The Rangers are the 2024 Class 5A-DI champions, and bring legendary coach Larry Hill his coveted first ring.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Smithson Valley Rangers are the 2024 Class 5A-DI Champions, becoming the first big San Antonio-area school to bring home a title in football since Steele in 2010.
The Rangers defeated the Highland Park Scots from Dallas 32-20 to win the school’s elusive first state title. It represents a successful yearlong journey for this team, which was blown 51-8 in last year’s title game, and the culmination of a much longer endeavor for head coach Larry Hill: This is his first time winning it all, in his fifth title game appearance and 32nd season at the helm for Smithson Valley.
After going up 23-20 at halftime, Smithson Valley continued that momentum and ended up shutting out the Scots 32-20.
Smithson Valley has made it to back-to-back state championships on the backs of their defense and phenomenal running game, helmed by elusive QB Cade Spradling and big-time RB Brad Sowersby. Spradling led the way with 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns while Sowerby had 152 rushing yards of his own.
The Rangers running game proved to be the difference as 18 of their 21 first downs came on the ground. They outrushed the Scots 297 to 49 yards while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
That ground attack helped keep Highland Park’s high-powered offense off the field as the Rangers dominated time of possession, having the ball for more than 30 minutes of game time compared to the Scots offense’s 17 minutes on the field.
PHOTOS | Smithson Valley 32, Highland Park 20 | Texas High School Football State Championship
Smithson Valley finished the season on an 11-game winning streak and overall mark of 14-2. They outscored their opponents 262-89 in their playoff run, and allowed 20-plus points just three times all year.
“We’re not leading the area or the state in anything. It’s just a bunch of grunts that are playing hard,” Hill said after Saturday’s victory at the AT&T Stadium. “There’s still a place for old-school football. These guys epitomize that as much as anyone.”