5A

Rangers Dominate Late to Clinch First State Title

by
KP Kelly
December 21

Smithson Valley’s long-awaited breakthrough arrived Saturday morning as the Rangers defeated Highland Park 32-20 in the 5A Division I State Championship. The victory marked Smithson Valley’s first state title after falling short in five previous appearances and brought joy to a fanbase that had waited decades for this moment.

A Fast-Paced Start by Highland Park

Highland Park opened the game with an impressive drive, capped by a 27-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Buck Randall to Cannon Bozman for an early 7-0 lead. Smithson Valley answered methodically, settling for a 27-yard field goal by Trenton Amaya to cut the lead to 7-3.

The Scots attempted to surprise with a fake punt on their next drive, but Smithson Valley’s defense held firm, giving their offense excellent field position. The Rangers capitalized with another field goal from Amaya, trimming the deficit to 7-6. However, Highland Park responded swiftly with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Randall to Benton Owens, pushing the lead to 14-6.

Momentum Swings as Rangers Take the Lead

Smithson Valley’s Julian Colunga made a game-changing play late in the first quarter, intercepting Randall and returning it for a touchdown to narrow the score to 14-13. The Rangers’ defensive line began to dominate, forcing the Scots into a series of punts. On the offensive side, tough runs and disciplined blocking set up a touchdown pass from Cade Spradling to Brody Day, giving Smithson Valley its first lead at 20-14.

Highland Park kept the game close with a 40-yard field goal by Sutton Stock to make it 20-17. Smithson Valley answered with a 24-yard field goal before halftime, giving them a 23-20 advantage. Highland Park’s two-minute offense set up another field goal by Stock from 42 yards out, leaving the Rangers up 23-20 at the break.

Rangers Pull Away in Second Half

Smithson Valley’s defense held Highland Park scoreless in the second half, with the defensive line consistently pressuring Randall and stuffing the Scots’ rushing attack. After a scoreless stretch in the third quarter, Amaya drilled his fourth field goal of the game to extend Smithson Valley’s lead to 26-20. Both defenses tightened, but the Rangers’ offense struck again in the fourth quarter. Spradling’s 5-yard touchdown run capped a long drive and pushed the lead to 32-20 with 3:39 remaining. Spradling finished with 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Brad Sowersby added 152 rushing yards of his own, giving the Rangers a dominant ground game.

Highland Park Falls Short Late

Highland Park attempted a late rally but turned the ball over on downs with 2:28 left. Smithson Valley ran the clock and punted back to the Scots, who had just 30 seconds left and no timeouts. The Rangers’ defense held strong, sealing the historic win.

Smithson Valley’s victory ended years of frustration and highlighted their balanced attack, phenomenal running game, and suffocating defense. The long wait was finally over for the Rangers and their fans, cementing their legacy in Texas high school football history.

Spring Branch Smithson Valley 32, Highland Park 20
December 21, 2024 | 11:00 AM CST | State Final

Final Score:

Team	1	2	3	4	T
SV	13	10	3	6	32
HP	14	6	0	0	20

Team Stats

Stats	Smithson Valley	Highland Park
1st Downs	21	16
Total Yards	366	365
Passing Yards	64	316
Completion Attempts	6-17	18-35
Yards Per Pass	3.76	9.03
Interceptions Thrown	0	2
Rushing Yards	302	49
Rushing Attempts	50	24
Yards Per Rush	6.04	2.04
Penalties	0-0	1-5
Turnovers	0	2
Fumbles/Lost	1-0	0-0
Interceptions Thrown	0	2