During the first half on Thursday, West Texas High looked every bit like the playoff-tested group that had rolled through the postseason. The Comanches controlled tempo, dominated snaps, and repeatedly pushed deep into Hamilton territory. But football games stretch beyond early punches, and Hamilton proved far more capable of sustaining its energy over four quarters. As the second half unfolded, the Bulldogs seized momentum and never let it go, ultimately pulling away for a 28–12 win in the UIL Class 2A Division I state semifinal.
The victory sends Hamilton into the first state championship appearance in school history, a milestone built steadily under head coach Ryan Marwitz. At 13–2, the Bulldogs now set their sights on a Wednesday night showdown at AT&T Stadium against Joaquin, which outlasted Refugio in the other semifinal.
West Texas High, meanwhile, finishes its season at 14–1—matching the school record for victories and reaching the program’s first semifinal since 1995. Considering the Comanches were just two seasons removed from a 4–7 campaign and weren’t expected to top their own district entering the year, the turnaround under head coach Jeff Smith has been one of the strongest storylines anywhere in the region.
WT High opened the game looking polished and confident, marching 67 yards in 11 plays and punching in an early score from Kelby Sherwood. That drive would be one of three long first-half trips inside Hamilton’s 30-yard line, two of which reached the 10. But only six points came from those chances—a missed opportunity that lingered over the rest of the night.
Hamilton capitalized on its own efficiency, needing only 20 plays in the first half to grab a 7–6 advantage on a well-timed 22-yard strike. Still, with WT High controlling possession and moving the ball consistently, the scoreboard didn’t reflect the Comanches’ early dominance.
Everything changed after halftime. Hamilton opened the third quarter with a punishing ground attack behind running back Hudson Haile, who would finish with 201 yards and an 80-yard dagger late in the fourth. That initial second-half touchdown pushed the Bulldogs ahead 14–6 and shifted the tone of the game.
WT High briefly reclaimed momentum late in the third when Sherwood broke free for a 17-yard score. But the pivotal moment arrived on the two-point try, when a mishandled snap turned into a 92-yard return the other direction. What could have been a tie instead became a four-point deficit, and emotionally, it felt like a gut punch the Comanches never fully recovered from.
Hamilton struck again early in the fourth with another touchdown pass, pushing the lead to double digits and effectively taking control. Quarterback Carson Roberts finished the night with 162 passing yards and two scores, while the Bulldogs’ defense stiffened dramatically, holding WT High to a season-low 12 points.
Although the loss stings for West Texas High, the season showcased a program that has rediscovered belief. Senior quarterback Cayde Winters capped a phenomenal year with over 300 total yards in his final game and leaves behind a legacy that rekindled expectations for what Comanche football can be. The run may have ended a step shy of Arlington, but the foundation for future success is unmistakably in place.
