The Rattlers had come close before, but never quite made it to the big game.
But behind a stellar defensive performance, Tolar dominated the Stratford Elks 35-7 in a Class 2A Division 1 state semifinal game on Thursday in Vernon.
Tolar (14-1) advances to the UIL state title game for the first time in program history where it squares off with #1 Timpson (15-0) at 7 pm Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Timpson defeated Ganado on Thursday.
The semifinal game on Thursday for Tolar was the program’s first trip to that round since the 1970s when the team was playing 6-man. According to Darren Lauber from the FW Star-Telegram, this title game trip will be a first in any team sport in school history.
#3 Tolar got out to a 21-7 halftime lead.
RB Garrison Nation picked up 21 yards on a drive and QB Isaac Blessing hit Clayton Stembridge on an 11-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter. The Tolar D got into it when Drake Owens picked off a Stratford pass and returned it 24 yards.
Three plays later and Nation scored on a 2-yard TD run to up the lead to 14-0 in the second. Blessing connected with Matthew Behrens on a 47-yard TD pass on third and 21 and Tolar went ahead 21-7 with 3:41 to go in the first half.
Cash Clark recovered a fumble for Tolar to end the second quarter.
The scoring didn’t stop for the Rattlers, who took the opening drive of the third quarter 68 yards on 13 plays – capped by a 1-yard score from Blessing and Tolar’s lead grew to 28-7 with 4:58 left in the period. Then Owens tipped a pass and Grant Sherley got the interception at the 1:32 mark.
Stembridge recorded Tolar’s third interception and RB Peyton Brown scored on a 16-yard for the final score as Tolar led 35-7 with 5:24 left to play.
Tolar will enter the title game with a 12 game winning streak.
The Rattlers beat Marlin 42-19 last week in the Region 2 final.
Stratford was coming off a surprising 46-6 win last week vs Hawley.
