Missed PAT helps Windthorst hang on
(Texas Class A State Championship Game)
December 21, 2003
Scott McDonald, The Dallas Morning News
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WACO -- Chad Green remembers his days as a Windthorst ball boy. He stood on the sideline and watched his dad coach the high school to its first state football championship in 1996.
Green wanted that same feeling one day, and Saturday night at Waco ISD Stadium, he got it. Green, a senior at Windthorst, ran, threw, tackled and punted his team to a 28-27 win over Shiner in the Class A state title game.
"We've been working for this our whole life," Green said. "To do it with my little brother [freshman Brad], my dad [Bill Green] and Kyle [his twin] was special."
The outcome was decided on an extra-point attempt with 32 seconds remaining in the game. After recovering a Windthorst fumble, Shiner orchestrated a 13-play, 45-yard scoring drive, capped by quarterback Garet Pustka's 3-yard dive into the end zone to make it 28-27. The extra-point attempt by Shiner kicker Ryan Kloesel sailed wide left of the upright to seal the win for Windthorst (15-1). The holder had bobbled the snap before the kick.
At that point, one thought raced through the mind of Windthorst coach Bill Green, "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, we're going to win," he said.
After running out the clock, Windthorst fans stormed the field to celebrate the victory and school's second state title. Shiner (14-2) won its only title in 1986, defeating Mart in the 2A final.
Chad Green threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 28 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he made 13 tackles against Shiner's potent running attack, and had a 68-yard punt to pin Shiner inside its 10-yard line.
Windthorst junior Ross Wolf also made some big contributions. The first-team all- state defensive back intercepted his 12th pass of the season to stop one Shiner drive, and he caught four passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Pustka rushed 23 times for 151 yards and three touchdowns, including a 62-yard run in the first quarter to tie the score, 7-7.
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