Thursday State Championship Recap

Mora Powers Mason to First State Title

ARLINGTON-- Senior RB David Mora ran for 258 yards and five touchdowns as the Mason Cowpunchers (15-0) won their first ever state championship rolling past Stamford (13-3) 62-40. The Class A Division I State Championship game was the first ever Class A game contested at Cowboys Stadium and it was played in front of a crowd of 10,143.

Mora who set multiple national rushing records as a junior didn't have as many touches this year as MHS revamped their offense to take some of the load off Mora, but on Thursday Mora was up to his old tricks toting the rock 41 times. Even more amazing for Mora is that all 41 of his carries went for positive yardage. Stamford, which started district play 0-2 righted the ship and in the playoffs avenged their two district losses was valiant in their efforts but they simply had no answers for the Mason offensive line.

Leading 28-13 at the half, it appeared Mason had all but put the game away early in the third quarter as Mora scored his third touchdown of the afternoon to put MHS up 35-13. Stamford responded with 13 straight points as junior QB Hagan Hutchinson scored on a two yard run and then hooked up with senior WR Jessie Ramos on a 15 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 35-26.

After forcing another Mason punt, it appeared Stamford had all the momentum, but an interception deep in Bulldog territory would set MHS up just 17 yards from the end zone and Mora would score from seven yards out to make it 42-26. A pick six on the next drive by Mason's Chance Stockbridge would put the game on ice at 48-26. Stamford which is a junior heavy squad was led by Hutchinson who ran for 91 yards and a touchdown along with throwing for 351 yards and four touchdowns. Ramos was his favorite target hauling in ten passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns.

Davis and Defense Lead Tenaha to Easy Title Game Victory

ARLINGTON-- Tenaha QB and Texas Tech verbal Reginald Davis put on a show in his final high school game as the Tenaha Tigers (14-0) knocked off the Munday Moguls (13-3) 52-28 to win the Class A Division II State Championship in front of 5,952 fans at Cowboys Stadium. Davis ran for 226 yards and three touchdowns, threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns and he had an 80 yard punt return for a touchdown as Tenaha used a 21-0 third quarter burst to turn a 24-13 game at halftime into a 45-13 rout.

Tenaha wasted little time scoring just 1:20 into the game on a three yard run by Davis, but Munday answered late in the first on a three yard run by junior FB Tyrone Neskorik to make it 7-6, Davis would hook up with J.R. Hill for a 65 yard touchdown pass near the end of the quarter to help THS seize back control of the game.

Munday appeared to have some momentum right before half as Neskorik caught a seven yard touchdown pass from QB Dee Paul making the score 24-13 at the half. Tenaha would end any hopes of a Mogul rally scoring to open the second half as Davis and Hill hooked up from 26 yards to make it 31-13. After a Munday punt, Davis would electrify the crowd with his 80 yard punt return to put the game out of reach at 38-13.

Paul led Munday rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns along with 57 passing yards and a score.

Melissa Wins a Slugest Fest Against Hempstead

ARLINGTON-- The Melissa Cardinals (13-1) took home their first ever state championship knocking off the Hempstead Bobcats (14-1) 28-15 in front of 8,435 fans at Cowboys Stadium in the Class 2A Division I State Championship.

RB/LB Kristov George was a terror on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns and on defense George notched ten tackles to lead MHS. Melissa jumped out to a 7-0 lead as QB Wes McQueen hooked up with Mason Hart for a 17 yard touchdown pass. The score would remain 7-0 until Hempstead's defense would get into the act as DB Tribete Smith (who was named defensive MVP with 2 interceptions) picked off McQueen and returned the turnover 19 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at seven right before halftime.

Melissa would open the third with an impressive march capped by a four yard run by George to extend the lead to 14-7. Melissa's big third quarter continued as with 5:10 left sophomore WR Jackson Webb hauled in a 68 yard scoring toss from McQueen to put the Cardinals up 21-7. Melissa would look to have the game all but put away on the final play of the third as George scored from eights yards out for a 28-7 MHS lead.

Hempstead would have their chances to get back in the game in the fourth quarter as with 10:05 to go Trent Momon hauled in a 31 yard touchdown pass from Obie Wilder to cut the MHS lead to 28-13. After a major special teams blunder by Melissa which gave HHS a safety cutting the edge to 28-15, it appeared momentum was on the Bobcats side. Hempstead would move into Melissa territory, but a crucial sack of Wilder hurt HHS and they turned the ball over on downs. Melissa would go three and out and again Hempstead would drive into Cardinals territory, but Melissa's defense bowed up in critical moments forcing another turnover on downs and allowing the offense to basically drain the rest of the clock.