ARLINGTON – After 102 years, the Malakoff Tigers can call themselves football state champs.
In a defensive battle, Malakoff (16-0) held Franklin to 224 yards of total offense during a 14-7 win in the Class 3A Division 1 state championship on Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
It was Malakoff’s second title appearance – losing 35-21 to Grandview in 2018.
In front of 10,299 people in attendance, the Tigers took the lead on Chauncey Hogg’s 32-yard touchdown catch from QB Mike Jones midway through the first quarter.
The lead was 7-0 at halftime.
Jones and Hogg connected again in the third quarter from 41 yards and Malakoff led 14-0 at the 9:10 mark. Franklin cut the lead in half five minutes later on a 5-yard TD run by Jayden Jackson.
The Lions end 14-2.
They came in as defending champs after beating Brock last season. Cort Lowry hit a walk-off 20-yard field goal as the Lions won 17-14. Franklin also won in 2021, but in 3A D2 – a 49-35 win over Gunter.
After Malakoff took a 7-0 lead, Franklin looked to match the score on the ensuing drive.
The Lions ran 12 plays, but on Devyn Hidrogo’s run, he nearly crossed the goal line when the ball came out and hit the turf. Malakoff recovered the end zone for the touch back. Both teams had trouble in the second quarter. Malakoff was 0 of 2 on third down and 0 of 2 on fourth down in the period.
Franklin ran just six plays for 23 yards.
The Lions last ditch effort to tie the game in the fourth quarter came on a drive that started near midfield and 6:37 left to play. Nine runs later and the ball was at the Malakoff 15. But then Franklin couldn’t complete a pass on back to back plays as the Tigers took over, killed the clock and celebrated.
Jones was offensive game MVP with 103 yards on 21 carries and 10 of 14 passing for 140 yards with two touchdowns. Hogg finished with seven catches and 108 yards, and went over the 1,000 yard mark this season. Jones ended the year with 31 TD tosses to only two interceptions.
Malakoff’s Parker Poteete was defensive MVP with 13 tackles.
Jackson led Franklin with 117 yards rushing.
