Flash staff report
December 15, 2025
In a game that lived up to the hype and then some, No. 2 Stephenville ripped the curtain off Celina’s three-year reign Friday night, sending the defending Class 4A-DI champions home with a 24–21 loss and ending the Bobcats’ 31-game win streak. The Yellow Jackets did it the hard way, with patience, physicality, and being opportunistic. Then, to put the exclamation point on the final drive, Brighton DeVivo’s 45-yard field goal as time expired sent the Jackets in search of their seventh title.
Stephenville’s comeback felt classic. A rugged running game, a quarterback in Trot Jordan willing to do what it takes, and a defense that refused to fold. It’s the sort of storybook finish that sends teams to AT&T Stadium. The win advanced the Yellow Jackets (15-0) to the UIL 4A-DI state championship this Friday, 11 a.m., against Kilgore.
Momentum swings, pressure moments
Celina struck first and led at the end of each of the first three quarters, but Stephenville chipped away. The game turned into a chess match of field position and fourth-quarter execution: with the game tied at 21, Celina missed a potential go-ahead field goal with about a minute to go, and the Jackets answered with a 28-yard drive that set up DeVivo’s 45-yard walk-off. The drama and the 45-yard FG will be one of those town legends that live on.
Key contributors to the game
- Zyler McClendon, RB (Stephenville) — It was a workhorse night for the junior with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns that kept the Jackets’ offense humming and helped control the clock when it mattered.
- Trot Jordan, QB (Stephenville) — Accounted for over 250 yards of offense (pass + rush) and one TD, steadying the attack when Stephenville needed yards and time.
- Brighton DeVivo, K/WR (Stephenville) — The hero kicked a 45-yard game-winner with two seconds left.
- Bowe Bentley, QB (Celina) — The Bobcats’ dynamo player had two TD passes and a rushing TD and carried Celina’s offense by making plays all night.
Stephenville by the numbers
The Stephenville Yellow Jackets,15–0 overall, have an explosive offense and a stingy defense. Stephenville’s season scoring average climbed into the high-40s in recent weeks, and their defense has been elite, surrendering roughly 8.1 points per game on the campaign. Junior QB Trot Jordan has been the engine all year with about 3,163 yards and 44 TDs on the season and only 4 interceptions, while DL Kolton Dearth has 76 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and the linebacking core has made the Jackets one of the state’s most physical teams this season. RB Zyler McClendon has been the goal-line and between-the-tackles powerhouse. He is the season rushing leader and has 29 TDs.
How Stephenville won it
- Run-first toughness: McClendon’s 100+ yards and a steady dose of running plays kept Celina’s pass rush from pinning its ears back.
- Quarterback command: Jordan’s mix of throws and scrambles kept third downs alive and put the Jackets in position for DeVivo’s heroic kick.
- Defense in the clutch: Stephenville bent but didn’t break – forcing a key miss and sealing one of the biggest wins in recent program memory.
State Championship Preview
Stephenville vs. Kilgore (Friday, December 19, 11 a.m., AT&T Stadium, Arlington)
The title game is set. It will be undefeated Stephenville (15–0) vs. Kilgore (14–1) at AT&T Stadium on Friday. A matchup pitting Stephenville’s downhill physicality and top-flight defense against Kilgore’s playoff dominance and offensive balance.
Kilgore closed its semifinal with a statement (a 49–0 win in their semifinal) and enters with an offense led by Kayson Brooks (roughly 3,134 yards, 29 TDs on the season) and a defense that blanked opponents repeatedly in the playoffs. Stephenville counters with Jordan’s 3,000-plus yards, an edge in defensive line player Kolton Dearth, and linebacker play that averages out to a team giving up roughly 8 points per game. Expect complementary football, special-teams impact, and a slugfest in the trenches. This one will be a marquee 4A-DI matchup.
Quick team stat snapshot for the title game
- Stephenville 15-0: Offense averaging into the high-40s points per game during the postseason; defense ~8.1 PPG allowed; Trot Jordan: ~3,163 yards, 44 TDs; Zyler McClendon: season TD leader, 29 total TDs among team leaders.
- Kilgore 14-1: Recent playoff stretch includes multiple shutouts and a 49–0 semifinal; Kayson Brooks: ~3,134 yards, 29 TDs this season; and a playoff defense that allowed only a handful of points in the final four games.
Logistical info — tickets & parking
- Game time & place: Friday, 11 a.m., AT&T Stadium (Arlington).
- Ticket price: UIL announced $20 per day (face price; plus fees, ends up at about $23) for the day’s state-championship sessions – a single ticket admits to all games on that day.
- Parking: AT&T/UIL spectator guidance lists $25 per vehicle (credit-card only) and $50 per bus for stadium event-day parking (parking lots open ~1.5 hours before the first game). There are also third-party/resale parking options, which vary in price.
Stephenville’s program arrives in Arlington with momentum, a bruising identity and a walk-off moment still vivid in the memory. Kilgore arrives battle-tested and bristling with a playoff defense that’s smothered foes down the stretch. If Friday’s game is anything like the semifinal, fans should expect a tight, physical game decided by one or two big plays and, quite possibly, special teams.
Photos by CHERYL HATTON
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