Mason Punchers varsity football game at the state championship game against the New Deal Lions at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

The Mason Punchers varsity football game at the state championship game against the New Deal Lions at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on December 20, 2018. In addition to being state champions, this was Coach Burns 100th win. Mason defeated New Deal 44 – 6. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)

The New Deal Lions lost to the Mason Punchers in Arlington at the Class 2A Division I football state championship. The game was Thursday in AT&T Stadium. The final score was 44 – 6.

On the opening drive, Mason’s Zack Norman made a 35-yard catch to get the Punchers down to the 1-yard line. Mason took a 7 – 0 lead on the opening drive over New Deal. On the next possession, New Deal then turned over the ball with an interception, but the defense held, and Mason had to punt. The snap went badly, and New Deal recovered at Mason’s 11-yard line.

On a 3rd down pass to Kendell Dunn, New Deal scored, but the PAT failed. With 3:43 in the first quarter, Mason led 7 – 6 over New Deal. Mason, on the ensuing drive, scored on a run from Klay Klaerner. By a score of 14 – 6 Mason led with just less than 3:00 minutes left in the first quarter.

On the first play after the kickoff return, a 27-yard run by Jett Whitfield put New Deal into Mason territory. Dunn, with a play-action pass, got down to the 15. But the Mason defense held, and on 4th and 17 yards to go, the first play of the second quarter, a pass fell way short of the first down.

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