NOT YOUR BIG BROTHER’S PIRATES | ETBlitz football preview 3: High expectations for Pine Tree’s Pirates are realistic

Pine Tree quarterback Colton Croft (above, 31) and a host of other starters return for coach Jason Bachman for the 2026 season, a big reason the Pirates are ranked in the top 15 in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Class 4A-Division I preseason poll. (File photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

Coming off its second-best season in the four years since Jason Bachman stepped in as the head football coach at Pine Tree High School, the Pirates are ready to make even more noise.

Call it a renaissance, if you will.

In 2025, the Pirates were 8-5, reaching the third round of postseason. The year before (2024), they were even better 10-2, but lost by a point, 14-13, in the Area round.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 2026 has tabbed the Pirates as No. 13 in this season’s Class 4A Division I state preseason poll. That’s not just the newspaper around the corner from the school’s prediction. So, it carries weight.

With the exception of Baughman’s first season, having replaced Kerry Lane, and the year before (2-8 and 4-6), PT ais developing a habit of reaching the playoffs.

Four trips to postseason in the last six years (twice in 5A Division II and twice, after dropping back to 4A DI). That’s NOT bad. In fact, it’s rather salty, mate.

Baughman welcomes seven returning starters from an offense that averaged 31.3 points per game a year ago. An impressive lineup on offense is highlighted by quarterback Colton Croft, wide receivers Bosston Johnson and Desmond Williams and four returning starters across the front line.

**Courtesy of PINE TREE ISD Facebook page**

Those across the O-line are tackles Ja’keyden Watters and Jacob Graugnard, both seniors, along with junior guards Jeremiah Allison and Anthony Ockimey. Each has varsity experience. Allison has seen playing time since midway through his freshman season, while Ockimey is also a two-year starter.

“Those, I feel, are a pretty good group. They’re big, strong, physical and athletic,” Bachman said.

Johnson (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) had 42 receptions for 970 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior. Williams (5-8, 155) proved more than capable and add Rashaad Wofford (6-2, 160, a senior) with 18 catches for 413 yards and six TDs for Croft (6-4, 215, also a senior). The signal-caller completed 184 passes for 2,553 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior.

Croft’s resume includes a playoff win as a sophomore and two more a year later as a junior. Another plus for the receiving corps is talented sophomore D’ayden Ingram (6-2, 208).

“(Croft) is a great team player with a strong arm and great instincts. He’s tough and composed, and those are good qualities for a high school quarterback,” Bachman said when asked about his quarterback.

Senior running back Ja’Karrius Timmons (5-8, 180) and junior fullback Bryk Bratton (6-2, 217) and running back Travelle Nelson will supply the running game in a multiple offense that reeled off 35 points in two of its three playoff appearances last season.

Johnson at free safety, Williams a corner, as well as Bratton a lineman along with Derek Kalulu (5-8, 225, junior) and Wyatt Sanchez (6-1, 245, junior) lead the defensive unit. Wofford, in the secondary, with linebackers Timmons and Nelson, should see valuable playing time, also.

Johnson was credited with 80 tackles, 40 assists, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions as well as a fumble recovery and returned a punt for a score.

Williams made 21 tackles, five assists, broke-up three passes and had two interceptions, returning one of those for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Bratton contributed 13 tackles, two assists along with a tackle for loss and two pressures.

Kalulu had 29 tackles, 16 assists, four tackles for loss. Wofford was nothing short of spectacular: seven interceptions, returning two of those for scores, along with15 tackles, five assists, one pass break-up. Sanchez was credited with 32 stops, six assists, three tackles for loss with two pressures and two sacks.

If playing a formidable early schedule builds character and winning come November and December, the Pirates should once again be plenty good. They open at Pirate Stadium against Gilmer next Thursday, Aug. 27; visit defending 4A-Division II state champion Carthage on Sept. 4; and host Athens, a playoff team from a year ago, on Sept. 11.

Play-for-keeps in 8-4A begins on the road against Jacksonville, prior to home dates against Kilgore, Palestine and Lindale, with an open date before the Lindale game, followed by a road trip to Chapel Hill.

The last couple of seasons, Pine Tree’s record in the district schedule has been sufficient to reach the postseason party. Only time will tell.

Coming out of one of the more formidable 4A DI districts in the state won’t be easy, but Pine Tree has experience and they’ve made the playoffs each of the last three seasons and three of the last six.