Mason Punchers win state championship

ARLINGTON (KXAN) - The Punchers from Mason High School won their first-ever state football championship Thursday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington with a crushing 62-40 victory over the Stamford Bulldogs

Leading the Punchers' offense in the UIL 1-A Division I championship game was senior running back David Mora, who wracked up 258 yards and five touchdowns.

This team, especially two of the starting players, had to overcome adversity en route to their victory. Starting center Brodey Taylor lost his right arm in a meat grinding accident at age 4.

Linebacker Jacob Bibb is a cancer survivor. Bibb was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010 and underwent chemotherapy. Now in remission, Bibb, who is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments, will take to the field alongside the rest of his teammates.

Mason High School leaders sold 1,000 tickets to the game in the Hill Country town of 2,000.

Buses packed with fans left school around 5 a.m. Thursday to take parents and some students to the game. Seats had to be reserved in advance.

In 1958, players did advance to the semi-finals before getting eliminated.