The Woodville Eagles could not complete their Cinderella run to a championship as they lost in the State Championship game to the Gunter Tigers 28 to 0 on Tuesday. The Eagles concluded their season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses and advancing to their first football championship game in school history. The citizens of Woodville were completely wrapped up in the team and they lined the streets for the team’s departure on Wednesday morning. Gunter, who claimed their 3rd consecutive championship before a reported 9531screeming fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington was complementary of the Eagles who gave the Tigers quite a fight in the first half of the game.
Woodville received the opening kickoff and after an initial first down they were forced to punt. Gunter went three and out and the back-and-forth punts between the two teams began. On Gunter’s second possession Jaythan Trayler sacked the Gunter quarterback to stall a Tiger drive. The first quarter ended with the score tied at 0 to 0 as a defensive struggle looked like it would be the tone of the game.
Woodville started the second quarter on offense inside their 25-yard line but stalled and on the Eagles punt a 30-yard punt return set the Tigers up first and ten at the Eagles 29-yard line. The Tigers scored on their third play of the drive on an 18-yard touchdown pass and with the extra point kick the Tigers led 7 to 0 with 10:06 left until halftime. Defensive tackle Dewayne Koenig ended the Tigers’ next drive with a quarterback sack. The Eagles’ next drive ended when they could not pick up fourth and one at midfield. As both teams went to the locker rooms the outcome was still in doubt with the Tigers leading the Eagles 7 to 0. The first half total yardage was only Gunter with 82 and Woodville with 78. Both coaches went into halftime looking for adjustments to swing momentum to their side of the field.
Momentum made a quick entrance as the Tigers ran back the second half kick off 96 yards for a touchdown and with only 14 seconds off the 3rd quarter clock the Tigers had gone up 14 to 0. The Gunter offense would get untracked on their next possession, scoring on a 59-yard touchdown pass to up their lead to 21 to 0 with 8:57 left in the 3rd quarter. Gunter had a short field after an almost disastrous Eagles punt out of their own end zone, but James Kelly intercepted the Gunter quarterback at the Eagles five-yard line. Woodville could not sustain drives picking up one or two first downs so at the end of the 3rd quarter the Eagles still trailed 21 to 0.
In the fourth quarter Gunter would score a defensive touchdown as a Tiger defensive back deflected and intercepted a Woodville pass returning it 46 yards for a pick six and a 28 to 0 lead with 6:48 left in the game. Another interception on the Eagles next possession would allow the Tigers to go into the victory formation to end the game. With Gunter winning their third straight title.
The players from both sides received UIL medals for their participation in the state championship game. The Eagles received silver medals while the Tigers got gold. Then Head Coach Ty Robinson was given the Class 3A Division 2 State Runner Up trophy for being the second-best team in all of Class 3A Division 2. There are one hundred 3A Division 2 schools that began this season back in August and they all wanted to be at AT&T Stadium playing in the championship game on December 19th, but only two made it and the Woodville Eagles were one of those teams.
In the post-game interview Coach Robinson said that he was disappointed at the outcome by proud of his players. Their work and dedication paid big dividends in the historic Eagles run. No other team in Woodville history had ever been past the second round of the playoffs, this team went six which is as far as you can go. Senior captain Tayvion Hunter who has been such a center piece of the Eagles playoff run praised his teammates and coaches. Robinson said, “In two weeks off season practices would get underway with the weight room open at 5 AM every morning”. Robinson concluded by saying, “People have been all over social media saying that the Eagles have brought Woodville together like only one other thing has in the past and that was Hurricane Rita as everyone pulled together to help one another. The Eagles have given the town something to be proud of and he thanked everyone for the support!” This reporter caught quarterback, Luke Babin as he went out to find his family and he said, “We played as many games as we could, and we will work hard to make our way back.”
KJAS congratulates the Woodville Eagles and the entire Woodville community for taking Southeast Texas along with you on your historic season and your showing of community spirit and hometown pride!”
https://www.kjas.com/sports/local_sports/article_5edf9534-bec5-11ef-abfb-535b28eba727.html