Chapel Hill Routs Palestine 55-27 in Finale

Aydan Holmes rushed for 223 yards and a school-record 99-yard touchdown as Chapel Hill finished its season with a win.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football

Chapel Hill Routs Palestine 55-27 in Finale

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Chapel Hill defeated Palestine 55-27 in the District 8-4A Division I football finale at Bulldog Stadium on Thursday. The win did not earn a postseason berth, as Chapel Hill missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Why it matters

The loss to Chapel Hill ended Palestine's season at 5-6 overall and 2-5 in district, as the team missed the postseason for the fourth straight year. For Chapel Hill, the 3-7 finish marks a sharp change from recent years in which the program reached the playoffs.

Aydan Holmes rushed for 223 yards, including a school-record 99-yard touchdown run, in the 55-27 win. Chapel Hill finished 3-7 overall and 3-4 in district, placing fifth in District 8-4A Division I, while Palestine finished sixth at 5-6 and 2-5.

The players

Aydan Holmes

Chapel Hill running back who rushed for 223 yards and set a school record with a 99-yard touchdown run in the finale.

Chapel Hill High School

Public high school in Chapel Hill whose football team competes in District 8-4A Division I in the Texas high school athletic system.

Palestine High School

Public high school in Palestine whose football team competes in District 8-4A Division I and missed the postseason for the fourth straight year.

The details

Chapel Hill's Michael Jackson recovered a Palestine fumble at the one-yard line after a series of four consecutive turnovers, and Maliek Brown blocked for Holmes near the 40-yard line on the record run. Ashton Cook caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Noah Hutchinson in the early fourth quarter, and Dylan Linder threw a 32-yard touchdown to Brown later in the period. The game ended with a scuffle after the final extra-point attempt and a second scuffle after the kickoff.

Thursday: District 8-4A Division I football finale at Bulldog Stadium.
Early fourth quarter (11:25): Cook's 44-yard touchdown cut the lead to 35-21.
Fourth quarter (9:46): Estevan Sandoval's extra point gave Chapel Hill a 42-21 lead.
Fourth quarter (1:17): Linder's 32-yard touchdown pass to Brown.

Season Trajectory

Chapel Hill's missed postseason is its first since 2019, marking a notable drop from the program's recent playoff appearances. Palestine's fourth straight year without a playoff berth places the team among the district's consistently struggling programs.

Chapel Hill's missed playoffs leave the program out of the postseason bracket for the first time since 2019, so its season ends with a 3-7 record. Palestine's finish at 5-6 means the team also watches the playoffs from home for a fourth consecutive year.

The takeaway

Chapel Hill's 3-7 finish after a 2019 playoff season shows how quickly district standings can change from year to year. For Palestine, the fourth straight missed postseason underscores the challenge of climbing back into district contention.