Benjamin may have been head and shoulders above the rest of 1A Division II this year, but Loraine certainly earned the “Best of the Rest” award.
It was a historic 2022 season for the Bulldogs. They finished 13-2 and earned their first-ever state title game appearance.
And even though Benjamin ran away with the state title in a 68-20 victory, it was still a year that Loraine’s players had envisioned since the end of the 2021 season.
Malaki Williams hauls in a big catch for Loraine against Benjamin in the 1A Division II State Title Game. Credit: Pat Carrigan
Loraine head coach Jake Popham said that as his players began preparing for this past season, they set forth the goal of making it to the state championship game. As he reflected on his players achieving that goal, Popham said he couldn’t be prouder.
“I don’t think it could mean anything more to our community, our school, and our kids,” Popham said. “Our upperclassmen set this goal coming out of last season, so hats off to them for coming out and making it happen.”
The Bulldogs flew out of the gates at blistering speed with a 5-0 start, notching big wins over Highland (48-15), Crowell (56-8), Klondike (60-40), Ira (70-34), and Sands (60-15).
Benjamin knocked off the Bulldogs 61-30 in week six, but Loraine responded with a tight 50-42 win over O’Donnell the following week as running back Davion Walthall rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
Following a bye week, the Bulldogs opened District 13-1A Division II play with a showdown against Blackwell. In a game where the defenses dominated, Loraine held Blackwell to just nine total yards in a gritty 28-8 victory.
Loraine’s final two district games were over by halftime thanks to six-man football’s 45-poiint mercy rule. In a 55-0 win over Trent, Walthall scored four touchdowns before he rushed for 129 yards and four more touchdowns in a 66-18 victory over Bronte.
With those two victories, Loraine secured its second-straight undefeated district title.
AJ Williams (1) was a key playmaker for the Bulldogs out of the backfield throughout the playoffs. Credit: Pat Carrigan
Heading into the playoffs, the Bulldogs didn’t miss a beat either as they reeled off back-to-back shutout victories over Panther Creek (56-0) and six-man powerhouse Richland Springs (52-0). AJ Williams led the way in both games for the Bulldogs as he rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns against Panther Creek before racking up 270 total yards and six touchdowns against Richland Springs.
After two big victories, the state quarterfinals were much tighter. Yet again, Loraine rose to the occasion, battling past Cherokee 24-6 as it held the Indians to just 71 yards of total offense.
That set up a state semifinal showdown against Oakwood. Yet again, Williams stole the show as he rushed for 212 yards and five touchdowns, while throwing for 86 yards and three more touchdowns. Loraine’s explosive offensive output was too much for Oakwood to keep up with as the Bulldogs secured an 86-36 victory and a state title game appearance.
And even though Benjamin showcased its dominance in that state championship game, it will still be a day the Bulldogs never forget.
Walthall said for he and his teammates, making it all the way and playing for a championship in AT&T Stadium was a dream come true.
“It was special,” Walthall said. “We’ve always dreamed about it since we were kids. We all grew up together. We always knew that we could be here, and we knew that this year we would for sure be here. We were hoping we would get the gold, but we made it and that was our goal, so we’re happy.”
CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz
