Malakoff 14, Franklin 7

Class 3A-Division I State Championship

December 14, 2023

AT&T Stadium

Arlington, TX

In the 3A-Division I state championship game, despite being undefeated the Malakoff Tigers came into the showdown with 14-1 Franklin as the underdog and for good reason. Franklin was back-to-back state champions, the Lions had won 17-straight playoff games and 22 of their last 23 playoff games with the lone loss coming in the waning seconds of the 2020 state title game. Malakoff had been a very good program over the years and played for a state title in 2018 and through 15-games had been the most dominant team in the classification.

Priority number one for Malakoff to knock off the champions was setting the tone on defense the Tigers did just that on the opening series forcing a Franklin three and out. Malakoff would get the ball on their opening series of the game and efficiently march down the field with a mix of the running game with QB Mike Jones and RB Jerrion Hall along with WR Chauncey Hogg making plays in the passing game. Jones and Hogg would connect on the first score of the game from 32-yards out as Malakoff would take a 7-0 lead mid-way through the first quarter.

Franklin would answer on then following drive as the Lions would march 68-yards and twelve plays into the red zone, but disaster would strike going into the end zone as RB Devyn Hidrogo would fumble trying to get into the end zone and Malakoff DB Bubba Hicks would fall on the loose ball and Malakoff’s 7-0 lead would hold at the end of the first quarter.

Malakoff would try to seize control of the game on the ensuing drive as the Tigers would move into the red zone to the Franklin 13-yard line but on 4th and 2 the Tigers were stopped for no gain giving Franklin the ball back. The Lions offense couldn’t get going as they went three out and punted, but the Franklin defense would give their offense the ball back on a fumble as Wyoming commit Devyn Hidrogo would fall on the loose ball giving the Lions the ball back at the Malakoff 38. Malakoff’s defense again would be up to the task allowing just one yard and forcing a Franklin punt. Malakoff would move to the Franklin 38-yard line right before halftime but a penalty and sack would end the Malakoff threat right before halftime with Malakoff holding a slim 7-0 advantage.

Malakoff would open the second half much like they opened the first half with their initial drive marching right down the field with a little help from a Franklin facemask penalty and that connection of QB Mike Jones and WR Chauncey Hogg would come through as this time from 41-yards out the two hooked up and Malakoff early in the third quarter held a 14-0 lead.

Franklin’s offense, now with a sense of urgency would get things going on their next drive as the Lions would go 74-yards on eleven plays taking well over five minutes off the clock as they’d find the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run from Jayden Jackson. The key play on the drive was a 16-yard run on 4th and 1 by Jackson which got the drive kickstarted.

After a Malakoff three and out, Franklin took back over with plenty of momentum late in the third quarter, the Lions would drive to the Malakoff thirty-yard line as the fourth quarter began, but a massive holding penalty would push Franklin into a third and 18 situation that the Lions weren’t able to convert and they were forced to punt.

Afte being pinned on their own eight-yard line after the Franklin punt, Malakoff was able to get a couple of first downs, but the Tigers who were without sophomore RB Jerrion Hall due to injury were offensively limited at this point so MHS was forced to punt the ball back to Franklin.

Franklin would take over with 6:37 left in the game on their own 48-yard line and again the Lions would methodically march into Malakoff territory, benefitting from a facemask call and a couple of fourth down conversions. The Lions would move to the Franklin 15-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, but two straight incomplete passes on 3rd and 7 and 4th and 7 ended the drive on downs and Malakoff would pick up one first down and kneel out the rest of the clock to take home their first state title in school history with a 14-7 win.