Celina: State Champions!

In a hard fought battle, Celina high School won its eighth state championship. Charley Waldrep scored two touchdowns, including the game winner, as Celina defeated China Spring to win a record eighth state football title. Waldrep’s 3-yard run with 5:56 to play broke a 14-14 tie to give the Bobcats (16-0) the Class 3A Division II championship. Celina’s second state title in three years was its first since moving up to the 3A level.

My nephew, Josh Lavey (number 3 in photo below), made the defensive play of the year and preserved the victory by intercepting quarterback Dustin Eskew’s deflected pass after China Spring (14-2) had driven to the Celina 24-yard-line. “That was a big interception,” Head Coach Butch Ford said. “It was a tipped ball and Josh made a great play on it. I think he might remember that one for a while.”

The Cougars regained possession in the closing seconds but fumbled the ball away. Those were their only two turnovers.  Celina’s eighth title broke a tie with Southlake Carroll, Plano and Brownwood for the most in Texas history.  Here is a picture of my other nephew, sophomore Caleb Lavey (45) , closing in a tackle.

After the game, Herald-Democrat reporter Bill Spinks wrote:

As one door closes for the Bobcats, another one opens — one that may lead the way to more state titles in the future. If anyone thinks Celina is looking at a letdown after graduating 29 seniors this spring, think again. The 9-3A all-district football list is littered with Bobcat underclassmen who contributed in a big way, starting with the running back tandem of Charley Waldrep and McCartney, who combined for more than 2,800 rushing yards as juniors. Waldrep and McCartney will be joined in the backfield by Jose Romero, who despite being a freshman proved his worth in the goal-line offense and is also a primary pass target.

Defensively, Caleb Lavey has two more seasons left at middle linebacker, and brother Josh Lavey — whose interception at the Celina 9-yard line preserved the Bobcats’ lead with 2:52 remaining — and Austin Carey will be back for their senior years in the defensive secondary as well as junior-to-be Cody Worrell, who may compete with McCartney for the starting quarterback role. That doesn’t mean there won’t be holes to fill. The Bobcats will have to break in a new starting quarterback to take Davis’ place, as well as four offensive line positions, all four defensive line spots, the two outside linebackers, and the free safety spot being vacated by college-bound D’Anton Lynn.

But as the saying goes, they don’t rebuild at Celina — they reload. “We’re getting two more rings,” Caleb Lavey said. “Me and Cody Worrell, we got two more rings planned. Jose Romero might win three more.” One can never accuse Celina of setting the bar low.