Texas High School State Championships 2A-Div II: Albany versus Mart

After trading a pair of punts, Mart finally got their running game going. The Panthers started the drive at Albany’s 45-yard line. Jonah Ross and RB Zachriah Medlock took turns in a mean one-two punch down the field. With the ball at the 16-yard line, Ross hit WR Brandon Lundy for a 16-yard touchdown. The Panthers got on the board with 1:51 left in the 1st quarter and tied the game, 7-7.

The Lions wasted little time and retook the lead on their ensuing possession. Albany went on a 6-play, 66-yard drive capped off by another 1-yard touchdown run by Lefevre. Chapman hit RB Adam Hill for an explosive pass up the middle. Hill broke several tackles and sprinted away from the defense. Mart saved the touchdown with a solid tackle at the 1-yard line, but Lefevre punched the ball in one play later. Albany retook the lead with 11:21 remaining in the 2nd quarter, 14-7.

Now that Mart found their groove on the ground, they continued to succeed. Sophomore RB Ja’Deriun Bell punished the Albany defenders with hard-hitting bruiser runs up the middle. Faced with 4th down and two at midfield, Bell made two defenders miss, bounced to the outside, and then ran two more over to ensure the first down. After a solid run from Ross, Bell broke free again, dragging a defender for an extra five yards before finally falling at the 1-yard line. He got in one play later. Bell’s 1-yard touchdown run tied the game with 7:57 remaining in the 2nd quarter, 14-14.

The Panthers continued to struggle to contain Albany’s explosive offense. Like the Eldorado Eagles found out during the first round, sometimes this offense is impossible to stop. It took the Lions nine plays to go 55 yards and another touchdown. Mart forced Albany to convert a 4th down at the Panther’s 20-yard line but then gave up a 13-yard run to Lefevre on 4th down. Lefevre punched the ball into the end zone from seven yards out on the next play, his third touchdown, and the Lions retook the lead with 3:40 remaining in the first half, 21-14.

Mart's Ross threw his second interception of the evening on the Panthers' ensuing drive. Lefevre continued to make plays, this time on defense. He stepped in front of Mart's receivers and intercepted Ross at the Panthers' 45-yard line. He then converted another 4th and one on the ground on the Lions' next offensive drive.

RB Adam Hill also got involved in the run game, averaging more than five yards every time he touched the ball. Hill broke away from the Panthers on his final carry, sprinting to the outside and 20 yards to the end zone. The 7-play, 45-yard drive left 47 seconds on the clock, but Albany extended their lead 28-14.

Mart failed to get any points out of the remaining time in the 2nd quarter, and both teams headed to the locker room with Albany up by two scores, 28-14.

Albany received the 2nd half kickoff and immediately went back to work. Lefevre and Hill continued to grind out tough runs that got longer and longer as the drive wore on. Hill finally broke away for a 34-yard run that set up 1st and goal at Mart’s 9-yard line. Three plays later, Lefevre got in for his 4th touchdown, and the Lions extended their lead with 8:59 remaining in the 3rd quarter, 35-14.

Although down by three scores, the Panthers refused to go away. They needed to score and score quickly. They got both. After a great return, Mart began their first drive of the second half at the Panthers’ 49-yard line. On the second play, Ross hit Lundy in stride for a 45-yard touchdown. The entire possession took only 20 seconds off the clock, and the Panthers clawed closer, 34-21.

Mart forced Albany to punt for the first time since the 1st quarter on the Lions' next drive. Mart took over at the Panthers' 34-yard line, poised to gain some real ground for the first time all night. Although the Panthers moved the ball inside Albany's 40-yard line, a sack on third down ended Mart's chances at points. Mart punted the ball away.

The Lions took advantage of the punt and scored in four plays. The 4-play, 73-yard drive ended with Cole Chapman running a sweep to the outside. The excellent blocking downfield allowed him to waltz into the end zone for a 52-yard touchdown. Albany extended their lead back to 20 points, 41-21.

Mart continued to fight as both teams left the sidelines to start the 4th quarter. The Panthers ground out some brutal first downs running the ball but ran into trouble at Albany's 13-yard line. Faced with a 4th and one, Mart had no choice but to go for it. A false start backed the Panthers up five additional yards, and the subsequent catch by Lundy failed to reach the first down. The Lions took over on downs and controlled their destiny to the finish.

Albany drained away almost the entire 4th quarter on their ensuing possession. They kept the ball on the ground and spread it between Chapman, Lefevre, and Hill as they slowly marched down the field. In no hurry to snap the ball, the Lions took their time, and the Panthers watched helplessly. Mart finally stopped the Lions at the Panthers' 18-yard line, but the damage was done. Albany drained more than 7:30 off the clock, and Mart simply did not have enough time to catch up.

Mart had one last gasp before the end of the game but Albany held on. The Lions beat the Panthers 41-21. The Albany Lions (14-2) are the 2022 UIL Texas High School Football 2A-Div II Champions.