ARLINGTON, TX — The Stamford Bulldogs took on a talented Ganado Indians squad on Thursday, December 19, for a shot at a 2A Division I Championship. This is Ganado's first state title appearance, while Stamford makes its 8th state championship appearance.
FINAL (3OT) - Ganado 30 Stamford 28
1st Quarter
Stamford received the opening kickoff and immediately ran into trouble, thanks to a stout defense from the Indians. Faced with a 3rd and long, Bulldogs quarterback Christian Dunn threw an interception to set Ganado up deep inside Stamford territory. It took the Indians just four plays to score as Bryce Ullman scored from five yards out. Ganado led 7-0 with 9:09 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Stamford began their second drive of the day at the Bulldogs 30-yard line. Recovering from their initial sluggish start, the Bulldogs potent rushing attack had success as Stamford worked their way down the field. Ganado forced a 4th down and 3-yards to go, but Stamford's Duran converted at the Indians' 33-yard line. Following a holding call that backed Stamford up to the 36-yard line, Duran found a wide-open Bryden Jimenez for the touchdown. The Bulldogs tied the score at 7-7 with 2:45 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Ganado began their next drive at their own 39-yard line as time wound down in the 1st quarter.
2nd Quarter
The Indians had success moving the ball again on their 2nd drive. Ganado converted two different 3rd down attempts to move the football all the way to Stamford's 15-yard line. However, a holding call during a Bruce Ullman touchdown run not only negated the TD but also killed the drive. Faced with a 4th and 21, the Indians could not convert, and Stamford took over at the Bulldogs 25-yard line.
Stamford failed to gain any momentum following the turnover on downs. The Bulldogs went three-and-out and punted the football away. Ganado had an excellent return that wiped out the punt yardage and set the Indians up at Stamford's 19-yard line.
The Bulldogs' defense continued to play well, forcing another 3rd down attempt, but Ganado took advantage of an open receiver in the end zone. Bryce Ullman threaded the needle to Cain Hayden between two Stamford defenders for a touchdown. Ganado took a 14-7 lead late in the first half.
Neither team managed to score again for the rest of the half. Stamford threw a hail mary with time running out, but Ganado picked off the football at the 2-yard line. Ganado ran off the final two seconds and headed to the locker rooms with a 14-7 lead.
3rd Quarter
Ganado received the 2nd half kickoff but did not keep the ball long. Stamford's C'nai Whitfield jumped a hitch route at the line of scrimmage and picked off Ullman deep in Ganado's territory. Stamford set up shop at the 18-yard line.
After a first down, Ganado forced a 4th down attempt at the 1-yard line. However, Stamford proved up to the task as Kaston Vega powered into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs tied the game at 14-14 with 7:57 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The contest did not stay tied long, as the Indians scored on the next drive. The Indians drove the ball 95 yards over 10 plays and took more than five minutes off the 3rd quarter clock before they scored another touchdown. Ullman connected with Hayden in the corner of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown to put the Indians up 21-14 with 3:26 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Following a 3-and-out, Ganado's Logan Bures hit another big punt return that set Ganado up at Stamford's 33-yard line.
4th Quarter
Ganado drove down inside the 20, but Stamford stalled them there. The Indians missed the field goal and it remained a one-score game. Stamford took over at the 20 with 11:11 remaining in the 4th quarter.
Stamford would convert two different 4th down attempts on their way to another score. Faced with a 4th and 9 in their own territory, Brayden Jimenez faked a punt to take the ball up the sideline for a first down. Later, Christian Duran hit Alek Hernandez on a 41-yard deep pass on 4th and 13 to set up the Bulldogs with a 1st and goal at the 6. Kaston Vega finished off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run two plays later to tie the game at 21-21 with six minutes to play.
Ganado chose to decide their own fate and kept the ball until time expired. The Indians methodically drove the ball down the field, consuming the final six minutes in the 4th quarter. Ganado had the ball on Stamford's 4-yard line with two seconds remaining in the contest. The Indians missed the 19-yard field goal, and the game headed to overtime, 21-21.
OT No. 1
Ganado started the first overtime period on offense and took little time to score. A combination of Logan Bures and Bryce Ullman set up Bures for a short touchdown run. Ganado took a 28-21 lead.
Stamford quickly ran into trouble on offense. After three plays, the Bulldogs still had three yards to go. Faced with a 4th down and 4, Stamford had to convert to extend the game. For the 5th time during this contest, the Bulldogs converted a 4th down. Duran hit Austen Pena over the middle for a touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 28-28 headed to OT2.
OT No. 2
Stamford began the 2nd overtime period on offense and ran into a brick wall. Ganado forced another 4th down attempt, and this time, the Bulldogs could not convert. Ganado picked off Duran on 4th down and left it up to the offense to go and win the game. However, Stamford's defense proved up to the task and forced a long field goal. Ganado's kicking troubles continued with a 3rd missed field goal.
OT No. 3
Austin Pena caught a pass in the back of the end zone to put Ganado up by two points in the first half of the OT3. Stamford threw a pick when it was their turn and Ganado won the 2A Division I State Championship 30-28.
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