Photos by Brian McLean
By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
SPRINGTOWN— Once every couple of generations, the average high school football program gets that one season that will be talked about for a long time. While the Springtown Porcupines have recently been among the better programs in Class 4A over the last 10 years, the 2025 season will stand above the rest after defeating their archrival Decatur Eagles 63-36 in The Fight on 51.
History was made in three different ways on Friday night, which made October 31, 2025 a red letter date in the 71 year history of Porcupine football. First of all, the win marked the 99th win with the program for head coach Brian Hulett, making Hulett the winningest coach in Springtown history surpassing 1989-2001 head coach Bill Reed.
Secondly, the win marks the first time the Porcupines have defeated Decatur in back-to-back seasons since 1994-95 in their 36-game series history that dates back to 1972. And finally, the 33-point win completed a perfect 10-0 regular season, the first undefeated season in Springtown since 1988.
“They asked me about it at the school and we had to look that up,” Hulett commented about the gravitas of the accomplishments. “To me there is [the feeling of gravitas] from this point. It means we’re winning. That’s it. So it is special.”
With everything that was at stake, one could believe that the Porcupines could have been a little distracted. However, they were anything but. Right out of the gates, the offense got clicking behind a stellar performance from quarterback Kaine Hill, scoring on all but one drive until the fourth quarter.
Hill finished his night with the greatest performance of his young career, completing 18 of 26 for 293 yards and two touchdowns, adding 187 yards on 11 carries for six touchdowns.
“I was just playing football,” Hill said after the game. “I thought we did pretty good offensively and defensively, and I thought we stayed together well.”
Decatur stayed with Springtown early on, taking the opening drive 68 yards, setting up Wyatt Dunn for an eight-yard reverse play, giving the Eagles the early 7-0 lead. Dunn was the biggest bright spot for Decatur, rushing for one touchdown and adding two more receiving touchdowns on eight receptions for 197 yards.
Springtown responded with a big drive of its own, capped off by a 29-yard keeper by Hill. The Eagles had a quick response when Rhys Ragan fooled the Porcupine defense on the play action, and connected with Dunn for an 82-yard score. Again, Springtown responded with a nice offensive drive, and Hill capped it off with a two-yard keeper, tying it up at 14.
The Porcupine defense then stepped up and came up with its first stop of the game, forcing a three-and-out. After a bad punt, Hill found paydirt again with a 38-yard keeper as time expired in the first quarter to give Springtown the lead for good at 21-14.
The second half started just as the first one ended, with a three-and-out, and a Kaine Hill touchdown. This time, Hill did it through the air, connecting with Christian Mendoza on the receiver screen that broke open from 44 yards out.
After a big offensive play, Decatur got inside the five-yard line, but once again the Porcupine defense held its ground behind two strong plays from the defensive front. However, Eagle kicker Anthony Weeks came on and nailed a 22-yard field goal to cut the lead to 28-17.
Once again, Springtown had a response. This time it was running back Jon Lardizibal who broke free after appearing to be stuffed by the defense. The Porcupine defense then quickly forced Decatur into a third down situation, but then Jake Milligan broke free in the secondary and Ragan was able to put the ball right in his hands for the touchdown.
It appeared the Porcupines were going to respond, but in a rare offensive hiccup, Hill’s pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage and fell into the arms of a defender. The Eagles took advantage when Ragan connected with Dunn from 32 yards out. However, Decatur opted to go for two, and could not convert, leaving the score at 35-30 at halftime.
“They do a good job, first and foremost,” Hulett said about Decatur’s passing game. “It’s more us not being locked in. But we kept scoring also. Metaphorically ‘just lean on them’ and make somebody break eventually.”
Springtown continued its offensive success quickly in the second half, driving quickly down the field with Hill running it in again for the touchdown, extending the lead to 42-30. The defense then created a big turnover on a strip sack with Justin Bontrager falling on the loose ball, giving the Porcupines possession again.
Seven plays later, it was Hill on the ground for his sixth total touchdown from three yards out.
Decatur finally got a response on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ragan to tight end Jett Jenkins, giving the Eagles the final points they would get in the game.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, with the score 49-36, Hill called his own number again, bounced outside and raced 14-yards to paydirt. Decatur tried to respond quickly with a deep pass in single coverage, but Zane Morton made a fantastic defensive play and came down with the interception. One play later, Hill threw to a wide open Mendoza over the middle for the final touchdown of the game, bringing the final score to 63-36.
Springtown finishes its season with a perfect 10-0 record for the first time since 1988. They will have a much deserved bye week before entering the playoffs as the District 5-4A DI champions. On the other side, Decatur falls to 5-3 on the season, 4-1 in district, and will finish their season next Friday at home against Fort Worth Southwest.
