Photos by Pat Carrigan / Championship game coverage brought to you by Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal
Carthage quarterback Connor Cuff narrowly missed Noah Paddie on a deep ball on the Bulldogs’ first play from scrimmage on Friday morning in the 4A Division II State Title Game.
Unfortunately for Wimberley, that would be just about the last time Cuff and Paddie couldn’t connect on Friday.
Paddie finished with eight catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns, while Cuff threw for 299 yards and four scores as Carthage took Wimberley out to the woodshed in a 42-0 game that closely resembled a demolition derby.
With those 191 receiving yards, Paddie tied the 4A State Title Game record Carthage receiver Mekhi Colbert set back in 2017.
“We’ve been working all week in practice on those routes,” Paddie said. “Connor threw me a good ball, and I made a play. And the record? I didn’t even know about that. That’s awesome.”
But it wasn’t just Paddie and Cuff stealing the headlines, the Carthage defense forced four turnovers and finished the afternoon with 12 tackles for loss as Wimberley struggled to win the battle at the line of scrimmage.
After the Bulldogs gave up 35 points to Glen Rose in the state semifinals a week ago, Carthage head coach Scott Surratt said he got the response he expected out of his defense.
“It was very humbling last week to our defense,” Surratt said. “I knew they were going to put on a show today because there was a lot of fire in practice this week.”
Jakerrian Roquemore, who took home Defensive MVP honors, led the Bulldog defense with a big interception and forced fumble in the second quarter that helped Carthage put the game beyond doubt at halftime.
It was a performance that left him speechless in the postgame.
“I’m going to be honest, I’m excited,” Roquemore said. “I don’t know what to say.”
THOSE DAWGS ON DEFENSE AREN’T GIVING UP ANYTHING TODAY!! 🚫@CarthageBulldog 🐶 : 21@WimberleyHS ✭ : 0@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/siIzhBz5IA
— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 16, 2022
Friday morning continued a decade and a half of dominance for the Bulldogs. Carthage has now won nine state titles in the past 15 seasons.
Surratt said he was glad that his seniors were able to add the 2022 team to the Carthage history book with another state championship.
“It means everything,” Surratt said. “I told them that they’ll always be remembered by their senior year. Now they can add to the list of the nine that they’re state champions. They’ll go on to be [remembered] among the best teams if not the best team we’ve ever had here.”
On the other sideline, Wimberley head coach Doug Warren said his team simply made too many mistakes on the day to win.
“You can’t come into a game and have four turnovers against a really good football team,” Warren said. “You’ve got to play clean against a great team like that, but I’m so proud of this group right here. We’re one of two left standing and that’s a great accomplishment.”
Wimberley had an early opportunity to get on the board first after a Carthage turnover on downs, but a fumble on a handoff exchange between Texan quarterback Cody Stoever and his running back Johnny Ball gifted the ball right back to the Bulldogs.
After the incompletion on the first play of the game, Cuff didn’t miss on his next chance as he found Paddie for a 50-yard touchdown on a gutsy play call on fourth-and-four. It was the same story on the next possession as Cuff threaded the ball through the Wimberley defense for an 82-yard touchdown to Paddie.
HE GONE!!! Paddie The Baddie @noah_paddie throwing up the ✌️ like @cheetah @CarthageBulldog 🐶 : 14@WimberleyHS ✭ : 0@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/LU2CkbrLi0
— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 16, 2022
From there, the rout was on.
Cuff scored on a quarterback sneak on the next drive to extend Carthage’s lead to 21-0 at the end of the first quarter before the Bulldog defense took its turn in the spotlight.
On Wimberley’s next two possessions, Roquemore squeezed the life out of the Texan offense with his interception and forced fumble. The forced fumble came on a 42-yard completion from Stoever to Tru Couch, but since Carthage decided Wimberley couldn’t have nice things on Friday, Roquemore ripped the ball out right before Couch fell to the ground at the Carthage 10 yard line.
Cuff found a wide-open KD Matlock for a 12-yard touchdown on Carthage’s next drive before adding one last touchdown with just two seconds left in the half on a easy three yard pitch-and-catch to Viencint Cabada.
For Cabada, a linebacker converted from the running back position this offseason, it was a more important touchdown than it might have appeared.
“My momma said, ‘Boy, if you don’t catch a touchdown, I’m probably not going to take you home,’” Cabada said. “All I said is, ‘I got this one for my momma.’ It felt like catching the game-winning touchdown.”
HE’S WIDE OPEN!!!!!!! Can confirm @viencint officially has the best seat in the house. @CarthageBulldog 🐶 : 35@WimberleyHS ✭ : 0@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/FR4GxqytG6
— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 16, 2022
In the second half, Larandion Dowden added a rushing touchdown for Carthage, while Wimberley was unable to get on the board as its three second half possessions ended with a red zone interception and two turnover on downs.
Despite Friday’s somber ending, it was still a memorable year for the Texans. Wimberley finished the season with a 15-1 record, securing just its fifth-ever undefeated regular season and its fourth trip to a state title game.
“Personally, I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” Wimberley senior safety Lane Patek said. “It didn’t end the way that I wanted it to, but I had so much fun playing with my brothers. It was awesome.”
For Carthage, Cuff earned Offensive MVP honors on Friday after his 299-yard passing performance through the air. But a year after China Spring defeated the Bulldogs in the regional semifinals, he said it was most important he and his fellow seniors achieved their goal of leaving Carthage High School as football state champions.
“I was really satisfied,” Cuff said of Friday’s performance. “Ultimately, we completed the goal, and we completed it in really good fashion.”
Offensive MVP: QB Connor Cuff, Carthage
Cuff was 14-22 passing with 299 yards and four touchdowns on Friday morning. He also added a touchdown on the ground on a quarterback sneak.
Defensive MVP: DB Jakerrian Roquemore, Carthage
Roquemore had an interception and a forced fumble that helped Carthage pull away from Wimberley for good in the second quarter. He also had two total tackles and a pass breakup.
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