Editor鈥檚 Note: This article originally ran in The 足交视频 Advocate on Dec. 20, 2024. It is part of The Advocate's 2024 Year in Review, recalling the top stories of this past year.
ARLINGTON 鈥 Ganado has practiced a single two-point conversion play this season.
The play worked to near-perfection when quarterback Bryce Ullman found receiver Austen Pena in the back of the end zone for a 30-28 lead over Stamford in the third overtime.
That lead stood up and the Indians captured their first UIL state football title Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
Ullman realized if the game went to a fourth overtime, he had no idea what play the Indians would run.
鈥淲e were getting a little worried because if we got it and the other team got it, I have no clue what we would call next,鈥 Ullman said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have [another]; that鈥檚 basically our two-point play.鈥
Ullman made the situation moot when he intercepted Cle Whitfield鈥檚 halfback pass to secure Ganado鈥檚 first title in the Class 2A state final before a crowd of 7,858.
鈥淚 saw him hand it off and I was kind of stunned for a little bit,鈥 Ullman said of Stamford quarterback Christian Duran. 鈥淚 stood there. Then I saw them reversing, and their quarterback was going out, and big old No. 28 (Vince) Sablatura, he just bulldozed the quarterback and kind of slowed him down to where I cover him, and No. 7 (Whitfield), you try to put it over the top. But it wasn鈥檛 very good, I guess. It was a game-winning play.鈥
Ullman鈥檚 interception set off a celebration on the Ganado sideline, as the Indians realized what they had accomplished this season
鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal,鈥 said Ganado head coach Josh Ervin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that the community has wanted for a long time. Obviously, these kids have wanted it for a long time.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e worked really, really hard over the past six years that I鈥檝e been around them from seventh grade on up, and just to be a part of something so special that brings the community together. Words can鈥檛 express how happy I am for them and for Ganado. The town is probably going to go crazy when we get back.鈥
The Indians (15-1) had opportunities at times during the first four quarters to take command. But each time the Bulldogs (15-1) fought back to tie the game.
鈥淢an, they were ranked No. 1 all-season long for a reason,鈥 Ervin said. 鈥淲hat a great team, a great coaching staff, one of the best coached teams I鈥檝e seen at the 2A level since I鈥檝e been at Ganado. They had a really good game plan and I think at the state championship game, you鈥檝e got two good teams playing for it.鈥
Ganado鈥檚 best opportunity to win came on the final play of the fourth quarter when it drove from its 31 to the Stamford 4 and called timeout with 2 seconds left.
But Joe Rodriguez鈥檚 22-yard field goal attempt went wide to the left, sending the teams to overtime.
鈥淪o first off, we got a ton of confidence in our kicker,鈥 Ervin said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 also a senior. He鈥檚 been around for a while. He鈥檚 done a great job all year. Over the past two, three years, he鈥檚 been the starting kicker, and we were able to drive down the field. I think it was almost an extra point.
鈥淎nd so that was kind of the thing is we鈥檙e going to end it right here, whether it鈥檚 we pop a run or we have the look to throw a pass, which we didn鈥檛 have the look that we felt good with. And so it was; we鈥檙e going to pop a run to end it that way, or we鈥檙e going to kick the ball last and go into overtime, if that鈥檚 what it takes. If we had to make the decision again, it鈥檇 be the same decision. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it just wasn鈥檛 meant to be.鈥
The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime with Ganado scoring on a 1-yard run by Logan Bures, who carried 25 times for 100 yards.
The Bulldogs answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Duran to Whitfield, the fifth time in six tries they had converted on fourth down.
Neither team was able to score in the second overtime, meaning the teams would go for two-point conversions from that point forward.
Ullman found Pena in the back of the end zone, and the receiver reached out and caught the ball.
鈥淚 think it was perfectly placed right where the defender couldn鈥檛 get it,鈥 Pena said. 鈥淭hat play鈥檚 not really designed to go to me, it usually goes to Cain (Hayden). but he found me in the back and made a good throw.鈥
Ullman completed 13 of 22 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 48 yards and one touchdown and was named the offensive player of the game.
Hayden had two interceptions 鈥 one that he returned 21 yards on the first possession of the game that set up Ullman鈥檚 6-yard touchdown run 鈥 and four tackles and was named the defensive player of the game.
Ganado had no idea that it would tie for the longest game in UIL state championship history when it boarded the bus on Wednesday.
But the ride home Thursday evening seemed a lot shorter.
鈥淚t was kind of nerve racking,鈥 Ullman said. 鈥淚 had never been in that many overtimes before. We鈥檝e been in some close games like the Refugio game, but never three overtimes. We knew it was going to come down to the last play and it did and we made a play.鈥
