Arlington, Texas – The excitement from the 2024 Texas UIL football championships has just wrapped up, with 12 teams crowned as champions over a thrilling four-day event at A&T Stadium. As the dust settles, the spotlight shines on a mix of new champions and record-setting performances.
This year marked a special occasion with five teams clinching their very first state titles. Ganado, Columbus, Richmond Randle, Spring Branch Smithson Valley, and Austin Vandegrift celebrated historic victories, but perhaps the most emotional win came for Larry Hill. After 32 years of coaching, Hill finally got to experience glory as his team, Smithson Valley, triumphed over Dallas Highland Park with a score of 32-20. In a heartfelt moment, Hill shared, “My old dad would say, ‘Son, it is like pitching those washers, you got to be around the hole enough, and one of these times those suckers are going to flip over and roll in there. And Dad, today it did.”
Defensively, the championships surprised many fans. The Class 1A Division I champions, Gordon, allowed only 7.2 points per game, showcasing their incredible defense throughout the season. On the other hand, Jayton made its mark by only allowing eight points in the finals, tying the second-lowest point total allowed in 1A history.
Several dramatic moments changed the pace of the games. In the Jayton matchup, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown switched momentum at a crucial time. Similarly, Austin Westlake faced a devastating turn of events when a key fumble near the end zone cost them a chance to tie their game against North Crowley. The Panthers capitalized on that opportunity and ultimately took their second state championship title with a strong 50-21 victory.
While there were many highlights throughout the championships, kickers made some noise as well. Trent Amaya of Smithson Valley tied a state record with four field goals in a single game, just shy of setting a new one. His teammate, Christian Mungiua, also made headlines by kicking vital points to secure his team’s win against Southlake Carroll.
As much as the games thrilled fans, attendance was notably down. This year’s total reached 159,560, noticeably below the previous year’s count of 193,776. Many fans voiced concerns over ticket prices and overall costs associated with attending games, reflecting a trend affecting many sporting events recently.
In an added honor, members of the Texas High School Hall of Fame were celebrated during the closing day of festivities, pointing towards a bright future for high school football in Texas.
As we wrap up another thrilling season, Texas high school football continues to show resilience and talent, with many more stories waiting to be written in the coming years.
