Smithson Valley Rangers Claim First State Championship Under Coach Larry Hill
Arlington, Texas – In a thrilling conclusion to the high school football season, the Smithson Valley Rangers have captured their first state championship, defeating the Dallas Highland Park Scots 32-20. The game took place on Saturday at AT&T Stadium, and it marked a significant milestone for Rangers head coach Larry Hill, who had been seeking his first title after years of near misses.
Having made eight semifinal trips and four finals appearances in his career, Hill finally achieved his goal with this victory. “Just had a few minutes to soak it in,” Hill remarked after the game. “We’ve been close a lot. It’s always somebody else who wins it. But that old adage my Dad would tell me about pitching in washers – ‘You got to get it around the hole enough. And one of these times, that sucker is going to flip over and roll in there.’ Well, Dad, they did today.”
The players rallied behind Hill, with quarterback Cade Spradling expressing their purpose: “It’s awesome. I’m just happy we’re the team that got it done for him.” The Rangers (14-2) started the day as the first game of three Texas high school football state title matchups.
The Scots kicked off the scoring with a 49-yard touchdown pass early in the game, but the Rangers quickly responded with two field goals to trail 7-6. Highland Park then extended their lead to 14-6 with another touchdown pass. However, a game-changing interception and a return touchdown by defensive back Julian Colunga brought Smithson Valley back within one point by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Rangers took their first lead when Spradling connected with Brody Day for a touchdown, making it 20-14 at halftime. The Rangers maintained their momentum in the second half, shutting out the Scots thanks to a strong defensive effort, including three sacks on Highland Park quarterback Buck Randall.
Spradling finished the game as the offensive MVP, tallying 208 total yards and scoring two touchdowns, while Colunga’s pivotal defensive play earned him the defensive MVP honor. With this win, the Smithson Valley Rangers have etched their names in history, providing Coach Hill with a long-awaited victory.
