Whittington Carries Cuero to Title

By Michael Wright
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Updated: December 21, 2018

Jordan Whittington - Cuero Gobblers State Title 2018

photo: Pat Carrigan

Texarkana Pleasant Grove (13-2) vs. Cuero Gobblers (14-1) UIL Class 4A DII Texas High School Football State Championship.

The Cuero Gobblers beat the Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks 40-28 in the Class 4A Division II Championship game. It was Cuero's 4th Championship in their 11th Championship appearance. They last won in 1987. Texarkana was the defending champions playing in their 2nd all-time Championship game.

Texarkana took the opening kickoff and marched down the field converting on 1 4th down play to score. Hawk running back Bruce Garrett (over 1,700 yards rushing on the season) ran it in from 12 yards out to make the score 7-0. On Cuero's first play of their first drive receiver Jordan Whittington (University of Texas commit - 845 yards receiving on the year) took the direct snap and went 70 yards down the sideline to score. That evened the score at 7. After the teams traded punts, Cuero drove to the Pleasant Grove 36 before turning the ball over on downs. The Hawks score on the last play of the quarter as Garrett ran it in from 2 yards out to take a 14-7 lead.

Key 1st Quarter Stats:
Cuero's Jordan Whittington 2 carries for 91 yards 1 catch and 6 tackles on defense
Pleasant Grove's Bruce Garrett 116 yards rushing

Cuero advanced the ball into Hawk territory before PG defensive back Kamren Woods picked off a pass at their 18. After a Pleasant Grove punt, the Gobblers took over at their 31 with 7:20 left until half. They went 3 and out and the Hawks got the ball at their 32 with 4:29 remaining. Two plays later, Garrett ran it in from 69 yards to make the score 21-7. Whittington responded with a 54 yard touchdown run and the score was 21-14 with 3:03 left. On the kickoff, the ball looked like it was going out of bounds but bounced back in and Cuero recovered it at the Pleasant Grove 16. The play was reviewed though and a Cuero player that was out of bounds had touched the ball so Pleasant Grove got the ball at their 35. The Hawks punted and Cuero drove down the field as time was counting down. On the last play of the quarter, Whittington made a diving catch in the end zone for the score. The play was reviewed and overturned saying he was unable to control the ball throughout the dive. They put 2 seconds back on the clock to give Cuero 1 more play. They threw to Whittington again and he made the catch and stretched to get it inside the pylon for the score. They missed the extra point and Pleasant Grove led at halftime 21-20.

Key Halftime Stats:
Whittington -- 7 carries 190 yards rushing 2 catches 36 yards 3 touchdowns 8 tackles
Garrett 196 yards rushing 3 touchdowns

The Gobblers took the opening kickoff and drove to inside the Hawks 20 before turning it over on downs. The drive took 8:20 off the clock. Pleasant Grove moved to midfield before punting and pinning Cuero down at their own 23. The quarter ended with Cuero driving.

Key 3rd quarter stats:
Whittington : 226 yards rushing 3 touchdowns
Garrett 198 yards rushing

Whittington scored on a run but that play was overturned. Cuero got the ball back at the 1 and Whittington ran it in from there. The Gobblers did not convert the 2 point conversion and Cuero led 26-21 with 9:43 left in the game. Pleasant Grove went for it on 4th down at their 33 and failed to convert. Whittington paid the drive off with a 12 run run. The extra point was good making the score 33-21 with 5:24 remaining.

Pleasant Grove came right back with a score as Ben Harmon ran it in from 1 yard out. That came after a long pass to Harmon. The extra point made it 33-28 with 4:36 left. Cuero recovered the onside attempt and a few plays later Whittington scored from 42 yards out but again, the play was overturned because he stepped out of bounds. Whittington then ran it in from 20 yards out two plays later. Cuero led 40-28 with 2:54 remaining. Pleasant Grove's final drive ended with an interception by Deondrae Lang.

Offensive MVP : Cuero RB/WR/DB Jordan Whittington - 334 yards rushing 6 touchdowns -- That rushing record was a Championship game record

Defensive MVP : Cuero RB/WR/DB Jordan Whittington

Attendance : 12,784