page_title: Grand Saline High School
section_title: Grand Saline Indian Football
hierarchical_section_title: Grand Saline High School / Grand Saline Indian Football
caption_attribution_description: English: Grand Saline Indians against the Winona Wildcats at Indian Memorial Stadium in September 2016.
context_page_description: Grand Saline High School is a public high school located in Grand Saline, Texas and classified as a 3A school by the UIL. It is part of the Grand Saline Independent School District located in northeast Van Zandt County. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.
context_section_description: Grand Saline Football has a rich tradition in East Texas. The Indians have been competing since 1923, and have won numerous district, Bi-District and Area titles. The best teams in school history were the 1982 team, which allowed opponents only 4 points per game while averaging 37 a game, the 1990 team which lost to state power and eventual champion Groveton after posting a 12–1 record and finishing ranked 4th in the state, and the 1999 team, which lost to state power and eventual champion Celina after posting a 12–1 record. The most successful eras for Indian football were the 1940s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. From 1982–2003, the Indian Football program amassed a Win-Loss-Tie record of 180-75-2 (.700 winning percentage), with 18 Texas State Playoff appearances, 10 district championships, and 9 seasons of 10 wins or more. Carter Elliott is the most successful coach in the history of the program, leading the Indians to 5 regional finals berths.  He was the head coach from 1978 to 1991 and from 1997 to 2000. The Indians started to downturn in 2004 by going 3–7 that season and missing the playoffs. From 2004–2014, Grand Saline had 4 head coaches and went 25–86. In 2013, GSHS alumnus and former All-State Indian Football player Mike Ridge was named athletic director and head football coach. Ridge had back to back winless seasons due to injuries, lower participation, and being the smallest school in their district. In 2015, the streak was snapped as Ridge led the Indians to a district championship, a .500 regular season, and took the Indians back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
  Grand Saline Indian Football Tradition-
  Texas State Playoffs-1933, 1940, 1941, 1949, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2018, 2019.
  District Champions-1940, 1941, 1949, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2015.
  Bi-District Champions-1940, 1949, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2018.
  Area Champions-1949, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999.
  Regional Finalists-1982, 1983, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999.
  State Quarterfinals-1982, 1983.
caption: Grand Saline Indians against the Winona Wildcats at Indian Memorial Stadium in September 2016.
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