way.”
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By David Wolman
(Click on the link to view the photo gallery from the game: https://csmediatexas.dotphoto.com/CPViewAlbum.asp?AID=6889895)
While most Friday night football games remained on the same schedule, District 9-6A elected to move their contests up to an earlier start time, in large part due to the teams being on Fall Break.
Mirroring that thought process, Sachse put the outcome of its contest to bed very early against North Garland, opening a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and cruising to a 48-0 victory at Williams Stadium.
The Mustangs improve to 7-0 overall on the season, remaining one of the area’s few undefeated teams, and are tied atop the 9-6 standings at 4-0 along with Wylie East.
Sachse pushed North Garland back on the game’s opening drive, forcing a punt. That ensuing kick got caught up in a gale force, and actually travelled backward, resulting in a minus-12 yard net, with the Mustangs taking over at the Raider 13, and on the very next play, Christian McCaffrey hit DJ Doyle on a touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest.
In the underdog role with nothing to lose, North Garland elected to go for it in its own territory on its next drive, but it did not work out well, as Walker Williams picked off the pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
The Sachse defense again came up big later in the first quarter, forcing a fumble that Wade Hix recovered at the Raider 41.
A few plays later, McCaffrey found Julian Madison over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown pass to push the advantage to 20-0.
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By David Wolman
Sachse senior Samuel Ledbetter said helping lead the Mustangs to the District 9-6A boys cross-country title last year was just a sign of even bigger things to come.
With an experienced roster returning five upperclassmen from last year’s team that won the district title and sent Ledbetter to the state meet, the Mustangs were confident they could contend for another 9-6A title and get over the hump by qualifying for the Class 6A state meet as a team.
Sachse took the first step toward accomplishing that goal, winning its second straight district championship in dominating fashion.
The Mustangs claimed four of the top five individual finishes, pacing Sachse to a team score of 31 points — 20 ahead of district runner-up Wylie (51) and third-place Wylie East (53). The Pirates and Raiders will also join the Mustangs at the Region II-6A meet in Fort Worth on Oct. 26 after earning automatic team berths for finishing in the top three.
Ledbetter won his fourth race of the season, capturing first place in 15:43. He and teammate Dominic Richardson, a junior, battled Wylie East senior Michael Price for the top spot, but Richardson separated himself from the pack with about a mile remaining. Richardson, last year’s district champion, finished second in 16:04, while Price took third in 16:23.
Ledbetter and Richardson were backed by strong performances from junior Sadiki Mburu (fourth, 16:36) and senior Ozzy Heredia (fifth, 16:43). Sachse also received contributions from junior Grayson Redden (19th, 17:53.78) and sophomores Brave Cook (23rd, 18:26.69) and Joseph Castaneda 25th, 19:07.39).
“This is probably the best top four that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Ledbetter said. “If we can get a good performance from our fifth runner at regionals, that could help us get to state. Overall, we ran well today.”
The Lady Mustangs will look to qualify for state after missing out by just one place a year ago.
Arora Ngo (third, 19:32.39), Alicia Payne (fourth, 20:00) and Kaitlyn Herrera (seventh, 20:34) helped lead the Lady Mustangs to a second-place team finish with 42 points.
Adeline Moss (12th, 21:00), Brisa Morales (17th, 21:41), Isabel Casas (23rd, 22:28) and Brighton Cook (24th, 22:50) also competed for Sachse at the district meet.
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