When people think of Texas, high school football often comes to mind, along with the stadiums that host these games. East Texas features several notable high school football stadiums, each with its own history and traditions.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football conducted a 64-stadium bracket contest to identify the top stadium in the state earlier this year. East Texas is home to 10 of those featured stadiums.
The Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville won the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football contest for best stadium. According to Jacksonville ISD, the Tomato Bowl was built on the site of the original East Side School and has stood since 1940. The exterior uses red iron ore rocks from area farms, and its first game took place on Sept. 27, 1940.
In 2018, Jacksonville approved a bond proposal to restore the stadium with an 80 percent approval rate. The updated facility reopened for use in 2019.
Matt Stepp of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football said, “I think the standard was set a few years ago in San Antonio when they remodeled Alamo Stadium, remodeling a historic stadium and keeping the history and making it nice (…) I think Jacksonville took that blueprint to another level with the remodel of the Tomato Bowl. It took two years, but it was well worth the time and energy that put into that stadium, because they retained that historical feel and that charm that makes the Tomato Bowl unique. The restrooms, the locker rooms, the press box, the visitor stands, everything about the Tomato Bowl is first class (…) To me, if you’re a Texas high school football fan, whether you live in East Texas or outside of East Texas, the Tomato Bowl is a bucket-list stadium. It was one of bucket-list stadiums when I was a young reporter. I wanted to get to a game at the Tomato Bowl. Now I’ve been to several games at Tthe Tomato Bowl and every time I go to tthe Tomato bowl I’m always glad I did.”
Traditions associated with this venue include lighting “The Flaming J,” having trains pass by during games on its north end, displaying flags around its walls on game days, and running flags spelling out “T-R-I-B-E” after touchdowns.
Montey Stevenson, first-year Jacksonville athletic director and head football coach said: “I can tell you now; the pressure is on (…) I have to have a good product on field now. I got a chance learn about burning of t he j ,and i’m looking forward to tthat first game . i’ve hearda tonof tradition about t he st adium .i’mlookingforwardto t heatmosphereand whatit’s allabout.”
Jacksonville senior Harrison Penn added: “The atmosphere is great (…) The whole town comes together be in t hat place .i t ’ sa really cool experience . It’ san oldfieldwith brickaroundit but now wehave new turf anda new pressbox .It’s beautiful.”
Other highlighted venues in East Texas include CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler—which made it to Sweet sixteen round—opened in 1942 and serves as home field for Tyler Legacy Red Raiders and Tyler Lions.
Stepp commented: “Rose ,since theremodel ,is an unbelievableplace (… ) Itwas alwaysa great placetowatchaf ootballgamebut whentheyremodeledit ,itm adeiton eofthereally elite playoffvenuesinthe StateofTexasfromahistory standpoint ,thesizeofthestadium,andalltheamenitiesthatTylerISDputintothatstadiumwhentheymadeupdates.It’sjustanunbelievablefootballstadiumtowatchagameat.”
The field there bears Earl Campbell’s name due his contributions as Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee from John Tyler High School.
Tyler senior running back Ashton Arriaga said: “It makes it special because o fEarlCampbell (…) It ’ s anamazingfeelingeverytimeIscoreatouchdown,everytimeI runtheball,everytimeIr unoutofthetunnel,speciallywithmyteammates.”
Ethan Brown ,TylerLegacysenior safety/linebacker noted:”It’s ag reata tm osphere,e speciallyinourrivalrygame.(…)Alwaysbeingonthehomesideandeveryotheryear,you gettoswitchtobeingthevisitor,it’ safunchangeofexperience.”
Lobo Stadium in Longview also reached Sweet sixteen round after opening its doors in 1977.
Stepp described Lobo as:”It’ s alittlebitunique (… )Talkingtopeoplethatwere aroundwhenl obowasfirstbuilt,itwasreallyaheadofitstime.Andnow,it’ sgoin getsom eremodelshereprettys oon.Butit’ sstoodt hetestoftime.Thepressboxbuiltin tot heschoolmakesitauniquething.It ’ sbuiltin tothehillandwhenthatplacegetspacked,itgetsreallyrocking.A ndyoucan’tforgetth eLobopopcornobviously.”
Longview junior quarterback Tre Hamilton shared:“Playing at LoboStadiumis veryelectrifying,v eryloud.(…)AllthefanscomeoutonFridaynights,andtheyreallysupportus.”Hamilton adds,“I’ve beenrunningonthesidelinesinceIwasa littleboy.(…)Iwasa littlenervous(myfirstsnapatLoboStadium),butIgotoverthemomentveryquickly.”
Other noteworthy venues are Bruce Bradshaw Stadium (New London), Wildcat Stadium (Palestine), Lion Stadium (Henderson), Jack V. Murphy Bear Stadium (Gladewater), Rabbit Stadium (Atlanta), Raymond Jackson Stadium (Tenaha), Tiger Stadium at Grim Park (Texarkana), R.E St John Memorial Stadium (Kilgore), Pirate Stadium (Longview – Pine Tree Pirates’ home ground opened2013) Abe MartinS tadium(Lufkin ), MaverickStadium(Marshall ), Bruce Field(Athens ), EagleS tadium(Lindale ), Jeff TraylorS tadium(Gilmer ), BulldogS tadium(Carthage ), Cam’RonMatthewsField(Alto).
Players gave their views about favorite places play:
Anthony Anderson,PineTreelinebacker/safety said,“TheTomatoBowlatJacksonvilleissuchagreatstadium.Havingth etrain gobywhenyou’replayingis agreatfeeling.”
Tyler Hagler,Gilmerlineman noted,“IliketosayLongview.They’vegotaclassicstadium,anditifitsa lotofpeople.Ithasthenicelittlehillintheback.It’sprettynice.”
Ethan Brown shared,“IloveplayingatLongview.Yougetpinetreesinthebackground.There’snobetterfeeling.”
KeltonLee,Sabinelineman mentioned Gladewater’sJackMurphyStadiumasfavorite.VinceHoward,Hendersonquarterback likes Lindalefor”super loud,big stadium,great energy.”Travis Allen(Spring Hill quarterback) favored Pleasant Groveand Gilmerfor excitement.Carter Cooper(Union Grove linebacker) looks forward ElysianFields’new turf.
EastTexas continues hold strong traditions surrounding high school football through local facilities,supportive communities,and storied histories tied closely each program’s identity.
