The Post Antelopes threw the first punch in the 2A Division I State Championship Game. The Antelopes kept Refugio’s highly-touted offense guessing and held the Bobcats offense – which averaged 52.1 points per game coming in – scoreless through the first 15 minutes. 

Down 7-0 in the second quarter, Refugio coach Jason Herring went to his senior quarterback Austin Ochoa. The senior came into the matchup at 85 percent with a knee injury, but Herring knew he had to play his best card against a feisty Post defense. 

Herring dialed up a run for Ochoa, which the senior took 28 yards. He followed it up with rushes of eight and two and passes of five and 11 to push the Bobcats to the 8-yard line. On fourth down at the 2-yard line, Ochoa took the ball, pushed through the line and scored Refugio’s first touchdown of the game. It sent the game into halftime tied. 

“Early, I was like, I’ve got to save Austin,” Herring said. “I didn’t want him to take another shot on his knee. And then in the second half I said, you know what, the gloves are off.” 

When the gloves came off, Ochoa came out to play. Refugio came out with a nine-play, 63-yard drive capped off with a one-yard touchdown run. After a punt, Ochoa threw a huge 42-yard pass to tight end Jaden Hubbard to set up another one-yard touchdown run. What was a tie ball game quickly turned into the Austin Ochoa show, and a 28-7 victory for the fifth state title in school history. 

“During halftime, we got together and said, Austin, you’ve got to be louder. We’ve got to win this game on offense,” Hubbard said. “I believe in Austin. I knew if we put the ball in his hands, he’d show out for us.” 

Ochoa’s final line: 9-of-14 for 207 yards, 108 yards rushing and four touchdowns, and a State Championship Game Offensive MVP. More importantly, Ochoa’s performance helped Refugio’s senior class become the first in program history to win multiple state championships. 

“I didn’t come into this game 100 percent, but I really didn’t care honestly,” Ochoa said. “I was hurting the whole game but I just knew I had to play through it. It’s pretty amazing we went 16-0 for the first time in school history.” 

After the game, Herring found his senior quarterback and gave him a long hug. After he did an interview on Fox Sports Southwest, Herring hugged him tight again. 

“He’s the best quarterback in the state of Texas,” Herring said. “I’ve said that all year long. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody.”