GILMER DEFEATS BELLVILLE 28-26 TO WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

What has been an incredible season for the Bellville Brahma Football Team came to an end at the Class 4A Division II State Championship Game in Arlington this (Friday) afternoon.

The Brahmas fought until the end, but it was the Gilmer Buckeyes, who came away with the 28-26 victory.

Things got off to a good start for Bellville. On their opening drive, Sam Hranicky broke loose for a 66-yard rushing touchdown, and Fernando Grajales kicked the extra point to give the Brahmas an early 7-0 lead with 8:06 left to go in the first quarter.

Gilmer would respond with Cadon Tennison finding Brendan Webb on an eight-yard touchdown pass. After they hit the extra point, the game was tied 7-7 with 5:15 to go in the first.

The Buckeyes would then recover a Bellville fumble, and a few plays later Tennison scored on a three-yard run to put Gilmer in front 14-7.

The second quarter began with Zach Leuschner finding D.D. Murray on a 72-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-13 with at the 11:47 mark. Gilmer blocked the extra point try by Grajales.

The final two minutes before halftime saw a flurry of scores. Gilmer intercepted a Bellville pass. Will Henderson then reached the end zone on a 65-yard touchdown run to put the Buckeyes up 21-13.

On the next drive, Sam Hranicky got loose again, and scored on a 58-yard run. Grajales kicked the extra point, and the Gilmer lead was down to 21-20.

However, the Buckeyes were not done as Tennison found Ta'Erik Tate on a 69-yard touchdown pass with 41 second left before halftime to give them a 28-20 lead going into the locker room.

The second half would be a battle of the defenses. Bellville's scored the only second half touchdown on an eight yard run by Corrian Hood in the third quarter to make it 28-26. However, Gilmer stuffed the Brahmas on the two point conversion.

Neither team reached the end zone in the fourth quarter as Gilmer held on for the win and the Championship.

Sam Hranicky had 13 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns, while D.D. Murray had nine carries for 81 yards plus the 72 yard touchdown catch, and Corrian Hood had 14 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Both Hranicky and Murray crossed over 2,000 yards rushing for the season, while Hood surpassed 1,600 yards.

Bellville finishes the year at 15-1. They set a school record for wins in a season, and became just the third team in school history to reach the state title game.