Now Appearing
ronnie thompson and todd dodge
Coach Ronnie Thompson
1962 TJ grad
vidor turnaround--1975
vidor turnaround--1975
Ronnie Thompson was a 1962 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur. Hear about playing football for the Yellow Jackets on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
vidor turnaround--1975
vidor turnaround--1975
vidor turnaround--1975
In 1975, Coach Thompson returned to Southeast Texas to become head coach at Vidor--a team that had lost 43-straight games. He immediately turned them into winners. Hear Coach Ronnie Thompson talk football on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
return to tj--1978
vidor turnaround--1975
return to tj--1978
Hank Clark, a 35-year coaching veteran at TJ, was on Thompson's staff when he returned to TJ in 1978. Hear Coach Thompson and Todd Dodge talk about that coaching staff on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Todd Dodge
Ronnie thompson and todd dodge
Ronnie thompson and todd dodge
Ronnie thompson and todd dodge
Todd Dodge was Ronnie Thompson's quarterback at TJ. During his three years as a starter, the Jackets went from 1-9 to the #1 team in the State! Hear that astounding story of success on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
richard rice and todd dodge
Ronnie thompson and todd dodge
Ronnie thompson and todd dodge
Hear Todd Dodge talk about the role Richard Rice (#61) and his parents played in Todd's TJ legacy. It's amazing. Right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
todd dodge and brent duhon
Ronnie thompson and todd dodge
todd dodge and brent duhon
Receiver Brent Duhon and QB Todd Dodge set numerous receiving and passing records during their TJ careers. Hear about that incredible offensive combination on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Yellow Jacket Football--1980
Thomas jefferson yellow jackets--1980
The Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets started the year as the #1 team in the state, and rode that title to a State Final appearance vs Odessa Permian at Texas Stadium. Hear about the three-year evolution of that team, and about this iconic team photo, here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
america's #1 passing duo
quarterback of the jackets
america's #1 passing duo
Todd Dodge and Brent Duhon were recognized nationally for their passing exploits as juniors. Hear the story of their years at TJ on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
national recognition
quarterback of the jackets
america's #1 passing duo
Todd Dodge and receiver Brent Duhon were labeled "America's No. 1 Schoolboy Passing Duo." Hear about that incredible passing combination on Down trails of Victory podcast!
quarterback of the jackets
quarterback of the jackets
quarterback of the jackets
Dodge set numerous state and national records as quarterback for the TJ Yellow Jackets. Hear him talk about playing football in Port Arthur on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
bi-district vs aldine
Kenny stabler meets with D&D
quarterback of the jackets
TJ beat Aldine 49-6 in their Bi-District tilt. Hear about that game, and the accolades that came from it, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Kenny stabler meets with D&D
Kenny stabler meets with D&D
Kenny stabler meets with D&D
Following TJ's outstanding performance vs Aldine, Dodge and Duhon were invited to appear on NFL Hall of Famer Kenny Stabler's Houston-based TV show. Hear about that gig on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
regional vs lamarque
Kenny stabler meets with D&D
Kenny stabler meets with D&D
The Jackets beat LaMarque 29-24 in the Regional Finals. Hear about that hard-fought win on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
quarterfinals vs Houston STratford
quarterfinals vs Houston STratford
quarterfinals vs Houston STratford
The Jackets beat Houston Stratford 34-0 in the State Quarterfinals. Hear about that tremendous offensive and defensive dominant win on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
semifinals vs san antonio holmes
quarterfinals vs Houston STratford
quarterfinals vs Houston STratford
TJ beat undefeated San Antonio Holmes 34-7 in the State Semifinals. Hear about the Jackets' run to the State Finals on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
state finals vs odessa permian
quarterfinals vs Houston STratford
state finals vs odessa permian
The Jackets met Odessa Permian in the State Finals at Texas Stadium. Hear about that exciting contest on Down Trails of Victory Podcast!
community support
odessa permian 28, TJ 19
state finals vs odessa permian
Southeast Texas came together to support the Yellow Jackets on their pursuit of a state championship. Hear about that 1980 state title run on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
odessa permian 28, TJ 19
odessa permian 28, TJ 19
odessa permian 28, TJ 19
Odessa Permian came from behind to beat TJ 28-19 in the State Finals. Hear all about that contest on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Post Season...and Beyond...
most outstanding player in texas
most outstanding player in texas
most outstanding player in texas
Todd Dodge was honored as the Most Outstanding Player in Texas following the 1980 football season. Hear about Thompson's and Dodge's post season honors on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
all state
most outstanding player in texas
most outstanding player in texas
Todd Dodge, along with four teammates, was named All State following the 1980 football season. Hear about that historic year on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Parade all americans
Parade all americans
Parade all americans
Both Todd Dodge and Brent Duhon were named Parade All Americans. Hear about that famous Southeast Texas passing duo on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Record Setters
Parade all americans
Parade all americans
Todd Dodge and Brent Duhon brought national recognition to Southeast Texas' Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson. Hear about the Jackets' football exploits on Down Trails of Victory Podcast!
longhorn recruits
Texas high school coaches association hall of honor
texas high school coaching legend
Brent Duhon, Todd Dodge, Robert Smothers, and Don Holloway all signed with the Texas Longhorns following the 1980 season. Hear about those players and more on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
texas high school coaching legend
Texas high school coaches association hall of honor
texas high school coaching legend
Todd Dodge went on to become a Texas High School coaching legend, winning seven state titles in the state's highest classification--four at Southlake Carroll, and three and Austin Westlake. This included an amazing 79-1 five-year run at Southlake Carroll. Hear Todd Dodge talk football on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Texas high school coaches association hall of honor
Texas high school coaches association hall of honor
Texas high school coaches association hall of honor
Todd Dodge was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 2022. Hear Todd Dodge talk about his years with Coach Ronnie Thompson in Port Arthur on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Museum of the gulf coast
consultant in PN-G coaching search
Texas high school coaches association hall of honor
In 2022, Todd Dodge was inducted into the Museum of the Gulf Coast along with PN-G baseball legend Lew Ford, and fellow TJ graduate and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jesse Delee. Also inducted was historian the late William Seale, also a TJ grad. Hear about this great honor on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
consultant in PN-G coaching search
consultant in PN-G coaching search
consultant in PN-G coaching search
In 2022, Todd Dodge was hired as a consultant by Port Neches-Groves ISD in its search for a new head football coach. Hear Coach Dodge talk about that search, and why he recommended Coach Jeff Joseph, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! Pictured is the hiring committee--(L to R) Kyle Segura, Kevin Schexnaider, Kyle Hooper, Todd Dodge, Julie Gauthier, Barbara Comeaux, and Scott Ryan.