This is the final part of a six-part series on the winningest teams of the last decade in Texas high school football. Since 2011, they have won 126 games and five state championships: 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. They are the Carthage Bulldogs.
2013 Championship Season
The Bulldogs posted a 15-1 record and won the 3A Div. 1-State Championship with a 34-23 win over Kilgore.
Carthage led 14-10 at halftime and outscored Kilgore 14-0 in the 3rd quarter.
QB Blake Bogenschutz was named the Offensive MVP after rushing for 100 yards and passing for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 4003 yards and 57 touchdowns.
RB Tevin Pipkin rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 2113 yards and 23 touchdowns that season.
WR Terian Goree had 46 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Goree caught 89 balls for 1744 yards and 28 touchdowns.
WR O’Keeron Rutherford caught three passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.
WR Marquise Guinn also had a receiving touchdown.
2016 Championship Season
In 4A, the Bulldogs achieved more of the same, winning another state championship after going 14-2. They faced off against Abilene Wylie in the title game.
Tied 17-17 at the half, the Bulldogs outscored Wylie14-0 in the second half and won 31-17.
RB Keaontay Ingram gained 180 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 2244 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was named the Class 4A Co-Offensive MVP was rated as a 4-star recruit.
QB Kason Davis had 1 rushing touchdown and 136 yards passing and one TD.
WR DeWaylon Ingram caught four passes for 67 yards and a TD. He finished with 60 catches and 1006 yards for the season.
The defense played lights out: three sacks, eight TFLs, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four INTs. Austin Russell was named the Defensive MVP, recording 1 sack, 1 TFL, and two fumble recoveries.
2017 Championship Season
The Bulldogs finished an undefeated season at 16-0. They won the 4A-Div. 1 State Championship with a 49-21 win over Kennedale.
Carthage gained 577 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs raced to a 28-7 lead at halftime and outscored Kennedale 14-0 in the 3rd quarter.
RB Keaontay Ingram rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the season with 2325 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Ingram rushed for over 5000 yards and scored 82 touchdowns in his prep career. He signed to play college ball with the Texas Longhorns.
RB Dee Bowens added a rushing TD along with 135 receiving yards and a TD. His season totals were 61 catches, 1444 yards, 23 TDs.
QB Gunner Capps passed for 365 yards and 3 touchdowns and was named the game’s Offensive MVP. He finished the season with 3856 yards and 49 TDs.
WR DeWaylon Ingram had a receiving touchdown. Ingram’s season totals were 60 catches, 1061 yards, and 15 touchdowns.
The Bulldog defense made three TFLs, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble, and broke up two passes. Mykel Gates was named the Defensive MVP after making nine tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.
2019 Championship Season
Another undefeated season (16-0), and another 4A State Championship as Carthage won 42-28 over Waco LaVega.
The Bulldogs led 21-14 at halftime and outscored LaVega 21-14 in the 2nd half.
WR Kelvontray Dixon had seven catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. He was named the Offensive MVP. Dixon finished the season with 74 catches for 1240 yards and 20 touchdowns.
QB Kai Horton passed for 231 yards and three TDs. Horton’s season totals were 3746 yards and 49 touchdowns.
RB Mason Courtney rushed for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Courtney finished 2020 with 1679 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The Bulldog defense recorded three TFLs, 1 fumble recovery, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups. Cole Whitlock was named the Defensive MVP after recording 9.5 tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
2020 Championship Season
Carthage posted yet another undefeated season (14-0) and made another appearance at the 4A-Div.2 State Championship Game.
The Bulldogs gained 621 yards of total offense on their way to a 70-14 rout of Gilmer.
Offensive MVP Mason Courtney rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He scored on runs of 37 yards, 69 yards, and 23 yards.
RB Javarian Roquemore scored a rushing touchdown.
QB Kai Horton 243 yards passing, 3 touchdowns. And, he scored on a receiving TD.
Wide receivers Montrell Smith, Kavonte Brown-Hoskin, and Braeden Wade each scored a touchdown.
The Carthage defense recorded four sacks and two TFLs. Brandon King intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns. It was no surprise that King was named the Defensive MVP.
Going into 2021
Head Coach Scott Surratt returns 13 starters from their undefeated state championship team from a year ago.
The defense will be the strength of the team, with eight starters returning to this unit.
Tony Thomas is a freelance writer. He also writes about college football on his own site, www.thegridironnews.com.
Does Carthage win yet another state championship in 2021? Comment below.
