Benjamin captures first football state championship with rout over Loraine
Loraine scored early in the second quarter to make it a four-point contest, but Benjamin blew open the game with the final 44 points as the Mustangs defeated the Bulldogs 68-20 in the Class 1A/Six-man Division 2 state championship on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium.
It was the first title game appearance for both teams.
“We were talking about it on the sideline, how they’ve made it look easy throughout the season. All the hard work and dedication, the team work and all the time the coaches put in,” Benjamin coach Nathan Hayes said.
Zannon Perez caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jadrian Limones to pull Loraine (13-2) within 24-20 with 9:31 left in the first half, but it only took 17 seconds for Benjamin to respond.
Grayson Rigdon, who was voted state title game offensive MVP, threw a 39-yard score to Brody White to extend the Mustangs lead to 32-20 with 9:14 on the clock.
The Bulldogs had a chance to cut into the lead again before halftime, but Loraine fumbled when Rigdon punched the ball out and White got the scoop and score 58 yards later to send Benjamin into the break up 46-20.
“We just gave up a huge play on their side,” Hayes said. “It was a big stop and turnover and I know the kids were ecstatic. It worked out in our favor and was a big momentum changer.”
It appeared to be the back breaker as Loraine had no answer in the third quarter.
“Had a turnover there and they capitalized like good defenses do,” Loraine coach Jake Popham said. “They put in a touchdown and it’s one of those things, the worst thing for us and the best possible thing could happen for them, obviously.”
Rigdon ran in scores from 60 and 23 yards to up the lead to 62-20. After White recovered another Loraine fumble, Benjamin ended the game on the next play when Rigdon threw a 49-yard pass to John Wollfarth. The Mustangs sealed their first football championship via the mercy rule (45 points).
“Kind of nervous, trying to catch the ball at that point. I knew we needed just one more touchdown, but it was nerve wracking at the same time,” Wollfarth said.
Loraine did get a quick start with a 60-yard TD from AJ Williams with 9:11 left in the first quarter.
But the Mustangs answered on the next play from scrimmage on a 50-yard run from Rigdon.
Williams came right back for the Bulldogs as his 13-yard TD run gave Loraine a 14-8 lead with 7:25 to play in the opening period. Williams led Loraine with 109 yards rushing, 86 passing and two touchdowns.
“Huge opportunity for us. Start early and fast and it’s definitely an uplift for your team, just not able to sustain it,” Popham said.
White’s 2-yard run and Rigdon’s 4-yard run helped close out the quarter with Benjamin on top 24-14.
Benjamin (14-0), which beat Loraine 61-30 in Week 6, amassed 363 yards on just 17 plays. The Mustangs held the Bulldogs to 299 yards on 45 plays. Rigdon finished with 10 carries, 255 yards and five touchdowns and completed both of his passing attempts for 88 yards and two scores.
“The kid is a player. Bottom line,” Popham said of Rigdon.
Nick Stovall was voted defensive MVP with 7 1/2 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. White chipped in a game-high 10 tackles, nine solo tackles, and two fumble recoveries.
Benjamin was the No. 1 team in the final 1A D2 state rankings.
