Joaquin beats previously-undefeated Refugio in Texas high school football Class 2A D1 playoffs: Live updates recap

The Class 2A Division I finals will be set by late Thursday night.

Both semifinals will be held, 30 minutes apart. In the Houston area, Refugio will battle Joaquin to decide one part of the finals that will be held next week in Arlington.

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium in Cypress.

Refugio enters with a 13-0 mark, while Joaquin is 10-4 on the year. Joaquin was in the semifinals last year, while Refugio is back after a two-year hiatus in 2023 and 2024.

What to know

The Refugio Bobcats are looking to advance to the finals for the 12th time overall and the first since 2022.

The postseason trek included wins over Weimar, 35-23; Rosebud-Lott, 41-21; Ganado, 40-13 and Mason, 27-13.

Ganado was the state champion last year and the first of the defending champions to have the season end.

The Joaquin Rams are in the semifinals again, falling last year 35-14 to Ganado. This is only the third-ever trip to the final four for the East Texas school.

In 2009, Goldthwaite won 34-0 to keep the Rams from the finals.

The Rams have been Centerville, 42-21; Honey Grove, 41-8; Elysian Fields, 74-21 and San Augustine, 35-24.

The latter was a District 11-2A Division I rematch from earlier this season that San Augustine won 28-21.

Who to know

Refugio

QB/S Raydon Lewis, sr. — 1,223 yards passing with 10 TDs; 1,370 yards rushing with 22 TDs; 108 tackles, 3 FF

RB/LB Zander Willis, sr. — 1,653 yards rushing with 28 TDs; 131 tackles, 5 sacks

RB/DL Johnaven Montalvo, sr. — 624 yards rushing with 9 TDs; 66 tackles, 2 FF

WR/CB Laytyn Garcia, sr. — 35 catches for 792 yards and 9 TDs; 5 interceptions

LB Weston Myers, jr. — 148 tackles, 30 TFL

LB Nehimiah Cavasos, so. — 137 tackles, 38 TFL, 2 FR, 2 FF

Joaquin

TE Conner Rios, sr. — 10 catches, 205 yards, 2 TDs; 2 FF, 2 FR

CB Jacob Gatlin, sr. — 6 interceptions, 5 PBU

RB Cooper Bragg, jr. — 1,742 yards rushing, 16 TDs; 69 tackles, 2 interceptions

QB Trenton Runnels, jr. — 21-for-45 passing for 408 yards and 8 TDs; 374 yards rushing with 16 TDs; 84 tackles, 2 FF

RB Amarion Wilson, jr. — 760 yards rushing and 6 TDs; 86 tackles

Pick 'Em Challenge

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How to watch

Watch on NFHS

Refugio vs. Joaquin: Live score, updates from Texas high school football playoffs

Refugio QB Ray Lewis warms up before the game. HC Drew Cox watches his guys.

30 minutes until kickoff. pic.twitter.com/jGcQdPssJC
— Chris Thomasson - KIII Sports (@ChrisThomasson7) December 12, 2025

1st quarter

Joaquin wins the toss, but defers. Refugio to get the ball here.

A good example of how different small-school football is? The Refugio QB returned the opening kickoff. That would get some 6A or 5A coaches fired if that happened.

Big Play! Willis with a 23-yard run on 3rd-and-2. Ball is now at the Joaquin 33-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN! Lewis to Garcia for a 21-yard score with 6:06 left. Looks like at least one Rams defender got a hand on it; 2 were there. Refugio 7, Joaquin 0

Long pass out of the Wing-T and Joaquin is at the Refugio is at the 24-yard line

End of 1: Refugio 7, Joaquin 0; Rams at the 5-yard line when play resumes

2nd Quarter

TOUCHDOWN! Wilson with a 1-yard run with 11:13 left -- the second play of the second quarter. PAT is good. Joaquin 7, Refugio 7

Big play! Flushed from the pocket, Lewis takes off and gains 20 yards. Ball at the 35-yard line

Fullback Montalvo with a carry for a first down. Ball a the 18-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN! Lewis with a 2-yard run with 6:54 left. He looked to have been tackled, but rolled off the pile and scored. PAT is good. Refugio 14, Joaquin 7

3 possessions and 3 touchdowns

Punt! 4:40 left. Refugio starting at the 5

Lewis escape a tackle in the end zone and runs for 12 yards

Bobcats punt and Joaquin takes over at the 49

Runnels with first-down run and the ball is at the 38-yard line. 1:29 to go

End of 2nd: Refugio 14, Joaquin 7

3rd Quarter

INTERCEPTION! Lewis with a pick on the 35-yard line. He gets called for an unsporstmanlike penalty on the play for his post-turnover celebration for spiking the football. One more, the Bobcats will lose their starting QB, DB and KR

BIG PLAY! Lewis faked a handoff to Wilis and keeps it. He runs 37-yards and is taken out at the Joquin 43.

Jaedynce Lewis with a run down to the 4. A horse collar tackle moves the ball to the 2.

TOUCHDOWN! Willis with a 2-yard run with 6:50 to go. PAT is wide left. Refugio 20, Joaquin 7

Facing 4th and 1 from their own 25, the Rams go for it and convert. Risky play. Ball at the 26

Bragg with a 20-yard run and now the Rams are near midfield.

Runnels to Rios for a 17-yard gain. Then Runnels keeps it and gets inside the red zone

End of 3: Refugio 20, Joaquin 7; Rams are at the 1-yard line when play resumes

4th quarter

TOUCHDOWN! 1st play, Jadyn Brown scored on a 1-yard run for the Rams. 11:53 left in 4th. Refugio 20, Joaquin 14

Refugio recovers onside kick. 1st and 10 and the 46-yard for the Bobcats.

Lewis with the recovery for Refugio

TOUCHDOWN! 1-play drive. Willis for 54 yards. Quick answer for Bobcats.

Bobcats going for 2. 11:43 left

2-POINT CONVERSION! Lewis runs it in with an assist to himself. He pitched the ball to Montalvo but it bounced off him. Lewis gets it and runs it in. Refugio 28, Joaquin 14

Winner here will get the Hamilton Bulldogs in the finals

The Wing-T team is slinging it; Runnels to Wilson for a 35-yard gain. A flag on Refugio, puts the ball at the 6-yard line. 10:20 left. This game may not be over just yet

TOUCHDOWN! Bragg with a 6-yard run. 10:06 left. Refugio 28, Joaquin 21

TURNOVER! Onside kick recovered by Joaquin; looks like it wasn't going to be far enough but a Bobcat touched it. 1st and 10 at the 49-yard line. Looks like the player was blocked into the ball? But no replay so ball is going to the Rams

Facemask call on Refugio and the ball is suddenly at the 36

Runnels to Gatlin for a first down and ball at the 10-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN! 6:29 left. Gatlin for a 10-yard run. Joaquin going for 2

Braggs gets in and the Rams have the lead for the first time. Joaquin 29, Refugio 28

TURNOVER! Another onside kick and Braggs looks like he got it. 6:24 left. 1st and 10 at the 42 now for the Rams, who are en fuego

4th and 4 coming up. Ball at the 36-yard line.

Bragg converts on a 7-yard run. 4 minutes and counting in this game.

Runnels with the keeper. Ball at the 19-yard line

Runnels with a 5-yard line. Refugio calls 1st timeout. 2:44 left

Another run and another timeout by Refugio. 2:11 left; 2 minute timeout coming up

TOUCHDOWN! Gatlin with 9-yard scoring run. 2:06 left. Bragg with the conversion run. Joaquin 37, Refugio 28

At one point, it was Refugio leading 28-14 in the 4th quarter

Lewis runs to the Joaquin 44-yard line on the first play for the Bobcats. At the 2-minute timeout.

Lewis to Mikel Brown for a 24-yard gain. Ball at the 20. 1:45 left.

TURNOVER! Bragg with an INT at the 2-yard line. Ball under thrown; now ball game. 1:26 left and no timeouts for Refugio