High School

Jayton beats Oakwood in Class 1A Division I Texas high school football title game: Live updates recap

QB Sean Stanaland accounts for 4 touchdowns to help Jayton win school's 3rd state title

Cody Thorn

Griffith Reel (left) and Colt Gentry of Jayton celebrate a touchdown during the first half of Texas (UIL) 1A Six-Man D2 title game at AT&T Stadium.
Griffith Reel (left) and Colt Gentry of Jayton celebrate a touchdown during the first half of Texas (UIL) 1A Six-Man D2 title game at AT&T Stadium. / Photo by Tommy Hays

ARLINGTON — An early season game for Jayton paved the way for the Class 1A Division II title.

The Jaybirds scored twice in the first five minutes and rolled to a 54-8 victory over Oakwood on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in the UIL Football State Championships.

It is the first state title for West Texas school since winning back-to-back 6-man titles in 1984 and 1985.

Incidentally, the first state championship impacted this year’s team, Jayton coach Josh Stanaland said.

In Week 3, Jayton hosted Turkey Valley — an eventual 61-0 win — and members of the 1984 team were there to be honored for the 40th anniversary of the championship 

“These guys were able to turn around and look at them standing on the track and we talked about legacy and making some history this year,” Stanaland said.”We knew that we had the kids that potentially could do it. I don’t know if maybe they did.”

Jayton went 12-1 last year and the only loss came to eventual state champion Benjamin in the semifinals. This year, the Jaybirds posted a 100-50 win over Benjamin in the playoffs. 

Quarterback Sean Stanaland was named the Offensive MVP of the title game, accounting for four touchdowns. He was 7-for-8 passing for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He ran twice for 28 yards and scored on both of the carries.

Sean Stanaland was one of eight players who were on Jayton’s boys basketball team which won a Class 1A title in March.

“Some of us up here’s been to state track once and basketball championships the last two years and you know the nerves kind of flush away a little bit,” Sean Stanaland said. “You’re just kind of ready for that moment because the coaches always say ‘When the lights are the brightest, we are always at our best’ and that is what we proved today.”

Jayton (15-0) scored twice in the first 5 minutes to set the tone and both of the scores featured some odd sequences.

Oakwood (9-6) got the ball first and was forced to punt after a three-and-out but the kick was muffed and it rolled back 10 yards. 

That set up Jayton with 1st-and-goal from the 10.

Bode Ham got a handoff and ran toward the end zone, but the ball was knocked out of his hands and rolled into the end zone. Colt Gentry was there to fall on it and give the Jaybirds a touchdown at the 8:01 mark. 

Oakwood looked to have had a chance to answer right away. Quarterback Dayden Velasquez connected with Gavin Willbanks for a 44-yard gain. Willbanks was tackled at the 2-yard line.

The Panthers fumbled the ball two plays later and Gentry picked it up and ran it back 74 yards for a touchdown. 

A possible 8-8 tie turned into a 16-0 lead and the Jaybirds were rolling from there. 

Jayton led 22-0 after the first quarter following a 15-yard touchdown catch by Gentry from Sean Stanaland with 42 seconds left.

Bode Ham added a pair of second-quarter scores for the Jaybirds.

Oakwood broke the shutout when Brady Harrison scored on a for 60-yard touchdown pass from Velasquez with 4:37 left in the second. 

Jayton’s defense was dominating, giving up 148 total yards in the win. Oakwood was held to 13 yards rushing on 12 carries. The Jaybirds gave up a touchdown or less for the ninth time this season. 

This was the Panthers’ second trip to the state finals and the first since 1991.

Oakwood reached the finals despite a 2-5 start. 

“We knew we had a tough road and tough sled coming,” Oakwood coach J.J. Johnson said. “When we started the playoffs we kind of saw signs, like, ‘Man, we have a chance to be really good.’”

Jayton Jaybirds (14-0) vs. Oakwood Panthers (9-5)

Jayton enters the Class 1A Division II state finals as probably one of the hottest offenses in the state regardless of classification. The Jaybirds beat Benjamin, 100-50, in the quarterfinals and beat Lamesa Klondike, 90-48, in the semifinals.

There are also eight players on the Jaybirds’ football roster who helped the school win the Class 1A basketball title in March. 

The Jaybirds are playing in the state final for the first time since 2006. Jayton won football state championships in 1984 and 1985.

Bode Ham had 5 TDs in the win vs. Klondike but also hurt his shoulder, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Oakwood bounced back after a 1-3 start and enters the finals winners of seven in a row. The Panthers are back to the state title game for the first time since 1991 and only the second time in school history.

TEXAS HS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Follow along below for live updates from the Class 1A-Division II state finals between Jayton and Oakwood, scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Jayton vs. Oakwood, Class 1A-Division II state finals live updates

First Quarter Updates

Oakwood won the toss and the Panthers will get the ball first.

Jayton forces a 3-and-out and the punt goes back 10 yards. Jayton takes over at the 10-yard line with 8:13 left in 1st

TOUCHDOWN JAYTON! Cole Gentry with a fumble recovery in the end zone 8:01 left. Jayton 8, Oakwood 0. Bode Ham got the pitch and fumbled at the 2 and the ball rolled into the end zone.

Dayden Velasquez connected with Gavin Willbanks for a 44-yard gain for Oakwood. Ball at the 2-yard line now for the Panthers.

TOUCHDOWN JAYTON! Gentry with his second TD of the game. This one on a 74-yard fumble return for a score. Jayton 16, Oakwood 0. 5:01 left in 1st. This is the 4th defensive touchdown in the last 4 quarters for the Jaybirds.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Jayton forces a turnover and takes over with 2 minutes to go in 1st

TOUCHDOWN JAYTON! Gentry with a hat trick in the 1st quarter. He scores with 42 seconds left. Jayton up 22-0. Extra point blocked by Tirrec Jackson. Gentry hauled in 16-yard touchdown catch fro Sean Stanaland

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Jayton 22, Oakwood 0

Second Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN JAYTON! Bode Ham for a 2-yard score on an option pitch. 6:37 left in 2nd. Jayton up 30-0.

TURNOVER! Jayton's Casey Spray forces a fumble and Bode Ham picks it up. Ball at 37-yard line. 5:39 left.

TOUCHDOWN JAYTOWN! Bode Ham with 37-yard TD run on the second play of the drive. Jaytoon 38, Oakwood 0. 4:50 left in 2nd

TOUCHDOWN OAKWOOD! Drayden Velasquez to Brady Harrison for 60 yards. Panthers are on the board with 4:37 left. Jayton 38, Oakwood 8

TOUCHDOWN JAYTON! QB Sean Stanaland with a keeper for a 13-yard score. 3:04 left in 2nd. Jayton 46, Oakwood 8

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Jayton takes over with 2:01 in the first half

Attendance for this game is announced as 3,035 fans at Jerry's World

TOUCHDOWN JAYTON! Sean Stanaland with another QB keeper run for a score. This one from 15 yards. Jayton 54, Oakwood 8. 58 seconds left in 2nd

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Pass falls incomplete on 4th and 13.

That marks the end of the game on the 45-point mercy rule.

FINAL: Jayton 54, Oakwood 8

Jayton's Colt Gentry named Defensive MVP of the game; 6 tackles, 1 FR, 1 TD

Jayton's Sean Stanaland named Offensive MVP of the game; 7 for 8 passing for 102 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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