In a decisive victory, the Bellville Brahmas defeated the Jasper Bulldogs with a commanding score of 31-7 in the quarterfinals of the 2023 UIL Texas Football State Championships. The high-stakes game, played under fair weather conditions but on a soggy field, saw a crowd of at least 1,000 spectators played at Woodforest Stadium in Conroe ISD.
Game Overview
First Quarter: A Strong Start for Jasper – The game kicked off with Bellville sending the ball to Jasper. Jasper quickly capitalized on the opportunity, with Kiotti Armstrong catching a 14-yard pass for a touchdown, putting Jasper in the lead 7-0 after a successful PAT.
Bellville’s Comeback: Bellville, undeterred, responded with vigor. After a series of punts from both teams, Bellville’s DD Murray broke through Jasper’s defense for a 10-yard rushing touchdown, leveling the score at 7-7. The momentum shifted as Fernando Grajales of Bellville nailed a 25-yard field goal, edging Bellville ahead 10-7 at halftime.
Third Quarter: Bellville’s Offensive Surge – The third quarter saw Bellville extend their lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Kunkel, followed by another successful PAT by Grajales. Bellville’s defense held strong, forcing Jasper to punt and maintaining a 17-7 lead.
Fourth Quarter: Bellville Seals the Deal – The final quarter was dominated by Bellville. Zach Leuschner’s 1-yard rushing touchdown and another PAT by Grajales extended their lead to 24-7. A pivotal moment came when DD Murray intercepted a Jasper pass, leading to a spectacular 70-yard rushing touchdown by Murray himself. Grajales’ PAT brought the score to 31-7.
In the closing minutes, Bellville’s defense remained impenetrable, with Cory Richardson sacking Jasper’s quarterback and Hunter Kunkel intercepting another pass. The game concluded with Bellville triumphantly leading 31-7.
Bellville’s Game Statistics
- First Downs: Bellville achieved a total of 18 first downs in the game.
- Penalties: The team faced 8 penalties, costing them 45 yards.
- Rushing Yards Per Game: Bellville’s average rushing yards per game for the season was an impressive 399.2.
- Passing Yards Per Game: They averaged 24.9 passing yards per game.
- Total Yards Per Game: Bellville’s total yards per game averaged at 424.1.
- Tackles Per Game: The team averaged 50.6 tackles per game.
- Sacks Per Game: They averaged 2.0 sacks per game.
- Points Per Game: Bellville scored an average of 53.6 points per game.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Bellville advances confidently in the tournament, carrying forward their undefeated streak. Their performance in this quarterfinals game sends a strong message to their upcoming opponents in the state championships.
Jasper, while bowing out of the tournament, can hold their heads high for a season well-played, marked by moments of brilliance and a fighting spirit that took them to the quarterfinals.
