The UIL State Championships will open with a matchup of two title game debutants as Benjamin takes on Loraine on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at AT&T Stadium in the 1A Division II State Title Game.
These two teams have already met on the gridiron once this year with Benjamin knocking off Loraine 61-30 in week 6.
Here’s what to watch for on Wednesday as both teams go in search of their first ever state title.
Loraine Bulldogs (13-1)
Head Coach: Jacob Popham
Distance to AT&T Stadium: 225 miles
2022 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 56-0 vs. Panther Creek
Area: W 52-0 vs. Richland Springs
Regionals: W 24-6 vs. Cherokee
State Semifinals: W 86-38 vs. Oakwood
Key Players and Storylines
A year ago, Loraine’s players set the goal of making it to the state title game for the first time in school history.
On Wednesday, that goal will be realized when the Bulldogs take the field at AT&T Stadium.
“I don’t think it could mean anything more to our community, our school, and our kids,” Loraine head coach Jacob Popham said. “Our upperclassmen set this goal coming out of last season, so hats off to them for coming out and making it happen.”
Much of Loraine’s offensive production will likely come from junior running back AJ Williams. He’s coming off an eight-touchdown performance against Oakwood in the state semifinals, where he rushed for 212 yards and passed for 86 yards.
“He’s just a very dynamic athlete,” Popham said. “He’s very difficult to contain. He’s fast, athletic, and physical when he needs to be. And he’s a real dual threat.”
Alongside Williams, Davion Walthall will also be a threat for the Bulldogs as he has 275 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the playoffs.
And while Williams and Walthall get the recognition in the box score, Popham said quarterback Jadrian Limones always keeps the Bulldog offense ticking despite not always being recognized in the box score.
Defensively, middle linebacker Wrangler Little will need to be heavily involved on Wednesday. Up front, Popham said he’ll look for Zannon Perez and Damion Delgado to plug up the rushing lanes for Benjamin.
Josiah Lujan can play all over the field for the Bulldogs, according to Popham, while Malaki Williams will anchor the secondary whenever Benjamin turns to its passing attack.
Benjamin Mustangs (13-0)
Head Coach: Nathan Hayes
Distance to AT&T Stadium: 195 miles
2022 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 56-6 vs. Motley County
Area: W 56-0 vs. Newcastle
Regionals: W 48-0 vs. Throckmorton
State Semifinals: W 76-31 vs. Whitharral
Key Players and Storylines
For the second straight year, Grayson Rigdon is back in the state title game.
The Offensive MVP for Strawn a year ago in the 1A Division II State Title Game moved to Benjamin over the summer after his father accepted the Benjamin head coaching job (His father later stepped down to assistant due to health reasons).
Grayson’s impact has been immense.
He’s rushed for 1,536 yards on the season and also thrown for 642 yards and another 12 touchdowns.
Alongside him, Brody White has also pitched in with 329 yards passing, 392 yards rushing, and 19 total touchdowns.
When Benjamin does turn to the air, Nicholas Ham is a player to keep an eye on. He leads the Mustangs with 427 yards and ten touchdowns on the season.
Defensively, the Mustangs have been stout with seven shutouts in their 13 games and just 98 points allowed all season.
Rigdon is a key player on that side of the ball as well with seven interceptions on the year, while junior Weston Weatherford has three.
Final Thoughts
It has been a historic season for both teams.
Loraine hadn’t been to the state semifinals since 2014, while Benjamin hadn’t even won a playoff game since 1987.
Loraine will be out for revenge after its defeat to Benjamin earlier this season. Popham said his team will need to be disciplined if it wants to pull off the upset.
“We have to be fundamentally sound and do the little things right,” Popham said. “Benjamin is a very good football team with some really talented players, but when we go back and watch the tape from the first game to a certain extent, as good as they were, we really beat ourselves. We stopped doing the little things. We stopped blocking. We stopped tackling. When you do that against a good football team, everyone knows how the result is going to wind up.”
And while Loraine will be focused on the fundamentals, it’ll also need to be focused on Rigdon.
Because as he demonstrated with a nine touchdown performance against Motley County in the state title game a year ago, another big performance from the now-Benjamin running back could spell doom for Popham and his Bulldogs and a first state title for the Mustangs.
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