Muenster Stands Tall in Wild Finish, Outlasts Shiner for 2A Division II Championship

ARLINGTON — With momentum swinging like a pendulum and both bands roaring inside AT&T Stadium, Muenster and Shiner delivered one of the most dramatic title fights of championship week. In a showdown packed with explosive plays and pressure-packed moments, the Hornets dug deep in the fourth quarter and emerged with a heart-pounding 36 to 29 victory to secure the Class 2A Division II state title.

A Track Meet Early On

The tone was set immediately. Muenster’s opening march ended with Casen Carney powering across the goal line, but Shiner responded just as quickly, dialing up a 29-yard touchdown strike to Jarvis Williams. Every punch had an answer, and neither sideline stayed quiet for long.

The second quarter featured the game’s biggest fireworks. Carney bulldozed his way into the end zone twice more, but Shiner uncorked two lightning-bolt plays of its own. Quincy Jones erupted for a 74-yard scoring sprint, and Clayton Fric followed with a 44-yard dash that brought the Comanches’ crowd to its feet. The teams jogged to the locker room deadlocked at 21, having already combined for over 300 yards of offense.

Tension Rising After the Break

Muenster blinked first in the second half, leaning on its offensive line to clear space for a short touchdown by Nolan Peel. But Shiner refused to fade. Quarterback Carson Schuette answered by sneaking in from a yard out and tacking on a two-point conversion for a 29 to 28 Comanches lead.

For the first time all afternoon, Muenster looked unsettled. Shiner’s sideline surged with energy. A momentum shift felt imminent.

Carney Slams the Door

But when the game entered the fourth quarter, Carney took control of it.

The senior orchestrated a deliberate, punishing drive, mixing timely throws with tough inside runs. With the season on the line, he slipped through traffic for a 6-yard touchdown that flipped the scoreboard back in the Hornets’ favor. A successful point-after pass stretched the lead to seven, and Muenster’s defense made that margin stand with a pair of crucial late stops.

Carney’s final stat line looked like something out of a video game: 35 carries, 147 rushing yards, four touchdowns, plus 171 yards through the air. Every time the Hornets needed someone to steady the moment, he delivered.

A Title Earned the Hard Way

Shiner pushed until the final whistle, leaning on explosive athletes and timely playmaking, but Muenster’s resolve proved unbreakable. The Hornets handled the wild swings, answered every challenge, and found their closer when the pressure reached its peak.

Final: Muenster 36, Shiner 29 — a championship thriller worthy of the stage.