Anderson excels on both sides of the ball to start the high school football season

Anderson receiver Kyler Sharp (15) makes a catch over Johnson defensive back Zavier Antoine (31) during the game at Hays High School on Thursday, August. 27, 2026 in Kyle, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

BUDA - Anderson running back Kam'Ron Hornsby joked Thursday was Trojans quarterback Covert Darbyshire's "flu game." 

And while Week 1 of the Texas high school football season has less on the line than the famous 1997 NBA Finals game Hornsby referenced, where Michael Jordan scored 38 points while sick with the flu, Darbyshire's performance while under duress was an impressive one. 

Anderson running back Kam'Ron Hornsby (4) runs the ball during the game against Johnson at Hays High School on Thursday, August. 27, 2026 in Kyle, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

Completing 20 of 32 passes - and at least five of his incompletions were drops - for 290 yards and two touchdowns and running for two more scores, Darbyshire led the Trojans to a 34-6 win over Johnson at Bob Shelton Stadium. 

"The receivers and I worked really hard this seven-on-seven season and we were out there throwing every day," said Darbyshire, who noted he was "chugging DayQuil" earlier in the day. "We did everything we could, and it's starting to click. Everyone had a great game and did their job. That's our only goal week to week - just do your job." 

Darbyshire spread his completions around to seven different receivers, with his touchdown strikes going to Gage Willis (30 yards) and Kyler Sharp (43 yards). He connected on six passes of at least 20 yards, and both of his TD runs were quarterback sneaks from the 1-yard line. 

Eight starters return for the Trojans on offense from last year's team that went 10-2, and Darbyshire said even though Anderson's expectations are high, there's no downplaying a season-opening win. 

"It just sets the tone for the rest of the season," he said. "We have some great coaches who really put time and effort into each game. … Obviously, it's game one, so it's going to be hard to be perfect. But we executed. And winning this means everything going forward. This is my senior year, and we're just ready to go."

Anderson also ran the ball effectively

Though Anderson coach Donald Hatcher said he'd like a more balanced offense going forward, when the Trojans did run the ball, they produced. Nick Briggs had 54 yards on nine carries, and Hornsby had arguably the play of the game when he juked a tackler on the line of scrimmage, then sprinted 49 yards into the end zone. 

"I have to give the praise to my offensive line; they opened up the hole, and I just made the cut," said Hornsby, who reached the ball across the goal line after being hit around the 2-yard line. "It feels amazing to score. Everything you work for, and just to be able to get in the game and score a touchdown - that means a lot."

Darbyshire referred to Hornsby as a "stud" and inferred he's in for a big year, and Anderson also showed it could use wideout Jay Fullmer in the Wildcat formation. 

"We're kind of our own worst enemy because we can throw it and run it," Hatcher said. "But I want to run the ball more." 

Anderson defense also impresses

Anderson lost eight starters on defense, but you wouldn't have known it by the performance. The Trojans kept Johnson to less than 220 yards of offense, forced a fumble for a turnover, produced a fourth-down stop and made the Jaguars settle for two field goals on droves inside their own 20. 

"When our guys took better angles, got off their blocks and just ran to the ball, they played really well," Hatcher said. "But you've got to give Johnson's coaching staff a lot of credit. In the first half, they moved the ball, got to the edge and made some big plays." 

Hornsby noted that the Anderson offense was impressed with its defense. 

"Holding them to no touchdowns and two field goals, that's big," he said. "We've been talking, and we have our defense's back. They have our back, too, and we've just been waiting to see if they were going to produce, and they did. They came out and showed us what they can do, and we're happy."

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This article originally published at Anderson excels on both sides of the ball to start the high school football season.