Day One of the Texas High School Football State Championships: Recap

By Roman Alacron of Friday Night Glory

The first of four days at the Texas High School Football State Championships kicked off with no shortage of storylines. From a new broadcast partner to historic individual performances and contrasting championship styles, Day One delivered across the board.

Victory+ made its UIL State Championship broadcast debut, and the early returns were impressive. The camerawork was sharp, the production quality was strong, and the commentary felt reminiscent of an old-school 1980s baseball radio booth, in a good way. Most importantly, the games were free to watch. Fans anywhere could simply download the app and tune in, a major win for accessibility and exposure for Texas high school football.

The 1A Division II championship was anything but competitive. The Longhorns capped off a dominant season with a statement win, run-ruling Rankin in the third quarter, 69–22. During the postgame press conference, the Longhorns’ season was likened to a movie, referencing the tornado that struck their community earlier this year. Still, it was an interesting juxtaposition: the feel-good story was also the undisputed top dog. The title marked their fifth state championship and third straight, as they simply played with more physicality and aggression from start to finish.

In contrast, the 1A Division I six-man championship delivered a much more competitive game, at least by six-man standards. The matchup was back-and-forth until a Coyotes safety gave Jayton a two-score cushion. From there, the Jaybirds began to pull away before Richland Springs briefly broke their momentum. Once Jayton regained control, history followed.

Bode Ham turned in a legendary performance, breaking the record for most rushing touchdowns in a state championship game (9), tying the record for most total touchdowns in a game (13), and finishing just 11 yards shy of the all-time rushing record. Jayton fell one point short of a century mark, winning 99–54 and claiming their second consecutive state championship.

The 2A Division I championship was a game of missed chances versus capitalized opportunities. Joaquin struggled to generate explosive plays, relying heavily on short passes and modest runs. Hamilton, meanwhile, maximized nearly every opportunity they had. Even after dropping a potential touchdown, the Bulldogs still finished the drive with points. When Hamilton scored on its opening drive of the second half, the tone was set. From there, the Bulldogs countered Joaquin’s Power T effectively and controlled the game en route to their first state championship.

Day One featured a little bit of everything: inspiring stories, historic performances, and a physical, grind-it-out championship reminiscent of an NFL-style game.

Day Two begins with a rematch of last year’s 2A Division II championship, the aptly nicknamed “beer-cheese” game between Shiner and Muenster, which promises to live up to last year’s standard. Grandview vs. Yoakum pits a program that has won every state title appearance against one still searching for its first championship victory. The nightcap and what many consider the most anticipated game of the week, features Newton vs. Hallsville.

State Championship week is officially one-quarter complete and the best may still be ahead.