Melissa scores on 5 straight possessions to beat Lovejoy in Texas high school football action: Live score recap

Brett Holloway runs for 2 scores, passes for 2 more in the Cardinals' 49-14 win

Melissa quarterback Brett Holloway runs toward the end zone in the third quarter of a game Friday against Lucas Lovejoy at Coach Kenny Deel Stadium. / Cody Thorn

After three district games, Melissa is sitting in first place after three weeks in 4-5A Division II action.

The Cardinals will face a good test this week when Lucas Lovejoy comes to Coach Kenny Deel Stadium.

Dating back to 2006, there aren’t many teams that which the Cardinals do not have a winning record against, but Lovejoy is one of them. The Leopards have won the past two meetings, 28-7 in 2023 and 41-38 in 2024. 

Lovejoy holds a slim 3-2 record in the series. 

In other series — of more than two games — Argyle (6-2), Paris (5-4) and Celina (6-5) are the other teams with winning records vs. Melissa. 

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The details

The win last year was a big one in terms of districts for Lovejoy.

The top four to qualify for the playoffs were Lovejoy, Frisco Emerson, Prosper Walnut Grove and Anna made the playoffs.

That was only the fourth time since 2004 that the Cardinals did not make the playoffs. 

The first two were in 2004 and 2005, when the program came back after being discontinued following the 1924 season.

Lovejoy has had a lot of success. 

Since opening the school in 2008, the Leopard have made the playoffs every year but 2016. Since 2020, they have won 13, 12, 8, 12 and 10 games.

In the debut of legendary coach Todd Dodge at the school year, the Leopards went 6-1 to win the district title. Lovejoy reached the fourth round of the playoffs last year before falling to Argyle.

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This year

Melissa is 3-1 and has won three in a row since losing to Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey in Week 1.

Lovejoy enters with a 2-2 mark with a district loss to Anna in the last game it played on Sept. 19. The Leopards also lost 21-0 to Dallas Highland Park — a state runner-up last year — in Week 2 in non-district action.

On defense, the Leopards have only 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery this year. 

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Who to Watch For

Melissa

QB Brett Holloway, sr. — The Allen transfer has run for 314 yards and a team-high 6 TDs. He’s thrown for 737 and 11 TDs, compared to only 2 INTs. 

OT Max Wright, sr. — Texas pledge and the No. 5-ranked tackle in the state and No. 48 in the country. Had more than 20 offers when he committed in February.

LB Max Corbin, sr. — Holds offers from Texas State, Sam Houston State, Army and Navy. He was the district Defensive Newcomer of the Year last fall.

LB — Landen Jones, sr. — He was a Class 5A All-state pick last year at Marshall with 142 tackles and 12 sacks. 

LB— Payhton Porter, sr. — The 3-star recruit holds 11 offers. The most recent 4: Utah, San Diego State, Purdue and Texas.

WR — Jacob Swain, sr. — He’s been the top receiving target this year with a line of 14/388/6. He was formerly a Rice pledge and recently got an offer from Virginia Tech.

RB — Jeremiah “Bear” Tabor, so. — He’s got a team-high 394 yards and has 5 TDs, one behind Holloway. Had 7 TDs as a freshman. Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Purdue and UTSA have already offered him.

Lovejoy

QB — Jacob Janeck, sr. — Stephen F. Austin pledge; he’s thrown for 467 yards and 7 TDs and run for 320 yards and 2 TDs.

RB Zach Jones, sr. — He’s leading the Leopards in rushing yards with 244 yards on 32 carries and a team-high 5 TDs.

WR Coleman Reaugh, so. — He had a solid 2024 with a line of 27/451/8. This year, he’s leading the team in all three categories at 9/192/2.

DB Braydon Gillis, jr. — He has 35 tackles through 4 games, leading the team. 

LB Aston Whiteside, jr. — He has played in only two games but had 105 tackles last year and was the district newcomer of the year. 

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Pick 'Em

Play High School On SI's Pick 'Em! Choose who you think will win the game.

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How to watch

Melissa Cardinal Radio Network/Melissa High School AV students

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Lucas Lovejoy vs. Melissa: Live score updates of Texas high school football action —  Oct. 3, 2025 

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	FiNAL
Lovejoy	3	2	9	0	14
Melissa	14	7	14	14	49

The Melissa Cardinals prepare to run onto the field during the game Friday against Lucas Lovejoy. / Cody Thorn

7:30 p.m. kickoff here at CKDS. A few Melissa players out based on who's on the sideline: Uche Dimpka, Owen Willis, Landen Jones and Gaven Carey. Jones was mentioned above, so scratch that as one to watch.

Cardinals win toss and defers to 2nd half. Lovejoy gets the ball first.

Janecek with a long run on 3rd down to give the Leopards a first down on 3rd down on opening drive

Leopards have a 1st and 10 at the 14 of Melissa

Lovejoy gets a field goal by Cooper Ryan with 6:04 left. 3-0 in favor of the Leopards.

Bad punt by Lovejoy gives Melissa the ball at the Lovejoy 33-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN! Brett Holloway with 29-yard QB keeper on 3rd down. Melissa

TURNOVER! Tipped pass and INT by Brody McDowell for Melissa. Ball at the 36.

TOUCHDOWN! Holloway with 2nd TD run of the night. 27 yards this time. Melissa 14-3. 7 seconds left in 1st

End of 1st: Melissa 14, Lovejoy 3

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2nd quarter

Lovejoy starts at 16 after kickoff return. First play a lineman jumps offsides and ball is back at the 11.

TURNOVER! Rocky Dunn with INT at the 8-yard line for Melissa. Cardinals ball with 10:14 left in the 2nd. Second striaght turnover for the Leopards.

SAFETY! Leopards gets points back with a sack of Holloway in the end zone. 8:55 left in 2nd. Melissa 14, Lovejoy 5

Leopards take over at the 50.

Leopards punt the ball and Melissa takes over at the 2-yard line. 6:41 left in the 2nd

Melissa punts the ball back. Lovejoy ball with 4:14 left in 2nd. Ball at its own 39.

Turnover on downs! Melissa stops Lovejoy on 4th down. Take over with 1:15 left in 2nd

TOUCHDOWN! RB Bear Tabor with 24-yard TD pass to DK Woodard. 14 seconds left in 2nd. Melissa 21, Lovejoy 5

End of 2nd quarter: Melissa 21, Lovejoy 5. According to Scorigami, that has never happened at the NFL level. Doubtful its stays that way here too.

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Lucas Lovejoy quarterback Jacob Janecek prepares to throw in a game against Melissa on Oct. 3 at Coach Kenny Deel Stadium. / Cody Thorn

3rd quarter

2 drive and two scores to open 3rd

TOUCHDOWN! Woodard recovers a fumble by Holloway at the goal line and scores for the Cardinals. Melissa 28, Lovejoy 5

FIELD GOAL! Lovejoy gets a 37-yard FG from Ryan. Now 28-8 with 6:34 left in 3rd

TOUCHDOWN! Melissa scores again. This 5-yard run by Zayd Shaheed. 35-8

TOUCHDOWN! Janecek with an 8-yard TD run on the final play of the third. 2-point conversion fails. Melissa up 35-14

End of 3rd: Melissa 35, Lovejoy 14

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4th Quarter

TOUCHDOWN! Holloway to Dalton Dababneah for 43-yard TD. Melissa up 42-14 with 11:04 to play

TOUCHDOWN! Max Corbin with a 70-yard Pick 6 for Melissa. The Cardinals up 49-14 with 9:24 left.

Lovejoy puts in the second string with 8:54 left in the game.

The Leopards punt and now Melissa has the ball and has its second string in as well. 7:12 left.

Turnover! Melissa fumbles and Lovejoy recovers at the 5-yard line. 3:01 left

2 minutes left in the game.

FINAL: Melissa 49, Lovejoy 14