Wall Survives Newton Rally to Bring Home First State Title

ARLINGTON, TX — For years, the Wall Hawks were one of the best football programs in Texas without a state title.

Now they’re finally bringing home a long-awaited championship.

Wall jumped out to a 17-point halftime lead Thursday against Newton, then survived a furious second-half comeback for a 25-24 win in the Class 3A Division II state final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The win wasn’t secured until Jacob Braden recovered an onside kick with 1:40 remaining.

"It means the world to me and it means the world to this community," Braden said. "A football state championship is probably as big as it gets. I'm just so proud of all the guys. All the prep, you know I see it every single day. Those guys show up early in the morning, late nights, they get there when it's dark and they leave when it's dark.

"We earned this. We earned every single bit of this. Hard things don't come easy. And I'm just really proud of how the guys played tonight."

Wall wide receiver Reid Robertson was named the game’s Offensive MVP after catching five passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw a 42-yard pass to Kellan Oliver on the first play from scrimmage, setting the tone that the Hawks were going to be aggressive.

Wall linebacker Gavin Sisson was named the Defensive MVP after recording 13 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, along with a blocked punt that was returned 28 yards for a TD by Dylan Sellers.

After Wall and Newton traded touchdowns on their opening drives, Wall's special teams gave the Hawks the lead for good when Sellers scooped up Sisson's blocked punt and returned it for a score with 3:55 left in the first quarter.

"Before we got on the bus today, we showed them the punt block and told them, 'Guys, we can get one tonight,'" Wall head coach Craig Slaughter said. "And that was an absolutely huge play."

After another stand by Wall's defense, Robertson then took a screen pass on a third and 12 and turned into a 47-yard TD when he sliced through Newton's defense for a 19-8 lead with 9:33 left in the second quarter.

Late in the first half, Wall drove to Newton's 4-yard line and faced a fourth down. Once again, the Hawks were aggressive and didn't send out the field-goal unit. 

Wall went to its bread and butter, and Landon York fired a TD strike to Robertson, giving the Hawks a 25-8 lead at halftime.

It would have been hard to imagine then, but Wall never scored again.

Newton's powerful rushing attack got going and put together a 16-play, 98-yard TD drive to pull within 25-16 by the end of the third quarter.

The Eagles' defense kept making stops — even holding Wall to minus-7 yards of offense in the third quarter.

Newton, however, wasn't able to score again until there was 1:43 remaining when Deldrick Samuel threw a desperation 37-yard pass to KJ Porter on a fourth-and-16.

It cut Wall's lead to 25-24 and set up a tense finish.

The ensuing onside kick took a crazy bounce that could have been recovered by numerous players, but Braden fell on it. Newton had no timeouts remaining, and Wall was able to take three kneel downs to seal the win and set off the celebration.

"What a stinkin' ball game," Slaughter said. "I love it when state title games come down to two great teams. Newton's a great football team, but our kids played lights out. I'm so proud of them. Look at that community. They're amazing. What a game and what a win."

Wall ended the season with a perfect 16-0 record, while Newton — which has five state titles in its history — fell to 14-2. 

Wall’s state title is also the first for Tom Green County since San Angelo Central won it all in 1966.

The Hawks entered this year with high hopes and a ranking of No. 3 in the state, but they also knew they'd have to get past three-time defending state champion Gunter to even reach the state final.

After Gunter ended Wall's season last year, the Hawks got their revenge and dethroned the champs with a 28-25 win in the state semifinals last week.

Wall rose to the challenge one more time Thursday, giving this season a fitting conclusion with a state championship.

Wall 25, Newton 24

Newton   8   0   8   8 — 24

Wall   13    12   0   0 — 25

First Quarter

W - Jacob Braden 2 run (Tyler Klinesmith kick), 10:36 remaining

N - Deldrick Samuel 1 run (KJ Porter run), 7:00

W - Dylan Sellers 28 blocked punt return (pass failed), 3:55

Second Quarter

W - Reid Robertson 47 pass from Landon York (pass failed), 9:33

W - Robertson 4 pass from York (pass failed), 4:17

Third Quarter

N - Cavland Hunter 2 run (Hunter run), 3:25

Fourth Quarter

N - Porter 37 pass from Samuel (Porter run), 1:43

LIVE UPDATES

10:13 p.m. FINAL: Wall 25, Newton 24 

10:12 p.m. Wall takes one last kneel down, and the Hawks are bringing home their first-ever state title! Let the celebration begin!

10:11 p.m. The onside kick takes a crazy bounce, and numerous players had a chance at it, but Wall's Jacob Braden lands on it, and the Hawks are going to survive and win this!

10:09 p.m. Wall was on the verge of winning the state title right there, but Newton has no timeouts, so the Eagles have to recover this onside kick, or the Hawks will still hang on.

10:08 p.m. Unbelievable! Deidrick Samuel throws a pass up into double coverage, and KJ Porter comes down with it and runs into the end zone. Porter then runs in the two-point conversion, and Wall's lead is suddenly down to 25-24 with 1:43 left.

10:06 p.m. Wow, Newton with an unnecessary roughness penalty. What a terrible time for a penalty like that. It will now be fourth and 16 at Wall's 37. If the Eagles don't convert, this game will be over.

10:04 p.m. Cavland Hunter with a 5-yard run. It should be a fourth and 1 for Newton at the 22, but we have flags after the play.

10:00 p.m. We're at the two-minute warning, and Newton with a third and 6 at Wall's 27. Hawks leading 25-16.

9:59 p.m. KJ Porter takes the snap and launches a pass downfield. It falls incomplete, but Wall is called for a pass interference. It was the right call. Newton now has a first down at Wall's 31. 

9:57 p.m. Wall's Bennett Branch with a big hit on Newton QB Izayah Foster. The pass is incomplete, and Foster is still down. He's being helped off the field now. Newton will have to try and convert a fourth and 15 with a backup QB.

9:56 p.m. Wall's defense drops Newton for a 5-yard loss. Then Hagyn Barbee lays a hit to force an incompletion. And the Eagles have a third and 15 at Wall's 46. We have 2:49 left.

9:55 p.m. Oh no, Newton's defense makes a big-time play with an interception by Braylen Patterson. He returns it all the way to Wall's 41 with 3:26 left. 

9:54 p.m. Neal goes backward this time. It's third and 5 at the 32 with 3:30 left.

9:53 p.m. Brady Neal rumbles for a 6-yard gain. Second and 4 for Wall at Newton's 31. 4:15 to go.

9:52 p.m. Hawks are keeping the pedal to the metal. Landon York to Reid Robertson for a 16-yard reception. First down at Newton's 37.

9:51 p.m. Wall has a first down at its 48-yard line with 5:32 left in this game.

9:50 p.m. Wall QB Landon York trucks a Newton defender on a 9-yard run, and the Hawks will now get a first down on a pass interference.

9:49 p.m. Newton didn't get it! What a stand by Wall's defense. The Hawks will take over with 6:14 remaining at their 24.

9:49 p.m. Wall stonewalls Newton right at the first-down marker! Refs are going to measure this. It is close.

9:48 p.m. Newton with a fourth and 1 at the 24.

9:47 p.m. Newton down to Wall's 27. Third and 4 as we hit the seven-minute mark.

9:46 p.m. Newton with a third at 7 at Wall's 47. Deidrick Samuel with a 14-yard run. First down for the Eagles at Wall's 33.

9:45 p.m. Cavland Hunter with a 16-yard run. First down at the 50 for Newton.

9:44 p.m. KJ Porter picks up the first down anyway. Eagles with a first down at the 34.

9:43 p.m. KJ Porter with an 8-yard run, but a false start penalty has Newton with a third and 7 at the 24.

9:41 p.m. Newton will start on its 21.

9:39 p.m. A 38-yard field goal try by Tyler Klinesmith is wide left, and the Hawks' lead remains 25-16 with 10:13 to play.

9:38 p.m. A second-down run by Jager Thompson is blown up by Newton. It's now third and goal at the 17, and Landon York is hit hard by Ivan Gatson as he tried to scramble. Wall will have to settle for a field goal.

9:36 p.m. Incomplete pass on first down, and Wall calls timeout with 11:31 remaining in the game.

9:35 p.m. A first-down throw to Reid Robertson, and Wall now has a first and goal at Newton's 9.

9:34 p.m. A first-down throw to Evan Boehle, and Wall with a first down at Newton's 21.

9:33 p.m. Wall had minus-7 yards of offense in the third quarter, but they were only outscored 8-0.

9:30 p.m. END OF 3RD QUARTER: Wall 25, Newton 16

9:29 p.m. After a 1-yard run, the third quarter comes to a close with Wall facing a second and 9 at Newton's 38.

9:28 p.m. KJ Porter fumbles the ball! Wall recovers at Newton's 39 in the final minute of the third quarter. Porter has had a heck of game with 28 carries for 156 yards, but that a huge play that could turn the tide in this game.

9:27 p.m. Newton's KJ Porter continues to be a tough tackle, and he powers his way to a first down at Newton's 42.

9:26 p.m. Wall's Levi King somehow uncorks a 68-yard punt from his own end zone. Huge play to flip field position, but Wall's defense needs to respond now.

9:23 p.m. Wall QB Landon York is sacked just before the goal line. Hawks now have third and 28 at their 2. Momentum is swinging in this game. Timeout Newton with 2:11 left in the third quarter.

9:22 p.m. Jager Thompson with a 7-yard run on the first play, but a holding penalty is going to set the Hawks back. It's now first and 20 at the 10-yard line.

9:21 p.m. Wall will start this drive on its own 20-yard line.

9:17 p.m. Newton scores on a 2-yard TD run by Cavland Hunter, and then Hunter runs in the two-point conversion. That was an impressive 16-play, 98-yard drive by the Eagles, and they have cut Wall's lead to 25-16 with 3:25 left in the third quarter.

9:15 p.m. Newton moves inside Wall's 10-yard line with a sweep to Braylen Patterson. First and goal at the 9.

9:14 p.m. Newton's strong running game keeps churning out yards, most of them between the tackles. A penalty on Wall moves the ball down to the Hawks' 27.

9:12 p.m. Deldrick Samuel with a first-down run to the Newton 37. The Eagles then move to their 49 on another run by Samuel.

9:10 p.m. Another first-down run to the Newton 25, but more importantly, Wall's Dylan Sellers is injured on the play. He was able to get up and walk off under his own power.

9:07 p.m. Newton with a couple power runs, and the Eagles have a first down at the 14.

9:06 p.m. Outstanding punt by Levi King, and Newton will begin this drive at its own 2-yard line.

9:05 p.m. Newton's defense puts Wall in a third and 10, and a screen pass is then knocked down. The Hawks will have to punt the ball right back.

9:03 p.m. A defensive holding penalty gives Wall a first down on the first play of the drive. Hawks are at Newton's 43.

8:59 p.m. Wall's opening drive of the second half will begin at their own 47.

8:58 p.m. Wall's defensive pressure forces an errant throw, and Newton will have to punt. Great start to the second half for the Hawks.

8:57 p.m. KJ Porter with a first-down run to the Newton 40, but a holding penalty will bring it back. The Eagles now have a third and 16 at their 19.

8:55 p.m. Newton will begin at its own 25.

8:53 p.m. We are getting ready to start the second half. Wall be kicking off to Newton.

8:27 p.m. HALFTIME: Wall 25, Newton 8

8:26 p.m. Newton unable to get off a pass cleanly due to Wall's defensive pressure, and we have reached the end of the first half.

8:25 p.m. After a punt, Newton will have three second left with the ball at Wall's 35.

8:24 p.m. Wall with another incomplete pass on a deep shot. The Hawks will have to punt out of their end zone with 13 seconds left in the half.

8:23 p.m. Wall takes a deep shot to Reid Robertson that falls incomplete. Second and 10 now from the 1. Brady Neal takes a handoff and is able to power forward for 6 yards. Newton calls a timeout with 18 seconds left.

8:22 p.m. Wall tries to get Newton to jump offsides with a hard count, but it doesn't work, and the Hawks will call another timeout.

8:21 p.m. Newton's punt pins Wall at the 1. The Hawks will have to be careful to not get dropped for a safety.

8:20 p.m. Wall calls a timeout with 53 seconds remaining. Newton has a fourth and 21 at Wall's 44.

8:19 p.m. Wall's defense caves in the pocket, and Newton QB Izayah Foster is sacked!

8:18 p.m. After an incomplete pass, Newton has a third and 14 at Wall's 37.

8:16 p.m. Newton picks up the first down and then another on a run by KJ Porter. The Eagles' offense will be challenged now, though, after a holding call has them facing a second and 14 at the 37.

8:12 p.m. Newton with a third and 1 at Wall's 45 as we hit the two-minute warning in the first half.

8:10 p.m. A couple runs by KJ Porter quickly has Newton up to the 46.

8:08 p.m. Newton will start this drive at its 27.

8:06 p.m. Wall remains aggressive, and it pays off! Landon York with a 4-yard TD pass to Reid Robertson! The Hawks fail on a two-point try for the third time tonight, but they lead 25-8 with 4:17 to play in the second quarter.

8:05 p.m. Wall's offense lines up for a fourth and goal at the 4, but the Hawks call a timeout with 4:23 left in the second quarter.

8:04 p.m. A third-down pass is broken up at the goal line, and Wall has a decision to make.

8:03 p.m. Two runs go nowhere, and Wall now with a third and goal at the 4.

8:02 p.m. Landon York with a rare scramble, and Wall picks up a first down on third and 13. Great run. Hawks now with a first and goal at the 3.

8:00 p.m. Landon York steps up in the pocket and fires a pass to Reid Robertson on third and 9. Wall moves the ball down to Newton's 17.

7:58 p.m. Kellan Oliver with an interception! He returns in 39 yards for a TD, but a penalty brings it back. Wall will start at Newton's 41.

7:55 p.m. Newton will start this drive on its own 19.

7:51 p.m. Wow, Reid Robertson takes a screen pass on third and 12 and flies through the middle of Newton's defense for a 47-yard TD pass. Another two-point conversion attempt fails, but Wall leads 19-8 with 9:33 left in the second quarter.

7:49 p.m. Landon York overthrows an open Reid Robertson on a deep pass, and now Wall with a third and 12.

7:48 p.m. Bryson McFarden takes a screen pass to Newton's 45 on the first play for a 25-yard gain.

7:47 p.m. Newton has a fourth and 9 at Wall's 49, and the Eagles will punt. They get it away cleanly this time, and Kellan Oliver returns it to the Wall 30.

7:46 p.m. Newton with a third and 10 at the 50-yard line.

7:42 p.m. END OF 1ST QUARTER: Wall 13, Newton 8

7:41 p.m. Gavin Sisson blows up a play to end the first quarter, and Newton will have a second and long when we start the second quarter.

7:40 p.m. Newton with two more first downs, and the Eagles are at midfield.

7:38 p.m. Newton almost dropped for a safety on third and 9, but Foster gets rid of the ball to Porter, who barely picks up a first down.

7:35 p.m. After a penalty on the kickoff, Newton will start this drive on its own 8.

7:33 p.m. Wall's two-point conversion try fails, and the Hawks will have to settle for a 13-8 lead.

7:32 p.m. Oh my, the punt is blocked by Gavin Sisson! Dylan Sellers scoops it up on the 28-yard line and runs it in for a touchdown! Wall has taken a 13-8 lead with 3:55 left in the first quarter. Looks like Wall is going to go for 2.

7:31 p.m. Wall blows up what may have been a busted play by Newton on third-and-5, and the Eagles will have to punt.

7:30 p.m. Izayah Foster with a 13-yard run on the first play. Wall is having trouble slowing down Newton's rushing attack.

7:29 p.m. Great tackle by Gunner King on the punt, and Newton will begin its second drive on its 20.

7:28 p.m. A deep pass to Oliver is incomplete, and Wall will have to punt without gaining a yard.

7:27 p.m. A first-down run is stuffed, and a second-down pass attempt falls incomplete. Third and 10 for Wall.

7:26 p.m. Another good kickoff return for Wall, and the Hawks will start this drive at their 40.

7:22 p.m. Deldrick Samuel with a QB sneak, and Newton scores on fourth-and-goal from the 1. KJ Porter then runs in the two-point conversion, and Newton has taken an 8-7 lead with 7 minutes left in the first quarter.

7:20 p.m. Newton with a third-and-goal at the 3. Porter stopped after a 2-yard run, and now it's fourth-and-goal at the 1.

7:19 p.m. After a conversion on third-and-1, Newton has a first-and-goal at Wall's 9.

7:17 p.m. Newton's KJ Porter with a 27-yard run on the Eagles' first play, and then he follows that with an 18-yard run. Wall will need to find a way to corral this explosive running game.

7:15 p.m. After the kickoff, Newton will start its opening drive at its 32-yard line.

7:12 p.m. Wall comes out in the wildcat formation, and Jacob Braden takes a direct snap and runs it for a 2-yard touchdown! After Tyler Klinesmith's extra point, Wall leads 7-0 just 1:24 into the game. What a start by the Hawks. That was a four-play, 63-yard drive.

7:11 p.m. A facemask penalty puts Wall on the 6-yard line, and a 4-yard run by Brady Neal has the Hawks on the 2.

7:10 p.m. Wow, Wall goes with a trick play on the very first snap. Wide receiver Reid Robertson fires a 42-yard pass to Kellan Oliver, and the Hawks are down to Newton's 21.

7:08 p.m. Kellan Oliver with a nice return on the kickoff, and Wall will begin the game's opening drive on its 37-yard line.

7:07 p.m. Newton won the coin toss and has elected to defer to the second half, so Wall will receive the opening kickoff.

7 p.m. We are minutes from kickoff between Wall (15-0) and Newton (14-1). Wall is looking to bring home the first state title in football in school history. It would also be Tom Green County's first state title in football since the Central Bobcats won it all in 1966. This is the Hawks' second appearance in the state final. The last time was in 2013. Newton has won five state titles in program history, most recently in 2018.