Joaquin Punches Its Ticket to State After Fourth-Quarter Explosion

DEEP EAST TEXAS (TXAN 24) — Joaquin is headed to the state championship, and they earned it the hard way.

Down entering the fourth quarter against powerhouse Refugio, the Rams put together one of the most dominant late-game performances of the Texas high school football postseason, erupting for 30 fourth-quarter points to stun the Bobcats 37–28 on Wednesday night.

Refugio opened strong, leading 7–0 after the first and matching Joaquin score-for-score in the second. By halftime, it was a tight 14–7 game with Refugio still holding the edge and the Rams searching for a spark.

They found it when it mattered most.

After a scoreless third quarter for both sides, Joaquin unleashed a relentless offensive push in the final 12 minutes, flipping the game on its head and outscoring Refugio 30–8 in the fourth. The Rams’ surge overwhelmed a Refugio team that entered the matchup 13–1 and widely viewed as one of the toughest small-school programs in the state.

The win moves Joaquin to 11–4 and secures their spot in next week’s state championship game — the program’s latest milestone in a postseason run built on resilience, late-game toughness, and a defense that delivered stops at crucial moments.

TXAN 24 Sports will have full state week coverage as Joaquin prepares for its shot at a title.

Here are the playing times for the UIL State Football Championships