DeMatha and Gonzaga faced off last Sunday in a championship game for the ages. The game ended with a DeMatha victory by a final score of 20-13. This cemented DeMatha’s second consecutive WCAC title and capped off an undefeated season.
The game was dominated by defense. Both teams blocked kicks and the game came down to DeMatha’s offense making a few more plays than Gonzaga.
The Stags faced adversity during the game with Gonzaga taking a 7-6 lead at the end of the second quarter after Gonzaga recovered from a bobbled snap with a last-second heave to the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown entering halftime.
DeMatha quickly came back with key players making their mark on the title game. Senior Lavar Keys scored a go-ahead touchdown for the Stags in the third quarter. Junior quarterback Tristan Sabb also dominated, cementing the Stags win with a 1-yard touchdown run on 4th and Goal with a minute left on the clock.
The Stags were riding high after the game. Junior offensive lineman Jared Taylor was ecstatic for the undefeated season and back-to-back titles. “We really just came together when it mattered and we left it all on the field for the seniors,” Taylor said. This same energy was reflected by many members of the team. Junior center Cam Black said, “We had put everything out there and it paid off.”
DeMatha enters the off-season on a school-record 21-game winning streak and with a three-peat to chase.