Texas State Championship Games Reports by
Marlon Sullivan
Austin Westlake vs North Crowley
6A Div. I
State Championship
Austin Westlake 14-1 vs North Crowley 15-0
North Crowley from Ft. Worth had not been to the championship game since 2003 when they beat the Bay City Black Cats, were taking on the Austin Westlake Chaparrals, having made it to the championship 11 previous time winning 4 times. Westlake the established and one of the most elite programs in the state. Head coach Ray Gates has turned the Panthers from North Crowley into a scoring machine with four 247 sports top 250 in Texas recruits and several others that will certainly be playing on Saturday next year were not phased by the Westlake mystic.
The word was this game would-be high flying and high scoring. It did not take long. Just fifteen seconds into the game Ft. Worth North Crowley ran a flea-flicker on the first play from scrimmage. After quarterback Chris Jimerson handed off the ball to his running back Cornelius Warren, Warren pitched it back to Jimerson who passed it out to Quentin Gibson, he hit the jets and ran 75-yards down the Westlake sideline for the TD. The Panthers tried a “pooch” kick after the quick TD. The Westlake return man called for a fair catch but was interfered with prior to making the catch, a fifteen-yard penalty was assed giving the Chaps a short field. Just two-minutes later Westlake’s Running Back Grady Barlett carried it in from the 3-yard line 9:52 to play in the quarter. After the Westlake kickoff and with 7:25 still on the clock the North Cowley QB scored on a 56-yard keeper.
The game slowed down considerably in the second quarter until Jimerson hit Gibson on screen pass that went 44-yards for a TD with 3:14 on the clock. Just moments later Jimerson did it again hitting Daniel Bray on a 48-yard slant in the corner of the endzone. Making it 28-7 heading into the half.
6:49 into the 3rd quarter the Panthers scored again Daniel Bray went in from the one. Westlake hit a long pass and moved the down to the North Crowley one. Rees Wise dove in the endzone to get the Chaps on the board in the second half. The small glimmer of hope that was just a faint flicker in the eyes of the Westlake fans went away just 16-seconds later when Cornelius Warren hit the after burners and scored on 75-yard run. The Panther coaches caught the winded Chaparrals with their hands on their knees and quickly went for two to make it 43-14 at the end of the third quarter.
Westlake would stop fighting and scored from the two-yard line with Jr. Rees wise running it in. North Crowley was not done Chris Jimerson hit Quentin Gibson in the corner of the endzone with 1:35 to go in the game. The final score 50-21.
The total attendance for all the championship games not including the six man games was 157,994. Texas High School football is the best High School football in the country top to bottom no doubt and it’s defiantly played in the best venue. No other can be matched. The UIL does a wonderful job putting on the event and TASO does an outstanding job officiating the games.
Southlake Carroll vs Austin Vandergrift
December 21,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
6A Div. II
State Championship
Southlake Carroll 15-0 vs Austin Vandergrift 14-1
Austin Vandergrift came into the game losing in this very same game last year, having to play the storied Southlake Carroll Dragons making their 12th appearance in the state championship game having won eight championships. The Dragons down to using a wide receiver coverted to running back due to injuries to their number 1 and 2 backs fought like crazy, but the Vipers got the win 24-17.
Southlake Carroll (SC) hit the board first with 3:13 to go in the first quarter when SC quarterback Angelo Renda hit Brody Knowles on a 11-yard TD pass. Austin Vandergrift (AV) got on the board themselves in less than a minute when Miles Teodecki hit George Farley on an 86-yard bomb setting a 6A state championship game record.
With 8:44 to go in the second quarter Sr. Brendan Fournier ran it in from the 2-yard line giving the Vipers the lead 14-7. Later with only 14-seconds left in the first half Fournier ran it in from 10-yards out. On the TD run AV committed a post play personal foul which the Dragon’s enforced on the kickoff. The Kick went out of bounds adding another five yards and another re-kick from the 20-yard line. SC took advantage of good field position and after completing a pass over the middle, called time out with just one second on the clock. The Dragon’s 47-yard attempt was wide right giving the Vipers a 21-7 lead at the half.
Just a 1:32 into the 3rd quarter Dragon QB Angelo Renda hit Jr. Brock Boyd with an 18-yard bullet to draw SC within 7. In the 4th quarter with 6:51 to play Jr. Wiley Oleson made a 38-yard field goal to pad the Viper lead. The Dragon defense was locked down in the second half holding the Vipers to just the 3-points. However, it was not enough.
Smithson Valley vs Highland Park
December 21,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
5A Div. I
State Championship
Smithson Valley 13-2 vs Highland Park 14-1
The Comal Smithson Valley Rangers have made four previous trips to the state championship game and have been the runner up all four times. NOT this time! The Rangers beat the Highland Park Scots 32-20 who were making there tenth appearance in the state championship game and have six championship titles.
Highland Park got the scoring started early when talented sophomore quarterback Buck Randle hit Jr. Cannon Bozman on a 38-yard TD Pass. The Rangers drove the ensuing kick off down the field but were stopped at the 16 and had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Trent Amaya. Smithson Valley held the Scots on their next possession and drove it back down the field but were again stopped at their 28 Amaya hit on a 35 yarder to draw the Rangers within one. Just seconds later Buck Randle hit Benton Owens on a 75-yard bomb to extend Highland Park’s lead 14-6. Smithson Valley went three and out after the kick. However, on the Highland Park’s first play after the punt the Scots young QB threw a 26-yard pick and go and the Rangers drew back to with in one in the wanning minutes of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Smithson Valley quarterback Cade Spradling hit Brody Day on a 24-yard TD pass. The Scot’s Jr. kicker Sutton Stock hit on field goals from 40-yards and 42-yards and the Rangers Trent Amaya had a 24-yard field goal. Making the score 23-20 Smithson Valley on top at halftime.
In the second half The Ranger defense shut the Scots down. Amaya kicked another field goal from 30 yards which tied a state record of six combined field goals in the state championship game all levels. Cade Spradling iced the game for the Rangers with only 3:39 to play with a 3-yard TD run. It was a big win for longtime head coach Larry Hill getting his first championship. Legendary Highland Park head coach Randy Allen had nothing but praise for Smithson Valley and the way they played the game, no turnovers and only a few penalties. It was a well-played game by the Rangers.
Cade Spradling who has received offers to play at UTSA and Army was named offensive MVP. Sr. Julian Colunga was named Defensive MVP.
Richmond Randle vs South Oak Cliff
December 20,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
5A Div. II
State Championship
Richmond Randle 15-0 vs South Oak Cliff 13-2
South Oak Cliff made their fourth straight appearance at AT&T Stadium after losing last year to Port Neches Grove, they were hoping to beat upstart Richmond Randle from the Houston area who were making their first trip to the metro plex to play in the big game. The Randle Lions got the scoring started as fast as possible by running back the opening kickoff back 81-yards. Sr. Sincere Timpson faked a reverse and then hit the jets, with two Oak Cliff Bears on his tail the Lion out ran the two Bears to give Randle a 6-0 lead sixteen seconds into the game.
Less than six minutes later the Lions struck again when Landen Callis scored on a one-yard run to put the Lions up 14-0. South Oak Cliff fought back and scored with 1:38 to go in the first quarter when Sr. quarterback Carter Kopecky hit Jaylen Moore for a seventeen-yard TD pass. Randle had another great kickoff return and Christian Munguna kicked a 44-yard field goal. The Bears got a TD on a 2-yard run by Mikail Trotter. Randle not phased by the Oak Cliff TD stuck another ball into the end zone with 46-seconds on the clock before the half when Mason Mixon caught an eleven-yard pass from Keilan Sweeny, putting the Lions up 24-14 at halftime.
South Oak Cliff came roaring out of the locker room after halftime when Mikail Trotter had a 75-yard yard TD run on the first play from scrimmage. The Bears had another long TD lees than three minutes later when Damond Williams went 85 yards to put South Oak Cliff up 28-24 and the game was on! With 1:09 to go in the third Keilan Sweeny scored on a 22-yard run out of the “wildcat” set. Putting Randle up 31-28.
South Oak Cliff answered the Randle score with 9:02 to go in the 4th when the Bears quarterback Kopecky ran it in from 22-yards out. On the ensuing kickoff Sean Smith had a 72-yard kickoff return to give Randle the lead back 38-35 with 8:51 to play in the game. The Bears were unable to move the ball and had to punt ball back to the Lions. The Bears stopped Randle and got the ball back with less than three minutes to go in the game driving the ball down to the Lion 38-yard line with 24 seconds on the clock and no timeouts left hustled their field goal team. The 45-yard attempt was wide left and the Richmond Randle Lions won their first ever state championship 38-35.
On a final note, Richmond Randle High School is named after Richmond Randle’s head coach Brian Randle’s Father. What a night for the Randle family!
Kilgore vs Celina
December 20,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
4A Div. I
State Championship
Kilgore 13-2 vs Celina 15-0
The Kilgore Bulldogs had high hopes of making it two East Texas teams in a row winning state championships on Friday at Cowboy stadium. Taking on the storied Celina Bobcats making their 12th appearance in the state championship game, the first in 1974. But the Bobcats added another championship to the eight others they have accumulated over the past fifty years. This the first for Celina since 2007, beating Kilgore 55-21.
Celina’s defense shutdown the high-flying Kilgore offense who had been on a roll in their last nine games averaging 48 points per game. Shutting down the Kilgore running attack forcing the Bulldogs to put the ball in the air where the Bobcat defense intercepted two Kayson Brooks passes, running one back 26-yards for a touchdown by.
Celina’s offense was definitely hitting on all cylinders, quarterback Bowe Bentley was 9 for 14, 265 yard and 5 TD passes. The Bobcats had 191 rushing yards as well, for a total of 456 yards. Celina’s defense held Kilgore to a total of 269 yards.
Luke Biagini was the Defensive MVP. Biagini had 9 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.
The Bobcat quarterback Bowe Bentley was named the offensive MVP.
Carthage Vs La Vega
December 20,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
4A Div. II
State Championship
La Vega 12-3 vs Carthage 14-1
Linden’s own and former Linden-Kildare Tiger Scott Surratt came into today’s state championship game with nine championship rings. Now he’s got TEN!!! Giving him the record for the most state championships all time in the state of Texas as a head coach.
Carthage got the scoring started with 11:00 on the clock in the second quarter when Jr. running back K.J. Edwards broke loose around the left side of the Carthage offensive line and scampered 21 yards for a touchdown. In less than seven minutes the La Vega Pirates hit pay dirt when sophomore QB Kourtney Parr scored from the one. Carthage answered on the next drive when the Bulldog Oline opened a huge hole in the middle of the line and Edwards went the 86-yards for the TD!!!!
Neither team were able to move the ball in the third quarter and through almost half of the fourth quarter. However, with 6:24 on the clock in the 4th Jett Surratt hit Junior Henderson on a third and eight touchdown pass to give Carthage a 21-7 lead. In less than four minutes Surratt hit Henderson again on a 19-yard pass. La Vega scored a touchdown with no time left on the clock to make the final score 28-14.
This team was led this year by the defense which is coordinated by Darren Preston, whose son Cale also plays for the Bulldogs. Preston has been Surratt’s defensive coordinator his entire career at Carthage. A special bond exists between Surratt and Preston. Both growing up together as best friends in Linden. Preston’s father Carl was a coach and head coach at Linden-Kildare through the 70’s and up the later 80’s.
Scott Surratt has set himself apart from all other coaches in the state of Texas getting his tenth state championship ring. Not be forgotten on this historic day for Surratt is the fact that his teams are undefeated in state championship games. This is literally stuff movies are made of. The Carthage Bulldogs State champs again!!!!!
Columbus vs Malakoff
December 19,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
3A Div. I
State Championship
Columbus 14-1 vs Malakoff 15-0
Columbus made their first ever appearance in the state championship football game coached by former Columbus standout football player Matt Schobel, who played at tight end at TCU and later on in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles. Coaching along side his brother Aaron Schobel who was himself a standout at Columbus, a linebacker at TCU and later in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills. Both coaching their sons who are themselves standout players for Columbus. Matt’s son Adam who is the quarterback and is headed to play at TCU and Aaron’s son John who is a linebacker and is also headed to TCU.
Columbus built up a 34-7 halftime lead with Schobel passing for 201 yards and throwing one td pass to Bryalon Fisher and running for another. Grayson Rigdon a former three-time six-man state champion and offensive MVP at Strawn and Benjiman rushed for three touchdowns. Meanwhile the Columbus defense not to be overshadowed by the offense, totally shut down the potent Malakoff offense lead by Sr. John Schobel and sophomore Rylan Caruthers.
Malakoff who in fifteen games were only allowing an average of 11 points per games, could not stop the soon to be Horned Frog Adam Schobel and his stable of talented receivers or Grayson Rigdon who himself is head to play at Wyoming. Rigdon finished the night with 18 carries for 119 yards and four touchdowns. Adam Schobel ended the night 15-21 261 yards and 2 TD’s. 37 yards rushing and 1 TD. John Schobel ended the night with 10 tackles.
The final score 48-14. John Schobel was the defensive MVP and his cousin Adam Schobel was the offensive MVP. Grayson Rigdon set a UIL state championship record with four state championships. What night for Columbus and the Schobel family!!!
Woodville vs Gunter
December 19,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
3A Div. II
State Championship
Woodville 13-2 vs Gunter 13-2
Gunter Tigers get there third state championship in as many years. Coach Jake Fieszel has built dynasty just north of the metro plex in Gunter, TX population 2,404. The Tiger dominated Woodville defensively hold the Eagles to 147 total yards winning 28-0.
The Eagles hung in the first half going in down 7-0 at halftime. However, Gunter received the second half kickoff. Sr. Mitchell Gage set a 3A state championship returning the kick 96 yards. You could literally see the wind leave the Woodville sails.
With 8:59 to go in the third Gunter QB Preston Tarpley hit Cash Rumage on a 41-yard pass to build a 21- point lead heading into the 4th quarter. With 6:48 on the clock Sr. Brock Boddie had a 51-yard interception return putting the icing on the cake.
Defense was the key for Gunter it’s been their formula since Jake Fieszel hit the Gunter campus. 9,531 fans watched the Tigers get the win at AT&T Stadium.
Shinner vs Muenster
2A Div. II
State Championship
Shiner 12-3 vs Muenster 13-2
The 2A division 2 state championship game did not disappoint. The Shiner Comanche’s scored with 0:00 to go in the 3rd quarter and then converted at 2 point conversion after Muenster jumped offside on the extra point attempt to take a 29-28 lead. But the Muenster Hornets special teams came through with 5:28 to go in the 4th when Sam De La Mata punted the ball to the Shiner one yard line. The Hornet defense then went on the attack stopping the Comanche’s at the 5 yard line forcing a punt that was fielded at the Shinner 35 and returned to the 20 yard line with 3:04 left to play. The Hornets moved it methodically down to the five where Casen Carney scored his fourth touchdown of the night.
This was a fist fight from the beginning each team trading blows in the first half, the game knotted up 21-21 at halftime. Muenster received the second half kickoff and drove it 75 yard to take the lead with 5:44 to go in the third quarter. Shinner returned the favor with a 68 yard drive and a two point conversion to take the lead. Muenster who was lead by there Jr. Quarterback Casen Carney the head coach Brady Carney’s son, played like a coach on the field. Working the clock and making critical plays time and time again on third and fourth downs.
This was Shinner’s sixth state appearance and Muenster’s second appearance in six years winning the championship both trips to AT&T. Carney who was named the offensive MVP finished the game with 161 yards rushing and 171 yards passing. The defensive MVP was Tyler Harvey from Shinner.
Ganado vs Stamford
December 19,2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
2A Div. I
State Championship
Ganado14-1 vs Stamford 15-0
Forty-eight minutes was not enough time for the Ganado Indians and the Stamford Bulldogs. It took triple overtime but the Ganado Indians were able to get their first ever state championship under head coach Josh Ervin. Ganado who had played unbelievable defense all year long was definitely up to the task against the Bulldogs high scoring offense, holding them to 28 points in a three-overtime game.
Ganado’s defense got going early intercepting a Christion Duran pass at the Ganado 30 and running it back to the 14, setting up 3-yard TD run by the Indian QB Bryce Ullman. Stamford roared back when Duran hooked with Brayden Jimenez on a 36-yard TD pass. Ganado scored again with 5:42 to go in the second quarter on a 14-yard pass from Ullman to Cain Hayden. Giving the Indians a 14-7 lead at the half.
With 7:59 to go in the 3rd quarter Kaston Vega scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game up 14-14. On what looked to be a terrible mistake by Ganado’s talented sophomore running back Logan Bures fielding the ensuing kickoff on the one-yard line, who was tackled on the four. Ganado then went on a 11 play 96-yard drive capped by Bryce Ullman 16-yard pass to Cain Hayden to put the Indians back on top 21-14.
The Stamford offense was spurting in the 4th quarter when Ganado made a 3rd down stop. Stamford with 9:31 to play in the game and the ball at their own 27 faked a punt. The punter Brayden Jimenez ran it down to the 42-yard line giving the Bulldogs new life. Three and a half minutes later Stamford hit pay-dirt on a 5-yard TD run by Kaston Vega, tying the game at 21-21.
Ganado had a chance to win it in regulation attempting a 22-yard field goal with two seconds left to play. The attempt was wide left putting the game into overtime. Ganado had the ball first and was able to score on a ½ yard run by Logan Bures to put Ganado up in the first OT. Stamford was able to answer the bell in the first overtime when Duran hit Cie’ Whitfield on a 15-yard pass. No points were scored in the second overtime, sending the game into triple overtime, which moves the ball to the three-yard line thus going for a two-point conversion on all attempts thereafter. Bryce Ullman hit Austin Pena who made a great catch in the back of the end zone for the 2pt conversion. The Bulldogs ran a double reverse option pass on their two-point conversion attempt which was intercepted by Ullman securing the win for Ganado. Ullman was named Offensive MVP. What a Game!!!!!