Waco La Vega Takes First State Title
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Updated: December 18, 2015
Waco La Vega (16-0) vs. Argyle (14-2)
Texas High School Football Class 3A DI State Championship
Noon Friday, NRG Stadium, Houston
NRG Stadium - The Waco La Vega Pirates won an exciting 33-31 Class 3A Division I Championship game over the Argyle Eagles. This was La Vega’s first ever state championship having lost in 1951 and 2008. Argyle is now 1-4 in championship games. They won in 2013 and lost last year, in 2011 and in 2005.
The first quarter had lots of great defense. La Vega came close to scoring but had a pass intercepted in Argyle territory. The quarter ended in a scoreless 0-0 tie.
The Pirates scored early in the 2nd quarter to finish off a 71 yard drive when running back Kemoche Hobbs scored on a 8 yard run. It was the first of three scores for Hobbs and gave Waco La Vega a 7-0 lead. Argyle whose offense had been sputtering since the start was forced to punt on the next possession. The punt however, was muffed and was recovered by the Eagles at the La Vega 10 yard line. Quarterback Dane Ledford scored from 6 yards out to bring the score to 7-7.
The Pirates responded with a 68 yard drive on a 12 yard run by Kemoche Hobbs to bring the score to 14-7 with 4:03 remaining in the half. Argyle had a chance at more points but missed on a 34 yard field goal. At the half La Vega has 208 yards of offense while Argyle had only 45.
La Vega committed their third turnover of the game when they fumbled at the Argyle 43. Once again, Argyle took advantage of the Pirate mistake to keep the game within reach. The Eagles converted the fumble into points when Caleb Holt hit a 42 yard field goal to tighten the score at 14-10. The teams then traded punts with Argyle pinning La Vega at their own 1 yard line.
Argyle defensive back Gage Campbell intercepted a pass and returned it to the La Vega 4 yard line to make it four turnovers by La Vega. Gage McCook scored from 2 yards out to give Argyle the lead 17-14. The 3rd quarter ended with La Vega driving. In the fourth quarter, the scoring turned up a few notches!
In reference to the turnovers, Waco La Vega Head Coach Willie Williams said, "We made some turnovers, but you can't harp on that last play. We always preach - hey, let's get the next play."
Running back Kemoche Hobbs next scored on a 25 yard run to retake the lead 20-17 with 10:55 left in the game. Argyle put together their first long drive of the game, converting on a short touchdown pass to tight end J.C. Chalk to put the Eagles back in the lead 24-20 with 7:47 left to go.
Pirate receiver Parrish Cobb got a big 65 yard kickoff return to the Argyle 35. Kicker, Caleb Holt was the last line of defense against Cobb returning the ball for a TD and broke down making a tackle that would make a secondary coach proud. That set up a John Richards run from 3 yards out to give La Vega the lead 27-24 with 4:21 remaining.
Parrish Cobb commented about the back and forth nature of the game, "Our coaches are always telling us, if we want it, it's there for us - we just have to take it. We did everything we needed to do."
Not to be outdone in the big play department, Argyles next possession, quarterback Dane Leford found receiver Gage McCook behind the secondary for a 68 yard scoring pass. Argyle now led 31-27 with 2:09 left.
A short kickoff resulted in the Pirates getting the ball at their own 47 with 2:02 remaining. Waco La Vega responded with a methodical drive that included some big miscues by Argyle. (There were two consecutive penalties for 12 men on the field against Argyle following timeouts.) Quarterback Jamal Williams scored from 1 yard out with 11 seconds left to put La Vega back up ahead 33-31.
Argyle had one last chance at their own 48 with 1 second left but their pass was batted down.
After the game, Argyle Head Coach Todd Rodgers commented, "Headsets got a little static-y late. We had some terminolgy that got mixed up on the headsets and we had some substitution issues. I think we get those substitution issues solved, its a different outcome."
Lone Star Gridiron
Postgame Video ** Premium Content
Game notes:
- Argyle High School (288 miles) vs. La Vega High School (187 miles)
- Argyle QB Dane Ledford (9.7 yards per attempts)
- Argyle Running back Taylor Sweatt accounted for 25 rushing touchdowns on the season.
- Argyle LB Hudson Speed 129 tackles.
- La Vega bounced back from its first losing season in nine years, reaching the state championship game a year removed from a 5-6 season...11 wins in previous 2 seasons…
- La Vega defense allowed just ten points in its last three games.
- La Vega defense allowed only 14.8 ppg all year
- Head coach Willie Williams is a La Vega graduate
- Game Stats : First Downs Argyle - 11 La Vega - 24
- Game Stats: Rushing Yards Argyle -- 103 La Vega 234
- Game Stats: Total Offense Argyle -- 247 La Vega 399
- Game Stats: 9 lead changes
- Turnovers: Argyle -- 0 La Vega 4
Attendance: 7,932
Players of the game:
Offense- #6 Kemoche Hobbs
Defense- #17 Gage Campbell
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |||
| Argyle | 0 | 7 | 10 | 14 | - | 31 | ||
| Waco La Vega | 0 | 14 | 0 | 19 | - | 33 |
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