Gunter Locks Up a Three-Straight Title, Smothers Woodville in 28 to 0 Masterclass

ARLINGTON — On the state’s biggest stage, Gunter played like a program that knows exactly how championships are won. Defense took center field, special teams cracked the game wide open, and quarterback Preston Tarpley sprinkled in timely brilliance as the Tigers shut out Woodville 28 to 0 to capture their third consecutive Class 3A Division II state title.

A dynasty stayed a dynasty.

Tarpley Ignites the Tigers

Points were hard to come by in a tense first half, but midway through the second quarter Gunter finally broke through. Tarpley rolled out and lofted a perfectly placed 18 yard strike to Cole Harpole for the afternoon’s opening touchdown. In a chess match dominated by defense, that seven point edge felt larger than the scoreboard suggested.

A Lightning Bolt Out of Halftime

Whatever adjustments Woodville hoped to make at the break evaporated in seconds. The opening kickoff sailed to Mitchell Gage, and the Tigers’ return ace wasted no time flipping the game. He burst through a crease and never slowed, racing 96 yards to the end zone and turning a tight contest into a two score lead that sent the Gunter fans into full roar.

The tone had shifted, and Woodville never quite found its footing again.

Deep Shot Drops the Hammer

Gunter kept its foot down. With nine minutes to play in the third quarter, Tarpley dialed up another big moment. He hit Cash Rumage in stride on a 59 yard bomb that cracked Woodville’s secondary and pushed the margin to 21 to 0. Rumage needed only two receptions to make his mark, and that long strike proved to be the game’s breaking point.

Defense Finishes the Job in Style

From there, the Tigers’ defense took the spotlight and slammed the door. Woodville tried to gamble early in the fourth on fourth down, and Gunter responded with its defining defensive moment. Brock Bodie jumped a pass on the edge and sprinted 62 yards for a pick six that sealed the outcome and stamped Gunter’s authority on the afternoon.

Woodville struggled to breathe all game. Quarterback Luke Babin completed nine passes for 93 yards and endured six sacks. Defensive MVP Hayden Farrell lived in the backfield, racking up three sacks and collapsing the pocket snap after snap.

It was Gunter’s fifth shutout of the year, a performance that underscored just how dominant this defense has been from August to December.

Making History Once More

With the win, Gunter improved to 14 and 2 and joined rare company, becoming only the twentieth program in UIL history to win three consecutive state titles. Tarpley threw two touchdowns, Gage changed the game with one burst of speed, and the Tigers’ defense provided the final punctuation.

Final: Gunter 28, Woodville 0

Another trophy, another statement, and a three-peat sealed with a shutout worthy of a champion.