High School

Carthage wins 10th Texas high school football championship by beating La Vega: Live updates recap

The Bulldogs secure 4A Division II title behind 2-TD efforts by RB KJ Edwards and WR Junior Henderson

Cody Thorn

Running back Kelwin Edwards scores on a run during the first half of the Texas 4A Division 2 title game at AT&T Stadium.
Running back Kelwin Edwards scores on a run during the first half of the Texas 4A Division 2 title game at AT&T Stadium. / Photo by Tommy Hays

Carthage Bulldogs (14-1) vs. Waco La Vega Pirates (12-3), 11 a.m., Friday

Carthage is one win away from a milestone victory for the program. With 5 wins this postseason, the Bulldogs now have 99 wins dating back to the first playoff trip in 1943.

This is state trip No. 11 for Carthage — the first coming in 1991. 

A win on Friday in the Class 4A Division II will provide a milestone for the East Texas school

Carthage won its first title was part of a three-peat, winning Class 4A Division II in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Bulldogs have 9 state titles and will look for No. 10 against Waco La Vega. 

The two have history in the postseason — as the Bulldogs won 42-27 in the 2019 Class 4A Division I finals. Carthage is 2-1 in the postseason against the Pirates, dating back to 2015.

The Tigers posted a 45-17 win over Brock in the semifinals last Friday behind a pair of touchdown runs from Benny Smith, who had the share of the carries in the second half. Four-star recruit KJ Edwards scored a rushing touchdown but did not play in the second half.

TEXAS HS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

La Vega is in the finals for the sixth time in program history and the fourth time since 2015. The Pirates won titles in 2015 and 2018.

The Pirates scored at least two touchdowns in each quarter in its 62-35 win against Wimberley. QB Kourtney Parr threw three touchdowns and ran for another, while RB Bryson Roland ran for 189 yards and 3 TDs.

The offense is slightly leaning toward running with nearly 3,000 yards as a team and 2,703 passing. Roland, an uncommitted senior, has 2,045 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 games with 100 yards or more this season.

Follow along below for live updates from the Class 4A-Division II state finals between Waco La Vega and Carthage, scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Friday, Dec. 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Carthage vs. Waco La Vega, Class 4A-Division II state finals live updates

First Quarter Updates

Carthage will receive to start the game. Good field position to start the game on its own 40.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Jett Surratt's fourth-down pass falls incomplete and Carthage goes four-and-out on its opening drive. Waco La Vega ball on the Carthage 45 with 10:50 left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! La Vega goes for it and comes up a yard short on a QB keeper. Media timeout with 9:13 left in the 1st. Carthage taking over at the 37-yard line after the break.

On 3rd and 14, DE Warren Richardson sacks Carthage's Jett Surratt for a 10-yard loss.

La Vega takes over at the 20-yard line after a punt by Carthage went into the end zone

TURNOVER! Surratt is picked offa t the 20-yard line. FS Antwon Gude Jr. there to pick it off, with MarQwae Willis covering the WR on the play. 2:47 left.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: La Vega 0, Carthage 0

Second Quarter Updates

La Vega punts on first play of 2nd. Carthage ball at La Vega 48-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN CARTHAGE! RB KJ Edwards scores on a 21-yard TD with 11 minutes left. Surratt connected with Carson Crawford for a 24-yard gain on the play prior. PAT good. Carthage 7, La Vega 0

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Carthage goes for it on 4th down and the pass is incomplete. The Pirates taking over with 6:22 left. Ball is at thier own 40.

QB Kourtney Parr looks to be scrambling to throw the ball away but finds WR James Degrate, who hauls it in for a 26-yard gain. Ball at the Carthage 23.

TOUCHDOWN LA VEGA! Parr with a 1-yard run on 2nd down. 4:05 left. La Vega 7, Carthage 7

If the last name Parr sounds familiar to sports fan here is why. Parr's counsin, KP Parr, helped lead Waco La Vega to back-to-back girls basketball titles. KP Parr is a freshman at Wichita State.

TOUCHDOWN CARTHAGE! KJ Edwards breaks 4 tackles and and spins away and runs for a 86-yard TD with 3:04 left in 2nd quarter. Leo Medrano boots the PAT. Carthage 14, La Vega 7

Edwards has 7 carries for 128 yards

TURNOVER! Carthage's Jaydon Lewis with INT at the 18-yard line and he runs it back to the 35-yard line. 1:55 left in 2nd.

The Bulldogs are driving. Surratt connects with Junior Henderson for a 26-yard gain to reach the La Vega 33-yard line.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Drive stalls and Surratt throws an incomplete pass. La Vega takes over at own 30 with 19 seconds left.

HALFTIME: Carthage 14, La Vega 7

Third Quarter Updates

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! La Vega faceda. 4th-and-28 and went for it. Pass in the end zone falls to the ground but it was close to be caught for a TD. Instead, Carthage ball with 1:46 left in 3rd.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Carthage 14, La Vega 7

Fourth Quarter Updates

La Vega punts and Carthage has the all with 9:52 left in the game. Media/TV timeout

Carthage calls a timeout with 6:31 to play

TOUCHDOWN CARTHAGE! Whatever was said during the timeout worked. Surratt to Junior Henderson for a 25-yard TD. 6:24 left. Carthage up two scores. Carthage 21, La Vega 7

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! La Vega goes for it on 4th down and can't covert. Carthage ball with 4:03 left and at the Pirates' 37.

TOUCHDOWN CARTHAGE! Surratt to Henderson again. This time from the 19-yard line. With 2:17 left, Carthage can start celebrating state title No. 10. Carthage 28, La Vega 7

Announced attendance for Game 1 on Friday: 13,194

La Vega is driving

TOUCHDOWN LA VEGA! QB Jayven Hernandez scores on a 4-yard run at the buzzer. PAT good. Carthage 28, La Vega 14

FINAL: Carthage 28, La Vega 14

Defensive MVP: Carthage LB Daquives Beck — 10 tackles, 3 1/2 TFL, 1 Sack

Offensive MVP: Carthage RB KJ Edwards — 18 carries, 188 yards, 2 TDs

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Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

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