For the second-straight year, Mart and Albany will meet for the 2A Division II state title.
Last year, Albany marked its return to the state stage with its first state title 61 years as it knocked off the Panthers 41-21.
Now, the Panthers will be hoping to end their two-game losing streak in state title games on Thursday morning. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
Here’s what to watch for in the 2A Division II state title game.
Albany Lions (15-0)
Head Coach: Denney Faith (37th season; 359-110-4)
Distance from AT&T Stadium: 153 miles
2023 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 60-0 vs. Eldorado
Area: W 56-0 vs. Celeste
Regional Semifinal: W 19-14 vs. Muenster
Regional Final: W 52-14 Collinsville
State Semifinals: W 34-14 vs. Sunray
Key Players and Storylines
Albany is back in the state title game for the second-straight year. After snapping a 61-year title drought in 2022, the Lions are aiming for back-to-back titles just as they accomplished in 1960 and 1961.
Last year, Albany had the Adam Hill-Coy Lefevre one-two punch. This year, following the graduation of Leferve, it has been the Adam Hill show. The senior running back, who is committed to Texas Tech, has rushed for 2,502 yards and 42 touchdowns this season. In the win over Sunray, he racked up 167 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries.
The offense is far from one dimensional though. Quarterback Chip Chambers has stepped into the starting role and formed a formidable connection with receiver Cason Fairchild (1,143 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns).
Defensively, the Lions have been stout. They have not given up more than 21 points in a single game all season. Hill is just as dangerous to opposing backfields as he is to opposing defenses with 28 tackles for loss. Fairchild has a knack for finding the football as well from his defensive back position with five interceptions on the season.
The Lions will also need big games from linebacker Jaxson Hoel (143 tackles) and cornerback Tyler Chapman (126 tackles). Mart has no lack of athletes, so the Lions will need their top two tacklers to make stops in the open field.
Albany got a scare from Muenster in the regional final and hasn’t looked back since. With a reliable running game and a stingy defense, the Lions are a sound team with not many weaknesses for the opposition to try and attack.
Mart Panthers (15-0)
Head Coach: Kevin Hoffman (9th season; 121-12)
Distance from AT&T Stadium: 108 miles
2023 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 58-0 vs. Cumby
Area: W 66-20 vs. Overton
Regional Semifinal: W 43-0 vs. Deweyville
Regional Final: W 57-20 vs. Lovelady
State Semifinal: W 38-24 vs. Chilton
Key Players and Storylines
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Mart is back in the state title game with a Medlock leading the way and Kevin Hoffman still coaching the Panthers.
Hoffman nearly retired in 2022 before changing his mind just over a week later. A chance to win another state championship at Mart after two heartbreaking losses to Windthorst in 2020 and Albany last year will certainly have Hoffman and his Panthers motivated on Thursday.
The aforementioned Medlock is dual threat quarterback De’Montrel Medlock (1,692 passing yards, 1,274 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns). He creates quite a dynamic duo in Mart’s backfield alongside its bell cow running back JD Bell (2,336 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns).
Out at receiver, sophomore Ethan Hocking is coming off a big game in the semifinals where he caught four passes for 144 yards. Richard Green (560 receiving yards) and D’Anglo Rhodes (428 receiving yards) have seen pretty equal work alongside Hocking creating a trio of reliable options for Medlock.
Senior linebacker Abram Ross (99 tackles) was Mart’s leading tackler in last year’s championship game. He and fellow linebacker Cornelius Gillaspy (109 tackles, 11 TFLs) will be in for a busy day as they look to slow down Albany’s rushing attack.
Final Thoughts
A year ago, Albany had 11 more minutes of possessions than Mart in this game. The Lions will likely look to control this contest again with Hill in order to keep the ball out of the hands of Mart’s playmakers.
For Mart, the Panthers have often been favorites in state title games in recent years. Not this year.
Mart head coach Kevin Hoffman said his team realizes Adam Hill is the best player in 2A Division II and that Albany is the best team they’ve faced all year long. Hoffman said his Panthers will look to contain the Lions and stay in the game till the fourth quarter where their playmakers can look to win it and end that four-year title drought.
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