ARLINGTON -- Gunter toppled one of the final dominoes on its dynasty quest in Thursday night's 3A DII State Championship over Tidehaven: back-to-back state titles. 

The 30-14 victory was the program's 31st-consecutive and 45th in the last 46 games. They've lost one more game (6) in the last eight years than they've made trips to Jerry World (5). But after repeating for the first time in program history, is it time to crown Gunter's 2023 team the best we've seen from the program yet?

Gunter's offense averaged 55.1 points per game compared to surrendering just 7.5. The defense allowed more than two touchdowns just once, in week two's 64-24 win over Prosper Walnut Grove. None of the games they played ended with a scoring margin within two possessions.

The question boils down to the two undefeated state champions Gunter's had - the 2016 and 2023 teams. The 2016 team is the squad that started this run, winning the program's first state championship in its 91-year history. That year's offense aveaged 42 points a game and gave up 12.4. They say the first one is the hardest, and that squad led by dual quarterbacks Trey Carr and Daylan Bower, former Texas State wide receiver Dylan Jantz, former Sam Houston safety Braiden Clopton and featuring two-time state championship game defensive MVP Peyton Lowe, lives in Gunter lore.

Gunter's vaunted passing attack headlined by senior quarterback Walker Overman, however, gives the 2023 iteration an argument for best team in program history. Overman came into the night with 35 passing touchdowns and 21 rushing touchdowns. He shined on Thursday night to close out his high school career with a 10-of-15 passing mark for 149 yards and a touchdown. He also added 161 yards on the ground in the pistol-option. His 68-yard touchdown pass to Stephen F. Austin commit Cannon Lemberg in the third quarter broke the game open.

Overman added a new dimension to this Gunter offense over the past two electric seasons. It proved to be the difference in Gunter going back-to-back.