Carthage storms to 4A D-II crown

Carthage spotted Gilmer a 14-0 lead five minutes into their Class 4A Division II championship game before roaring back to score 70 straight points and secure its second championship in a row with a 70-14 win Friday afternoon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Carthage (14-0) cut the deficit in half before the end of the first period, then exploded for 35 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 42-14 halftime advantage. The Bulldogs’ first-period deficit was the first time Carthage had trailed at the end of any quarter all season.

Led by quarterback Kai Horton and running back Mason Courtney, the Bulldogs racked up 621 yards total offense on the Buckeyes (14-2). Courtney rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns, while Tulane-commit Horton passed for 243 yards and three scores.

Junior defensive back Brandon King intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns in Carthage’s second-quarter explosion. He was named the game’s defensive MVP while Courtney was selected as the offensive MVP.

The championship was Carthage’s eighth in 13 years under coach Scott Surratt.

Argyle captures 4A D-I title

Titus Byce ran for four touchdowns in the first half as Argyle routed Lindale 49-21 for the Class 4A Division state championship Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Byce, who rushed for 152 yards and was the offensive MVP, helped stake Argyle (16-0) to a 28-0 halftime lead. Quarterback CJ Rogers threw three touchdown passes in the second half to complete the rout.

The win was Argyle’s second state championship while Lindale (13-3) was making its first appearance in the finals.

Jim Ned wins 3A D-I championship

Tuscola Jim Ned’s 2point conversion in overtime enabled the Indians to edge Hallettsville 35-34 Thursday night and capture the Class 3A Division I championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

After spotting Hallettsville a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter, Jim Ned (14-1) came back to tie the game with four minutes to play, forcing overtime.

Hallettsville (13-3) scored first in the extra period on a Jonathan Brooks 4-yard run before the Indians’ Xavier Wishert countered on a 17-yard TD run. The Indians went for the win instead of forcing another overtime. Tate Yardley’s pass to Zach Henderson sealed Jim Ned’s second-ever state title.

Hallettsville’s Brooks, a Texas signee, rushed 36 times for 299 yards and scored three touchdowns, giving him 62 career TDs. Wishert carried 35 times for 186 yards and a touchdown while Yardley had three touchdown passes, connecting twice with Henderson.

Brooks was selected the game’s offensive MVP and Wishert, who totaled 12 tackles, was name the defensive MVP.