ARLINGTON – “We had them right where we wanted them.”

Did we hear that correctly? First-year head coach Tyler Beatty’s China Spring was down 21-0 with 9:37 left in the second quarter of the Class 4A Division I championship game and had Boerne right where they wanted them?

It’s hard to second guess that statement when China Spring had been there before.

Not just at AT&T Stadium and the state title game for the second straight season, but also down by three scores this year. In Week 2, the Cougars trailed Melissa 20-0 at halftime before coming back for a 42-41 win.

Those combined experiences, and their ability to overcome adversity throughout the season, gave the Cougars the belief that the game wasn’t over as they battled back to take a 24-21 win and a second consecutive state title.

First-time state finalist Boerne hit the Cougars with its best shot early, scoring touchdowns on three straight drives in the opening 15 minutes of play. A crazy bounce to a long touchdown, a tough break on a jump ball in the endzone, and a more traditional long drive all resulted in Greyhound touchdowns.

Everything seemed to click for the Greyhounds in those early drives, as China Spring had gotten away from the basics.

“We weren’t fitting their run schemes very well and we weren’t tackling,” Beatty said. “We got to the football and made contact but didn’t wrap our arms and didn’t drive our feet.

“It takes a lot to stand in there, take the shots, give up big plays, have bad things happen to you, go down 21-0 and say ‘now’s the time to get this thing cranked up’ and our kids’ ability to do that is really impressive.”

The Cougars came out and answered the bell after the early shock. There was still plenty of time on the clock, and plenty of opportunities to turn the tide.

 “We were trying to stick together as a team, talk to each other about what we needed to do to fix everything, and we executed that,” defensive back Tre Hafford said.

The march back to a tie ballgame started on the next drive. Tristan Exline scored on an 11-yard reception to cap a 65-yard drive and keep the deficit at two scores at halftime.

“That was a big momentum swing for sure. We had faced adversity all year, but that got us the momentum back and we went to work,” said Hafford.

In both locker rooms, the message was clear – China Spring wasn’t done.

“There’s tons of football left. Not one play that’s happened or is going to happen on the next play is going to win the state championship game for either team. It’s what happens through this entire game that’s what matters,” coach Beatty said.

“We knew they weren’t going to give up,” Boerne lineman Sam Waters said. “We didn’t give up either, and we fought the whole game.”

The Cougars made adjustments and stifled Boerne, forcing two punts.

“They did a good job of getting back to their base, filling up gaps, bringing backers off the edge and making those running lanes tough for us,” noted Boerne head coach Che Hendrix. “Give them credit, they did a great job in the second half.”

“They were mashing the football on us, so were going load the box with our linebackers, get the safeties involved in the run game, take away their quick pass and got after them with relentless effort,” Beatty said.

And the offense did what they needed to do. Touchdowns on consecutive drives tied the game with 2:55 left in the third quarter, setting up a finish worthy of an all-time state championship game.

“They grind, they don’t give up and that’s why they’re here,” Beatty said. “They don’t stop, and they won’t stop.”

The fight back pushed until the final whistle, and that belief from early on eventually carried toward belief in kicker Thomas Barr, who drilled a 20-yard field goal as time expired to clinch the title.

“There’s a reason we call him ‘Mr. Automatic’,” Hafford said.

The Cougars had them “right where they wanted” early, and ended up right where they wanted late – at the top of Class 4A Division I.