Sometimes a championship game turns into a shootout. This one turned into a statement.
Stephenville leaned all the way into its identity Friday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, riding a relentless defense and timely offense to a 10-0 win over Kilgore in the UIL Class 4A Division I state championship. The victory delivered the seventh state title in program history and capped a perfect 16-0 season for the Yellow Jackets.
The tone was set immediately. On Kilgore’s opening drive, Hudson Butchee stepped in front of a pass for an interception, and just moments later forced a fumble with a big hit that Stephenville recovered. It was the first glimpse of what would become a long night for a Bulldogs offense that had been nearly untouchable all season.
Despite the early takeaways, the game settled into a defensive slugfest. Both teams traded punts, a missed field goal kept Stephenville off the board, and Kilgore threatened just before halftime before Willis Jackson made a diving interception in the end zone to keep the game scoreless at the break.
The breakthrough finally came on the opening drive of the second half. Junior quarterback Trot Jordan dropped a perfect deep ball to Adan Jergins, who slipped past coverage for a 40-yard touchdown that instantly shifted the momentum. It was the only touchdown of the night, but it felt massive in a game where every yard had to be earned.
Kilgore tried to respond, but the Yellow Jackets’ defense never cracked. A missed field goal, another stalled drive, and constant pressure kept the Bulldogs chasing points that never came. Brighton DeVivo added a clutch 41-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 10-0 and force Kilgore into desperation mode.
That’s when Stephenville closed the door. Jackson snagged his second interception of the game on a deep throw, sealing the Yellow Jackets’ fourth takeaway and ending any last hope of a comeback.
Butchee finished with 10 tackles, an interception, and multiple momentum-changing plays to earn Defensive MVP honors. Jordan accounted for 164 total yards and the game’s lone touchdown, leading an offense that did exactly what it needed to do.
Kilgore finishes 14-3, battling to the final whistle in a championship-level defensive game. Stephenville walks away champions again, proving once more that defense still wins titles.
Photos by Das Mitchell below
