The Stephenville Yellowjackets claimed their 7th State Championship title in football Friday, Dec. 19 after they defeated the Kilgore Bulldogs 10-0 in a welldefended game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium was awash in yellow and red as 18,463 filled the stands for the 4A-D1 Championship game.
“The Stephenville community showed up and showed out,” said head Stephenville football coach/ athletic director Sterling Doty. Doty said the energy was electric as the 11 a.m. kick off seemed to draw supporters of both teams as well as general football fans looking for an exciting game.
“It’s also just the atmosphere,” said Doty. “We try to minimalize it all week. We told the players the field is the same dimensions you’ve been playing. Of course, we all know there’s a difference.”
The fans were breathless as they waited for the 15-0 Yellowjackets and 14-1 Bulldogs to put points on the board and the suspense lasted through the first half as they entered the third quarter 0-0.
This can be attributed in part to Stephenville’s trademark ‘Wardog defense’ which dates back to the 1998 championship team which developed a philosophy to be meaner and more tenacious than their opponents based on a line from William Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar: “Let Slip the Dogs of War.”
“It’s something that’s taken very seriously,” said Doty of the defense focus. “We’re carrying on the rich tradition.”
Senior Hudson Butchee led the defensive arm of the team and was named defensive MVP for the game with 10 tackles, one interception and two takeaways.
The only run of the game came when offensive MVP and quarterback Trot Jordan tossed it to junior Adan Jergins for a 41-yard touchdown with a little over nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Brighton Devivo increased the lead by three with a 41yard field goal.
Prior to this game, Kilgore had only allowed 17 points scored against them in the playoffs and got to the state championship on a 49-0 shutout against La Vernia.
Also adding to the drive are former Yellowjackets whose legacies were carried on to the field by 2025 champion roster. The team’s helmets all featured a sticker in honor of Jayden McKinney, who passed away in 2023 and would have been a senior this year.
Doty said offensive lineman Aiden Collier, a lifelong friend of McKinney, suggested putting the stickers on as a way to honor the fallen teammate.
“Jayden always had smile on his face and a positive attitude,” said Doty. “It’s a way for our senior class to keep him close to their hearts” Freshman Caden Monk also joined varsity as a strong receiver, scoring the first points of their 16-0 season. Caden proudly wears “34,” taking the number that was retired after father Justin, a Stephenville athletics legend, Marine Corps veteran and dedicated nurse, passed after a battle with cancer. (The Monk Strong Memorial foundation is named in his honor, assisting veterans and first responders.)
Doty has enjoyed seeing Caden “wearing that 34 jersey, standing for all the great things his dad did and was.”
The ‘City of Champions’ carried their triumphant mood home and celebrated with a special event at Art Briles Stadium Saturday, Dec. 20. “It was really cool,” said Doty. “A lot of people got to take pictures with the trophy.”
As a member of the 1998 and ‘99 championship teams and the coach for the 2021 State Championship season, this marks the 4th time Doty got to celebrate a state title with the Yellowjackets. (The team was undefeated in five of the seven state championship runs.)
“It’s really special— being blessed to play for some great coaches and teammates and getting to work with great staff and players,” Doty said. “We’ve had the opportunity to do some really special things.”