Photo: Brian McLean
By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
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ARLINGTON— The final matchup of opening day for the football state championships saw two programs that had never made it this far before battling it out for history. Despite neither team winning their respective districts, the Hamilton Bulldogs and Joaquin Rams went on improbable playoff runs after both fell short in the semifinals in 2024.
With so much significance for both sides, and the differing styles of both teams, the game was billed as one of the most exciting in the state championship weekend. It lived up to the hype in a defensive slugfest as the Bulldogs were able to score the only second half touchdown, to edge it out 21-7.
“It’s exciting, it’s unbelievable,” head coach Ryan Marwitz exclaimed in the press conference after the game. “I’m just very thankful that all these guys’ hard work and all the time they put in pays off. So many kids come out and play this great sport and don’t get to experience what we just experienced. So I’m thankful and appreciative of being able to be here. It’s very rewarding.”
The game started out exactly as the Rams hoped it would. Joaquin got the ball and put the slot-t offense to work, covering 65 yards on 14 plays to score on a one yard quarterback sneak by Trenton Runnels after taking over seven minutes off of the clock.
However, Hamilton took the Rams’ game and threw it right back at them, going 64 yards on 13 plays, setting up a Carson Roberts 13 yard touchdown pass to Colter Johnson who made a bobbling catch, tying the game with just seconds remaining in the first quarter.
When asked about what went through his head while the ball was being bobbled, Johnson answered with complete honesty. “I would love to answer that question, but I’m not sure it is entirely appropriate,” he said with a chuckle. “I was freaking out!”
The Bulldog defense then settled in and started to figure out the slot-t, creating a defensive stop and getting the ball back. Ten plays later, running back Halston Haile started his day with a five yard touchdown run around the right side to give Hamilton a 14-7 lead.
Haile finished his improbable senior season as the offensive MVP, after a ruptured kidney ended his junior season in 2024 and threatened to end his career. He totaled 93 yards and a pair of scores in the winning effort.
“It’s unreal,” Haile reflected in the postgame press conference. “To think that this time last year I was in a hospital bed to now be sitting here getting interviewed after winning a state championship, it just doesn’t feel real.”
Another stop in their own redzone gave the Bulldogs one last chance for points in the first half, but the pass was intercepted as time expired.
Hamilton got the ball to start the second half and went right back to work. Taking a quick three minutes off of the clock, the Bulldogs got down to the one yard line before Haile punched it in again, extending the lead to 21-7.
The game never saw another point from there as the Hamilton defense stuffed the Rams and forced three fumbles in the second half, including the last one with eight seconds left to solidify the school’s first ever state championship.
