Skip to main content

Gunter rolls Woodville to win third consecutive Texas 3A Division II state title

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•12/19/24•

HunterShelton_

Syndication: The Abilene Reporter-News
Gunter defensive lineman Cole Harpole and others on his team make thumbs-down gestures to the Wall team after defeating them during Friday’s Class 3A DII semi-final playoff at Abilene Christian University’s Anthony Field Dec. 13, 2024. Final score was 42-32, Gunter.

For the third year in a row, the Gunter Tigers are Texas 3A Division II state champions.

Thanks to a 21-point effort in the second half, Gunter raced past Woodville for a 28-0 victory on Thursday, completing what’s been a dominant three-peat. The Tigers won the defensive battle for four quarters and used myriad chunk plays to spark some momentum on the offensive side of the ball.

Following a tight first half that saw just one score, Gunter came out of the gates hot in the second half at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Mitchell Gage took the opening kick return of the second half 96 yards to the house, doubling the Tigers’ lead to 14-0. After getting the ball back quickly, quarterback Preston Tarpley delivered a 59-yard bomb to Cash Rumage, who scored to begin putting things out of reach for Woodville. Tarpley threw two touchdowns in the win.

Senior Brock Boddie then picked off Woodville sophomore QB Luke Babin in the middle of the fourth and returned it for a touchdown, putting an exclamation mark on what was a complete performance by the Gunter defense.

Top 10

  1. 1

    Lane Kiffin

    Ole Miss HC calls out CFP committee

    Hot
  2. 2

    Notre Dame vs. Georgia odds

    Early Sugar Bowl line released

    New
  3. 3

    Nick Saban

    Fed up, calling for change

  4. 4

    Desmond Howard

    CGD host calls out Ryan Day

    Trending
  5. 5

    Kirby Smart reacts

    Notre Dame fans chant 'We want Georgia'

View All

Special teams and defense carry Gunter to state title

The Woodville offense found success at points on Thursday, but was unable to break through and find pay dirt. Babin was sacked numerous times and the Gunter defense continued to win the game’s biggest plays.

The Gage kick return went for six, but it wasn’t the only big play of the day on special teams for Gunter. Just three plays before Tarpley threw an 18-yard TD pass to Cole Harpole, Easton Overman scurried past midfield for a big punt return, setting up the Gunter offense nicely. The Tigers won the field-position battle all evening.

Gunter finishes the season with a 14-2 record and has now won five state titles since 2016. The Tigers entered the fall having won 32 games in a row, finishing both of the previous two campaigns undefeated at 16-0.

Woodville, which finishes at 13-3 on the year, was in its first ever state title game.