High School

Celina throttles Kilgore, wins 9th Texas high school football championship: Live updates recap

QB Bowe Bentley throws 5 touchdowns, accounts for 333 total yards in 55-21 victory

Cody Thorn

Receiver Ethan Rucker of Celina scores a touchdown during the first half of the Texas 4A Division 1 title game at AT&T Stadium.
Receiver Ethan Rucker of Celina scores a touchdown during the first half of the Texas 4A Division 1 title game at AT&T Stadium. / Photo by Tommy Hays

Celina Bobcats (15-0) vs. Kilgore Bulldogs (13-2), 3 p.m., Friday

Celina will have a chance to move into a tie for third for all-time UIL football champions in the Class 4A Division I game this afternoon. Celina has won eight state titles and currently sit in third place overall among UIL teams — trailing Aledo (12) and Carthage (10) Katy (9). 

Carthage won state title No. 10 earlier in the day to move into second place.

Celina had to rally late to keep the undefeated season and title hopes alive last week, beating Amarillo West Plains, 43-36. RB Harrison Williams scored on a 22-yard run with 1:34 left to account for the final points. It marked the first time in the postseason that Celina hadn’t led at halftime.

Bobcats QB Bowe Bentley, who recently picked up offers from Duke and Cal, ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns in the win. 

TEXAS HS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Kilgore has won nine in a row heading into the finals. This will be the Bulldogs’ third finals game with a win in 2OT against Dallas Lincoln in 2004 and a loss to Carthage in 2013. 

Isaiah Watters ran for two scores and Michigan signee Jayden Sanders also scored for Kilgore in the 31-7 win over La Vernia.

Follow along below for live updates from the Class 4A-Division I state finals between Kilgore and Celina, scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, Dec. 20, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Kilgore vs. Celina, Class 4A-Division I state finals live updates

Pregame updates

Kilgore wins the toss and defers. Celina to get the ball first.

First Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN CELINA! Bowe Bentley connects with Ethan Rucker for a 34-yard TD. 10:52 left in the first. Celina 7, Kilgore 0

TOUCHDOWN KILGORE! Isaiah Watters with a 12-yard TD run for the Bulldogs. Eddie Jimenez with PAT. Kilgore 7, Celina 7. Big plays on the drive from the legs of QB Kayson Brooks, who has 23 yards on 3 carries

TOUCHDOWN CELINA! Bentley to Rucker again -- this time for 61 yards. 5:10 on the clock. PAT blocked but haven't seen a replay to see who got it. Celina 13, Kilgore 7

Kilgore gets a 26-yard play to move to the 29-yard line of Celina. An 11-yard run by Jacory Walton Omarion and then a 15-yard late hit.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Celina 13, Kilgore 7

Second Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN KILGORE! On the first play of the 2nd quarter, Brooks hits Javon Towns for a 20-yard TD on a bubble screen. The senior WR does the work by catching the ball behind the line of scrimmage and outrunning the defense. PAT is good. Kilgore has the lead for the first time today. Kilgore 14, Celina 13

FIELD GOAL CELINA! The Bobcats regain the lead. Senior Braden Johnson boots a 35-yard field goal. Celina 16, Kilgore 14

Media/TV timeout 7:53 left.

Kilgore punting the ball back

Celina has a 1st and goal to go at the 9-yard line after a holding call. 2:41 left

Kilgore calls a timeout with 2:25 left in 1st. Celina facing 3rd-and-goal from the 5 when play resumes

FIELD GOAL CELINA! A 22-yard FG by Johnson comes with 2:16 left. Celina 19, Kilgore 14

TOUCHDOWN CELINA! Bentley to Colton Rodriguez for 50 yards. 41 seconds left in 1st half. Celina calls timeout before PAT

Celina goes for 2. Bentley hits TE Wyatt Villareal for the score. Celina 27, Kilgore 14

HALFTIME: Celina 27, Kilgore 14

Third Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN CELINA! Colton Rodriguez hauls in a pass at the 40-yard line and runs it in for a 63-yard TD for the Bobcats. 7:36 left. Celina 34, Kilgore 14

Rodriguez has 5 catches for 149 yards and 2 TDs. Bentley had completed 8 of 12 for 244 and 4 TDs. Probably can sharpie him in as Offensive MVP

TURNOVER AND TOUCHDOWN! DB Luke Biagini with a 27-yard Pick-6, breaking a tackle at the 20. Celina 41, Kilgore 14. 6:02 left in 3rd

TURNOVER! Erick Salinas with an INT for Celina with 5:41 to play. Celina takes over at Kilgore's 33-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN CELINA! Harrison Williams scores on an 8-yard run. 3:34 left in the 3rd. Celina 48, Kilgore 14

Kilgore calls a timeout with 1:57 left in 3rd quarter. Bulldogs facing a 3rd-and-14 coming out of the break

TOUCHDOWN CELINA! Wyatt Villareal with a 21-yard TD catch from Bowe Bentley. 1:09 left in third. Celina 55, Kilgore 44. Bentley is 9-for-13 for 265 and 5 TDs. According to live stats, his QB Rating is 367. Not sure that is possible

Fourth Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN KILGORE! La'Keyeleon Graves hauls in 21-yard touchdown pass at the pylon for a score for the Bulldogs with 8:20 to play. PAT good. Celina 55, Kilgore 21. At one point, Kilgore led this game 14-13.

Attendance for Game 2: 16,267

FINAL: Celina 55, Kilgore 21

Offensive MVP: QB Bowe Bentley, Celina — 9-for-14 passing, 265 yards, 5 TDs; 68 yards rushing

Defensive MVP: DB Luke Biagini, Celina — 9 tackles, 1/2 sack, 1 INT, 1 defensive TD

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Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

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