Talihina wins a state football championship for the second time Thursday as the Golden Tiigers defeated Hominy, 26-20, to win the Class A-II state title.
Read more: Talihina wins state for second timeTalihina also won state in 1966. Poteau was the only other LeFlore County team to win state by beating Weatherford in 2019.
The win capped off a perfect 14-0 season for the Golden Tigers and avenged a loss in the state championship game to Woodland last season. Hominy finishes with an 11-3 record.
Watch video highlights HERE.
Talihina built a big lead, then had to hold off a late charge by the Bucks in the game played at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
[mailerlite_form form_id=1]
After stopping a Hominy drive and recovering a fumble at Talihina’s 8, the Tigers took the lead late in the first quarter on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Landen Griffith to Noah Lloyd.
The Tigers added another score early in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Griffith with the PAT coming up short, giving Talihina a 12-0 lead.
With only a couple of minutes left in the second quarter, Grifith teamed up with Cy Ammons on a 17-yard scoring throw to increase the lead to 18-0 after the PAT failed, leaving Talihina ahead, 18-0.
After a Hominy score, Griffith added a 1-yard touchdown run and completed the PAT pass to Lloyd for a 26-8 lead.
The Bucks added another scoring pass late in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 26-14.
After a Talihina fumble, Hominy recovered at the Tigers’ 30, the Bucks scored again and missed the PAT to pull within 26-20.
Hominy drove to Talihina’s 9 with a couple of minutes left before having to turn the ball over on downs.
Talihina was able to run the clock out, bringing the gold ball back to southern LeFlore County.
