Gilmer 28, Bellville 26

Class 4A-Division II State Championship

December 15, 2023

AT&T Stadium

Arlington, TX

Unbeaten Bellville came into the 4A-Division II state title game as one of the most dominant team in 4A-Division II throughout the season, the Brahmas were seeking their first ever state title as they fell in the state title games in 1977 and 1960. While underdog Gilmer, the 7-4A Division II runner-up was looking for their first title since 2014 after falling in the title game in 2020 and 2021.

Bellville and their Slot-T offense would get off to a fast start as after the Brahmas defense forced a Gilmer turnover on downs, Bellville jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 66-yard touchdown run right up the gut by Sam Hranicky with 8:06 left in the first quarter.

Gilmer would tie the game up on the ensuing drive as the Buckeyes would go 65-yards in seven plays with the drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Cadon Tennison to Brendan Webb.

After a Bellville fumble that was recovered and forced by Brendan Webb, Gilner would take the lead shortly thereafter as Tennison would score from two-yards out to give the Buckeyes a 14-7 edge late in the first quarter.

Bellville would have the answer on the following drive as facing a 3rd and 13, the normally run heavy Brahmas took to the air as QB Zach Leuschner connected with DD Murray on a wheel route out of the backfield for a 72-yard touchdown, the PAT was blocked by Gilmer and the score was 14-13 Gilmer early in the second quarter. That blocked PAT would loom large later in the game.

Gilmer would move into Bellville territory on their next series but the Buckeyes would turn the ball over on downs at the Brahmas 34-yard line. It appeared Bellville was poised to take the lead on the ensuing drive as BHS has moved into the red zone, but facing a third and seven on the Gilmer twelve yard-line, Brendan Webb again stepped up with a huge play getting an interception in the end zone to turn away the Bellville scoring threat.

Gilmer would need just five plays to stretch the lead to eight points as speedy RB Will Henderson showed off his 10.2 speed in the 100 with a 65-yard touchdown run give the Buckeyes a 21-13 lead with two minutes left in the first half. It took Bellville less than a minute to answer the long Gilmer run with a long run of their own as Hranicky ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run up the middle to cut the Gilmer lead to 21-20 with just over a minute remaining in the first half.

Gilmer would have one more big play left in them right before halftime as Tennison unloaded a beautiful 69-yard touchdown pass to Ti’Erick Tate on the second play of the ensuing drive to give Gilmer a 28-20 lead heading into the locker room.

Both offenses found the going much tougher in the second half as after an exchange of punts to open the third quarter, Bellville would get the lone score of the second half on a four-yard touchdown run from Corian Hood with 2:26 left in the third quarter. Trailing by two points due to the blocked PAT in the first half, Bellville was forced to go for two to tie the game up and Hood’s run was stopped cold by the Gilmer defense to leave the score at 28-26.

The fourth quarter would prove to be a field position game as Bellville was able to pick off a Gilmer deep pass on their own three-yard line early in the fourth, but the Brahmas were forced to punt on that series and their one other series in the fourth quarter. Gilmer after the second punt would take over on their own 23 with 6:47 remaining in the game. Using tough running from Will Henderson, the Buckeyes were able to methodically march down to the Bellville six-yard before kneeling down after Henderson converted a fourth and six from the 17-yard line with an eleven-yard run.

It would be Gilmer’s fourth state title since 2004 and their first title won by a coach other than current UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, who was in attendance at the game. Bellville would finish the year at 15-1 falling to 0-3 in state championship games in school history.