Photos by Stan Martin / Championship game coverage brought to you by Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal
As China Spring kicker Thomas Barr lined up to kick a 20-yard field goal that would win his team their second-straight state championship, his teammates had no doubt what the outcome would be.
“We don’t call him Mr. Automatic for no reason,” senior defensive lineman Greg Salazar said.
Barr was indeed automatic, sealing China Spring an unbelievable 24-21 victory in a 4A Division I State Championship game where the Cougars looked dead in the water at one point in the second quarter as Boerne jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
WALK-OFF FIELD GOAL FOR STATE!!! 🤯 THE CHINA SPRING COUGARS ARE GOING BACK TO BACK!! 🏆
@CS_Fball 🐆 : 24@BoerneISD 🦴 : 21@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW Extra pic.twitter.com/YFgHPXo2ax— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 16, 2022
However, according to China Spring’s players, there was never any panic on the Cougar sideline. Instead, the Cougars relied on their motto of family that they have carried with them throughout the season.
“We were just trying to stick together as a team, talking about what we needed to do to fix everything,” senior receiver Tre Hafford said. “We executed, and it feels pretty good.”
After going 43 years without a state championship, the Cougars have now won back-to-back titles. China Spring head coach Tyler Beatty said Friday afternoon’s accomplishment was a testament to the perseverance and work ethic his players have displayed all year long.
“My belief continued to grow in the ability of our kids when things got tough,” Beatty said. “Everybody does well when things are going right for them, but these guys showed me how bad they wanted it from the jump. We just continued to grind, [and] I’m just so proud these guys were able to finish the season 15-1 state champs.”
And while China Spring celebrated their remarkable comeback, it was utter heartbreak on the other sideline.
Before China Spring embarked on its game winning possession, Boerne had advanced all the way to the Cougar 38-yard line. However, an ineligible man downfield penalty negated a 26-yard completion from Boerne quarterback Jaxon Baize to Houston Hendrix that would’ve set up the Greyhounds in the red zone.
Boerne head coach Che Hendrix pointed to that penalty as a key turning point in the final minutes.
“It was a heck of a football game,” Hendrix said. “I thought we were heading in the right direction in the fourth quarter. We were trying to do the same thing to them. Run the ball, milk the clock, keep it from them, and kick a field goal or score a late touchdown to win. Unfortunately, we got a penalty and got behind the chains and that was it.”
Boerne had 294 yards at the half, but only mustered 70 yards of total offense after halftime. Hendrix said China Spring’s defensive adjustments after Boerne’s quick start made a huge difference in the game.
“They did a good job in the second half,” Hendrix said. “They started really filling up gaps and bringing backers off the edge and made some of those running lanes tough for us.”
Friday was Boerne’s first trip to a state title game, and its first touchdown was certainly one to remember.
With his team backed up at its own 21-yard line, Jaxon Baize looked to find his running back Adam Hicks. However, the ball deflected off Hicks’ hands and fell fortuitously right to Baize’s brother Braden, who raced away for the 79-yard score.
MY OH MY!!! 🤯
The Baize brothers skippin’ rocks on China Spring 🪨
@CS_Fball 🦁: 0@BoerneISD 🦴: 7@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW Extra | @jaxonbaize_9 | @BradenBaize pic.twitter.com/p8gpbb99NU— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 16, 2022
Following an interception by Boerne defensive back Brendan Levada, the Baize brothers repeated their magic. This time, Jaxon threaded the needle between two China Spring defenders to find Braden for a 16-yard score.
After a China Spring punt, Boerne struck again. They Greyhounds drove 76 yards on 11 plays, and T.J. Dement finished the drive off with a three-yard touchdown scamper to extend his team’s lead to 21-0.
China Spring stopped the bleeding on its next possession as its quarterback Cash McCollum fired a dart to Tristan Exline for an 11-yard score to give the Cougars something to hang their hat on heading into halftime.
“That was a big momentum swing for sure,” Exline said. “In the back of our head, we knew we’ve faced adversity all year. Obviously, that got us the momentum back and we just went to work.”
China Spring fumbled in the red zone on its first possession of the second half, but it rebounded on its second as McCollum found Kyle Barton up the seam for a 14-yard score.
After Boerne punted again on its next possession, the Cougars waisted no time in tying the game up.
On their second play of the possession, Exline exploded through the Boerne defense, racing 66 yards for the score.
CHINA SPRING TURNS ON THE JETS AND WE HAVE A TIE GAME!!!✈️
@CS_Fball 🐆 : 21@BoerneISD 🦴 : 21@uiltexas | #TXHSFB | 📺: BSSW Extra pic.twitter.com/FMpwXYXnh1— BallySportsTXHS (@BallySportsTXHS) December 16, 2022
Cage McCloud had a big interception for China Spring in its own end zone on the next possession before the Cougars punted the ball back to Boerne to set the stage for each team’s fateful final drive in the fourth quarter.
But despite the heartbreak of defeat, Boerne offensive lineman Sam Waters said he wouldn’t trade his experience at Boerne for the world.
“It was awesome, the experience of a lifetime,” Waters said. “I’m glad we made it. Obviously, we wanted to win the game, but I couldn’t have asked for a better team or better people to play with. I’d much rather lose with this team than win with another one.”
China Spring had 34 seniors on its roster this year. Exactly half of those were on the state championship team a year ago.
Reflecting after the game, Exline said Friday afternoon was the perfect way for he and his teammates to end their China Spring career.
“There was a lot of adversity throughout the entirety of this state championship game,” Exline said. “And as a senior, it means more. We went out in the best way possible. State champs!”
Offensive MVP: QB Cash McCollum, China Spring
McCollum finished 14-22 with 144 yards passing, but he had two crucial touchdown passes that helped kickstart China Spring’s comeback.
Defensive MVP: LB Tristan Exline, China Spring
Exline led the China Spring defense with 12 total tackles on Friday afternoon.
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