Ganado 30, Stamford 28 3OT

December 19, 2024

AT&T Stadium

Arlington, TX

The 2A-Division I state title game was an absolute classic as it was the longest state title game played since 2003 when La Marque and Denton Ryan went to triple overtime and it was Ganado who came out on top to win their first state championship in front of a crowd of 7,858 at AT&T Stadium.

Stamford, who was unbeaten came into the game as a slight favorite but it was Ganado who seized the initiative early forcing a Stamford three and out on the game’s opening series. After a nice punt return by Cain Hayden, Ganado would need just three plays to jump out on top as Bryce Ullman scored from six yards out to give the Indians an early 7-0 edge.

Stamford would have the answer on their ensuing drive marching 70-yards in a dozen plays including a fourth and three conversion by QB Christian Duran. Two plays later Duran connected with WR Brayden Jimenez for a 36-yard touchdown connection and the game was tied 7-7 with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter.

Ganado would march to the Stamford 26 in the early stages of the second quarter, but the Indians turned the ball over on downs giving SHS the ball back. Stamford, however couldn’t get much going and after a punt, sophomore Logan Burnes would take the return 42-yards to the Stamford 19-yard line setting GHS up with excellent field position. Three plays later Ganado would take a 14-7 lead on a 13-yard scoring pass from Bryce Ullman to Cain Hayden.

Stamford would punt on their next series and Ganado would again march deep into Stamford territory, but the Indians drive stalled inside the Stamford 30 and Ganado would turn the ball over on downs. Ganado’s Cain Hayden would intercept a Duran deep ball attempt as time expired in the first half and Ganado led 14-7 at the break.

Ganado would open the second half with the ball and on the second play of the third quarter it was Stamford’s defense that would make a big play as DB C’Nai Whitfield would pick Ullman off giving the Bulldogs great field position after a nice return. Seven plays later RB Kaston Vega would score from a yard out and we were knotted up at 14-14 early in the third quarter.

Ganado would answer on the following drive marching 95-yards on ten plays to jump back up 21-14 as Ullman and Hayden would connect once again, this time on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put the Indians back in front with 3:25 left in the third quarter.

After a Stamford punt late in the third quarter, Ganado would go on the march early on in the final quarter and the Indians missed out on a shot to take a two-score lead missing a 33-yard field goal to keep the score 21-14 with 11:11 left in the game.

Stamford would get a lift from the miss and the Bulldogs would put together an impressive twelve play 80-yard drive to tie the game at 21-21 on Kaston Vega’s five yard run with 5:56 left in the game. The key play was a 4th and 13 conversion pass from Christian Duran to Alek Hernandez setting the Bulldogs up with a first and goal at the Ganado six.

Ganado would march down to the Stamford four-yard line and on the final play of regulation the Indians were set up for a short field goal, but the 22-yard kick at a sharp angle was no good and the game would go to overtime tied 21-21.

Ganado would open the first overtime with a six-play drive capped off by a one-yard run from Logan Bures to take a 28-21 lead. Stamford on their first overtime series would go to 4th and 4, but after a timeout QB Christian Duran connected with WR Cle Whitfield for a 19-yard touchdown pass to tie things up at 28-28.

Stamford would fail to score on their second series as Ganado DB Luke Bures would pick off Christian Duran on fourth and nine, giving Ganado a chance to win the game with any score. This time the Stamford defense would rise up as the Bulldogs would push Ganado a yard back and on 4th and 11 from the 26-yard line another field goal was missed and we’d go to triple overtime and dueling two-point plays to decide the win.

Ganado would open the third overtime with a two-point play as WR Austen Pena made a great catch in the back of the end zone on a pass from Bryce Ullman to put GHS up 30-28. Stamford on their try would go with the “Philly Special,” a reverse pass but Ganado had it scouted and Ullman, playing defense would intercept the pass sealing Ganado’s first ever state title in football.