ARLINGTON – Gilmer’s Will Henderson would not be denied a state title in his final season with the Buckeyes. Holding on to a 28-26 lead and facing fourth and 6 with under a minute left, Gilmer elected to go for it.
Bellville was out of timeouts and if Gilmer was going to turn it over on downs, the Brahmas would have to march 60 yards for a field goal try.
Henderson took the hand off and broke a couple of tackles before getting the first down – helping Gilmer run the clock out and capture the two-point win in the Class 4A Division 2 state championship on Friday at AT&T Stadium.
Gilmer ends 13-3 and wins its fourth state title – first since 2014.
The Buckeyes had lost the first two games of the season, which included Tyler Chapel Hill in Week 1. Chapel Hill also played on Friday in the 4A D1 final – losing to Anna 26-0.
Bellville went 15-1 and made the state final for the first time since 1977.
Henderson was voted offensive game MVP with 227 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown. Gilmer rushed for 265 yards total and 462 overall on 73 plays. QB Cadon Tennison was 17 of 27 for 197 yards and a pair of scores. Ta’Erick Tate was the leading receiver with 115 yards and one TD on six catches. Henderson added 53 yards on six catches.
Gilmer’s Aron Bell was voted defensive MVP with a team-high nine tackles and one blocked kick. Brayden Pate added seven tackles and Eliez Castillo chipped in six.
The Brahmas punched first with a 7-0 lead following Sam Hranicky’s 66-yard touchdown run with 8:06 left in the opening quarter. The Buckeyes tied it three minutes later on Tennison’s 8-yard toss to Brendan Webb.
Gilmer then took the lead with 69 seconds left in the period on Tennison’s 2-yard run.
Bellville got a 72-yard pass and catch from Zach Leuschner to running back DD Murray but Bell blocked the extra point and Gilmer continued to lead 14-13 early in the second.
Both teams combined for 21 points in the final two minutes of the half.
Henderson rushed in a 65-yard touchdown and Tennison hit Tate for a 69-yard TD pass. That sandwiched Bellville’s score – a 58-yard run by Hranicky and Gilmer led 28-20 at the break.
The final score of the night came on Corrian Hood’s 4-yard run for Bellville, but the Brahmas were stuffed on the potential game tying 2-point conversion.
Bellville had just two drives in the fourth quarter, totaling six plays and two punts.
Gilmer got the ball back with 6:47 left in the game – highlighted by 12 straight runs. On the 12th run, Henderson got his championship moment which was followed by a kneel down for the victory.
Webb also played D for Gilmer and got both takeaways, a fumble recovery which he forced and an interception in the first half – one that came in the end zone with Bellville looking for a touchdown.
