UIL 2016 Football State Championship Games Recap, Thursday, 12-15
The 2016 Texas High School Football Championships are underway, and this is how the games on Thursday shook out.
2A Division II: Bremond Tigers vs. Iraan Braves
This game was back-and-forth all the way to the point where Bremond took a 28-21 lead. The Tigers then got a stop on defense, scored on their following offensive possession to go up 35-21, and never looked back after that. The final score was 49-28, Bremond.
For those whom may not remember, Iraan is the school that had a bus full of cheerleaders crash. I wish they would have won the game, but the school and the community should be proud of their boys' effort, nonetheless.
2A Division I: Refugio Bobcats vs. Crawford Pirates
This was one grinding game. One side would take the lead only to see it gone within two possessions. The game was tied 20-20 with two minutes left, and Refugio was in possession of the ball. The Bobcats ran the ball all the way down to inside the five-yard line, and ran some time off. With seven seconds left, the Coastal Bend squad converted a field goal attempt and took the lead 23-20. The Crawford returner couldn't get loose during the kickoff return, but a second remained. The Pirates snapped the ball and went for backward lateral attempts, but the ball ended up intercepted, ending any heroics. Refugio held on for the state championship.
3A Division II: Boling Bulldogs vs. Gunter Tigers
Gunter took a 7-0 (PAT) lead when they scored on their opening possession. The Tigers then scored on their second possession to increase their lead to 14-0. By the 5:48 mark of the second quarter, Gunter had taken a 21-0 lead. Boling cut the deficit to 14 when they had an 80-yard kickoff return TD with 5:35 left in the first half. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, that is as close as they would get to keeping the game within range. Gunter would score three more times, winning the game by a score of 43-7.
3A Division I: Yoakum Bulldogs vs. Mineola Yellow Jackets
This game was close throughout the first half, but Mineola led by a score of 21-14. Early in the third, the Yellow Jackets upped their lead to 28-14 with a touchdown and PAT conversion. Both team's defenses held on until the fourth quarter, when Mineola scored once more to make the game 35-14. The Jackets defense kept the Bulldogs at bay, and took the 3A-DI title.
