Brandon Carter caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in overtime to lead Euless Trinity to a 41-38 come-from-behind victory over Austin Westlake on Saturday in the Class 5A Division 1 state championship football game.
With the Trojans trailing 38-35, quarterback Willie Hubbard lofted a pass to Carter, who made a leaping catch and fell across the goal line. Trinity players poured onto the field, threw their helmets and began doing cartwheels.
The Trojans (14-2) also claimed titles in 2005 and 2007. The Chaparrals lost in the state championship game for the sixth time since 1990. Their lone state title came in 1996.
Westlake (13-3) took a 38-35 lead in overtime on Cody Rademacher's 31-yard field goal. Trinity needed only two plays to come from behind. On first down, Bobby Brown scooted 7 yards on a reverse before Hubbard and Carter connected for the championship-winning score.
Late in the fourth quarter, Terrence Tusan ran 14 yards to give Trinity a 35-28 lead with 1:58 to play. But quarterback Tanner Price brought Westlake back, driving the Caparrals into the end zone in eight plays. Along the way, Price converted a clutch third-and-16 pass from the Trinity 46 then found Lewis Guilbeau for a 20-yard score.
Trinity almost pulled it out in the final seconds. Hubbard scrambled 50 yards to the Westlake 25, then spiked the ball with two seconds left. But Tony Perez' 48-yard field goal attempt fell short as time expired in regulation.
Tusan rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns.
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Carter ran once for 54 yards on a reverse to set up one touchdown. He also completed a 52-yard pass and returned a punt for 12 yards.
Despite those heroics, Price nearly ran and passed the Chaparrals past the Trojans. He rushed for 108 yards, passed for 220 yards and two TDs and gave Westlake a two-touchdown lead.
Down 28-14 late in the third, the Trojans refused to quit. Behind the running of Tusan and Damien Hart, Trinity drove to the Westlake 1. On first-and-goal, Hart leaped over the middle to score, cutting the Chaparral's lead to one touchdown.
Trinity held Westlake and drove to the Chaparral 2 on Carter's 54-yard run. On the next play, Tusan slipped through the grasp of linebacker Bryce Hager and scored. Perez added the conversion, tying the score at 28.
The Chaparrals took a 20-14 halftime lead. Safety James Robison intercepted Hubbard and ran 24 yards for one score. Price threw an 8-yard pass to Tim Johnson for another. Rademacher kicked field goals of 21 and 39 yards, the second one as time expired in the half.
