After watching 12 state championship games played over four days at AT&T Stadium last week, The Sports Buzz takes a look back to recap all of the showdowns
In yet another University Interscholastic League football state championship week for the ages at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium otherwise known as Jerry’s World, high school football fans were treated to a smorgasbord of gridiron action featuring last second field goals, dramatic comebacks, dominating performances and surprise winners.
Here is THE SPORTS BUZZ’s recap of all 12 state championship games from six different classifications on Dec. 14-17, beginning with six-man football action:
Class 1A, Division II State Championship: BENJAMIN Mustangs 68, LORAINE Bulldogs 20
Playing in their first state title game, the top-ranked Benjamin Mustangs soundly defeated the fifth-ranked Loraine Bulldogs, 68-20, Wednesday to complete the perfect undefeated season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Benjamin’s Grayson Rigdon scored seven touchdowns while rushing for 255 yards and passing for 88 more to be named the Offensive MVP, while Mustang Nicholas Stovall earned the Defensive MVP with honors with 7.5 tackles, four tackles for losses and a sack.
Check out the complete Class 1A, DII State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3HCmQdC
Class 1A, Division I State Championship: WESTBROOK Wildcats 69, ABBOTT Panthers 24
Winning their second straight state title, the top-ranked Westbrook Wildcats buried the second-ranked and previously undefeated Abbott Panthers, 69-24, Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Named both the Offensive and Defensive MVP of the championship game, Westbrook’s Cedric Ware scored five touchdowns while producing 176 all-purpose yards, and notching 10 tackles.
Check out the complete Class 1A, DI State Championship game box score: http://bit.ly/3hlqvlq
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 2A, Division II State Championship: ALBANY Lions 41, MART Panthers 21
Winning the state title for the first time since 1961, the sixth-ranked Albany Lions shocked the top-ranked and previously undefeated Mart Panthers, 41-21, Wednesday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Rushing for four touchdowns, Albany’s Coy Lefevre ran away with the Offensive MVP honors, while Lion teammate Wyatt Windham earned the Defensive MVP award with 11.5 tackles.
Check out the complete Class 2A, DII State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3FUBFH6
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 2A, Division I State Championship: HAWLEY Bearcats Lions 54, REFUGIO Bobcats 28
Capturing their first state championship in school history, the second-ranked Hawley Bearcats shredded the fourth-ranked Refugio Bobcats, 54-28, Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Hawley’s Austin Cumpton ran for 151 yards and four touchdowns to earned the Offensive MVP award, while Lion teammate Hez Parker returned an interception for a touchdown, collected 4.5 tackles and a sack, as well as forced a fumble to receive the Defensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 2A, DI State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3BGGHV0
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 3A, Division II State Championship: GUNTER Tigers 42, POTH Pirates 7
Leaping out to a commanding first half lead, the top-ranked Gunter Tigers claw their way to an overwhelming 42-7 victory over the surprising seventh-ranked Poth Pirates Thursday afternoon to complete a perfect state championship season at AT&T Stadium.
Gunter’s Collin Peacock led a dominating defense with 4.5 tackles and an interception to be named the Defensive MVP, while Tiger teammate Ashton Bennett ran for 87 rushing yards and two touchdowns to take home the Offensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 3A, DII State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3WpQV3Y
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 3A, Division I State Championship: FRANKLIN Lions 17, BROCK Eagles 14
To capture their second straight state title, Cort Lowry nailed a 20-yard field goal as time expired to lift the top-ranked and undefeated Franklin Lions over the seventh-ranked Brock Eagles, 17-14, Thursday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Franklin’s Jayden Jackson rushed for a game-high 148 yards and scored the game’s first touchdown to give the Lions an early lead to be named the Offensive MVP, while Lion teammate Fragiel Owens returned a fumble recovery 64 yards for a score to draw the Defensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 3A, DI State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3WmF5YB
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 4A, Division II State Championship: CARTHAGE Bulldogs 42, WIMBERLY Texans 0
Winning their ninth state championship, the top-ranked and undefeated Carthage Bulldogs crushed the sixth-ranked Wimberly Texans, 42-0, to complete their perfect season Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Tossing four touchdown passes, Carthage’s Connor Cuff complete 14 of 22 passes for 299 yards and ran for another score to earn the Offensive MVP award, while Bulldog teammate Jakerrian Roquemore collected two tackles, an interception, forced a fumble and broke up a pass to draw the Defensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 4A, DII State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3hzMe9c
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 4A, Division I State Championship: CHINA SPRING Cougars 24, BOERNE Greyhounds 21
Winning back-to-back state championships, the top-ranked China Spring Cougars rallied to spring past the third-ranked and previously undefeated Boerne Greyhounds, 24-21, Thursday afternoon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
China Spring’s Thomas Barr nailed a 20-yard field goal as time expired to complete the dramatic comeback for the Cougars, who trailed 21-0 with 9:37 left in the second quarter. Tristan Exline ripped a 66-yard touchdown run with 2:55 left in the game to set the exciting finish as China Springs scored 24 unanswered points.
Throwing two touchdown passes, Cougar quarterback Cash McCollum completed 14 of 22 passes for 144 yards and rushed for 42 more to take home the Offensive MVP award, while teammate Tristan Exline collected 12.0 tackles to draw the Defensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 4A, DI State Championship game box score: https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/state-football/boxscores/22FB4AD1.HTM
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 5A, Division II State Championship: SOUTH OAK CLIFF Bears 34, PORT NECHES-GROVE Indians 24
After becoming the first Dallas ISD school to win a state title since 1958 last season, the eighth-ranked South Oak Cliff Bears defied the odds and captured their second straight state championship with a convincing 34-24 victory over the Port Neches-Grove Indians Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Leading the first Dallas ISD team to ever win consecutive state titles, South Oak Cliff’s William Little completed nine of 16 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown while running for another score to earn Offensive MVP award, and Bear teammate Manny Muhammad returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown to draw Defensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 5A, DII State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3BGa6P6
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 5A, Division I State Championship: ALEDO Bearcats 52, COLLEGE STATION Cougars 14
Maintaining bragging rights as the school with the most all-time state championship trophies, the third-ranked Aledo Bearcats dominated the 10th-ranked College Station Cougars, 52-14, to capture their record 11th state title Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Aledo’s Hauss Hejny threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more to led the Bearcats by completing 11 of 15 passes for 175 yards and rushing for 143 yards to the Offensive MVP award. Bearcat receiver Jalen Pope hauled in eight passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Aledo’s Jake Gillespie collected five tackles, one for loss, along with a forced fumble and an interception to draw the Defensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 5A, DII State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3FF9avN
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 6A, Division II State Championship: DESOTO Eagles 42, AUSTIN VANDEGRIFT Vipers 17
Winning its first state title since 2016, the 13th-ranked DeSoto Eagles claimed their second state crown with an overwhelming 42-17 victory over the 17th-ranked Austin Vandegrift Vipers Saturday afternoon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
DeSoto’s Deondra Riden led the Eagles with 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns to earn the Offensive MVP honors, while Eagle teammate Jason Douglas recorded 5.5 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and had a quarterback hurry to take home the Defensive MVP award.
Check out the complete Class 6A, DII State Championship game box score: http://bit.ly/3WoVRq6
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
Class 6A, Division I State Championship: DUNCANVILLE Panthers 28, GALENA PARK NORTH SHORE Mustangs 21
Winning their first state championship in 24 years, the third-ranked Duncanville Panthers rallied to overcome the second-ranked and previously undefeated Galena Park North Shore, 28-21, Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Capturing their second state title in school history, the Panthers completed their perfect season as Caden Durham scored three touchdowns while rushing for 105 yards to earn the Offensive MVP award. Teammate Keelon Russell topped the century mark with 103 yards rushing and a score. Panther Colin Simmons collected 4.5 tackles, three for losses, two sacks and two quarterback hurries to take the Defensive MVP honors.
Check out the complete Class 6A, DI State Championship game box score: bit.ly/3V0sPMk
Watch the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football recap:
©2022 Southern Cross Creative, LLP. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
