Byron Nelson earns emotional opening win after loss of coach

First-year head coach Zach Woodward experienced mixed emotions as he led Trophy Club Byron Nelson onto the field against Wolfforth Frenship on Thursday in a non-district season opener at Shotwell Stadium.

It was the team’s first game since losing head coach Travis Pride, who passed away suddenly in May. Pride had to be looking down and smiling after Byron Nelson, No. 5 in the Star-Telegram’s area Class 6A rankings, manhandled Frenship 30-7 to begin a new era of Bobcat football.

Pride had guided the Bobcats for the past nine years, leading the team to seven playoff berths and compiling a 41-10 mark in the past four seasons. Woodward served on Pride’s staff for the past 17 years — eight as an assistant at Mansfield Summit and then the past nine at Byron Nelson.

“Obviously, a very emotional game for us,” Woodward said. “As it has been all summer. Even more so the last few weeks leading up to this game. I think he would be extremely proud of our performance tonight.”

“Coach Pride laid the foundation for this program,” Woodward added. “Go out and give great effort. And that is what these guys did.”

Byron Nelson’s swarming defense stifled a potent offense that averaged over 53 points per game a year ago, holding Frenship to just seven points — none in the second half — and just two first downs after intermission.

“Our defense did a fantastic job,” Woodward said. “We knew we had to be physical, and we were. Made a lot of key stops.”

Byron Nelson senior Parker Almanza moved from his tight end position to quarterback.

“We really did not decide until Monday of this week to go with Parker,” Woodward said. “We felt he could provide the leadership and make plays for us. And he did a heck of a job.”

Almanza said he “just tried to stay calm, and rely on the guys. Total team effort. Such a great group of guys.”

The Baylor pledge jump-started the offense with a 1-yard touchdown sneak less than five minutes before halftime. That ignited a flurry of points for both teams.

Senior Colt Pride, the late coach’s son, came up with an interception on Frenship’s ensuing possession, which led to a 6-yard TD run by Macavion Hill five plays and 48 yards later.

A missed extra point left Byron Nelson with a 13-0 advantage 1:21 before the break. Frenship answered with its most impressive drive of the game.

Texas Tech commit Chase Campbell accounted for all 75 yards on five plays (four receptions and one run) in just 31 seconds, capping the one-man march on a one-handed 15-yard TD reception from quarterback Quaid Ferris with 50 seconds left before halftime. But the Bobcats were not done.

Driving 58 yards in five plays, Almanza connected with Gavin Tracer on a 20-yard TD pass — one that was tipped and a wide-open Tracer caught at the 5 and easily found the end zone — with five ticks on the clock, giving Byron Nelson a 20-7 lead.

The Bobcat defense was ferocious in the second half, and the offense added 10 second-half points on a 31-yard Oliver Bell field goal and a 10-yard scoring toss from Almanza to Franck Makong to round out the scoring. Almanza finished with 175 passing yards, completing 20 passes to 11 receivers on 27 attempts without an interception, while adding 60 rushing yards on 15 carries. Campbell finished with eight catches for 117 yards to lead Frenship.

The win kicked off a rugged stretch to start the season for Byron Nelson. The Bobcats next play at Lewisville on Sept. 5. Nelson then hosts No. 1 Southlake Carroll, then visits No. 3 Euless Trinity on Sept. 26 after a bye.

“You can’t win four games in one,” Woodward said. “It will be a challenge for us, but we will be ready. We have some things to work on, and just move forward.”

This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 12:35 AM.