ARLINGTON – The 200th win in Ray Biles’ 30-year tenure was Lorena’s first state championship since 1987. The 35-18 win over Brock on Thursday afternoon inside AT&T Stadium gave the Leopards, and the second-longest currently tenured coach in Texas, a Class 3A Division I title.

Biles started his head coaching career at Lorena in 1992, three years after Lorena last played for a championship. He now holds a 200-137 career record as a head coach. Biles’ career spans 40 years, but it only involves two stops – as an assistant at Katy and the head man at Lorena. He said former players at Katy, who are now in their 50s, reached out to him this week to wish Biles and the Lorena Leopards good luck. 

His Leopards outraced Brock to the Class 3A Division I state championship despite missing an injured Reed Michna, who rushed for 1,437 yards and 21 touchdowns, including a team-high seven games with over 100 yards.

"I couldn't write a story that would have my 200th win be a state title game," Biles said. "I didn't bounce from one school to the next. I stayed with them at times, and there were times that they stayed with me. It means the world to me to get this win." 

Rhett Hanson, who entered the game with 1,295 rushing yards and a team-high 27 touchdowns, picked up the slack. The senior carried the ball 28 times for 196 yards and three touchdowns. 

A man who stays at a place for 30 years in hopes of claiming a state title knows how to overcome adversity. Biles’ 2021 Lorena team was cut from the same cloth. The Leopards started the season 0-2 with losses to Franklin and China Spring – two teams also playing for state titles this week at AT&T Stadium. 

"I never once doubted what we could do or what we were capable of doing after those losses," Biles said. "We had a sense of urgency at 0-2. The next game, we won 54-0. After that, it was on." 

Biles scheduled those teams with a purpose. He knew Lorena would eventually get tested as the playoff waters deepened. Lorena won 13-straight games to reach the state championship with all 13 victories coming by at least 17 points. Twelve of the 13 wins were by more than 20 points, including the 55-17 win over Lago Vista in the state semifinal rounds. The Leopards beat their five previous playoff opponents by an average score of 57 to 18. 

Brock represented the toughest challenge since Week 2 of the season. Lorena jumped out to a 14-0 lead to end the second quarter. Brock crawled back into the game to trail 14-6 at half and 21-12 late in the third quarter. That’s when Lorena pressed the gas. That’s when 30 years of frustrating ends to seasons and the two defeats to start the season were exorcized. 

"The best part about this win is getting one for (Biles). He deserves it more than anyone else," senior Andrew Brittain said. "He is the hardest working man I've ever met, and he's instilled lessons in us that will last a lifetime."