Football team celebrates on the field, lifting a wooden trophy in triumph at night. — Head coach Trevor Cordova celebrates with his Tulia Hornets after winning the programs first outright district championship in 34 years. [Tyler Anderson/ Press Pass Sports]

TULIA – It was a moment that took 34 years in the making. It was also a turnaround that nobody, save for the Tulia Hornets, saw approaching.

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Using a balanced attack, the Hornets completed their unbeaten run through District 2-2A Division I with a 39-20 victory over Floydada on Friday at Younger Field.

Once the clock struck zeroes and the sportsmanship line finished its postgame round, Tulia lifted its first outright district championship trophy since 1992. Furthermore, the win provided the Hornets with a remarkable turnaround season — improving by five wins from 2025 to this season.

For Tulia head coach Trevor Cordova and his quarterback, senior Jacob Trevino, reality hasn’t really set in just yet. Even if Cordova was hit with a sports drink shower in the moments following the victory.

“It feels amazing,” said Cordova, who was a longtime baseball coach who shifted his skills over to the gridiron. “Reality hasn’t really set in, but I’m elated for the kids. I’m elated for this community. I’m elated for this athletic program. Our coaches have done an amazing job, and I couldn’t be more proud of everybody.”

Football players in maroon uniforms lift a gold trophy in celebration on the field at night. — Tulia senior quarterback Jacob Trevino celebrates with his team with the District 2-2A Division I championship trophy following the Hornets’ 39-20 victory over Floydada, held on Friday at Younger Field in Tulia. [Tyler Anderson / Press Pass Sports]

Cordova understood that Tulia has been waiting a long time to revel in a district title. The key for the Hornets now is to build that steady success on and off the field.

“It means everything, man,” Cordova said. “This has been a community that’s been thirsty for a district championship, thirsty for a successful football program, and not that there hasn’t been successful previous years, but consistency is what we’re trying to achieve. We’re trying to create a contender year in and year out. With the foundation that these seniors have laid, I think we’re on the right trajectory.”

According to Trevino, who was 15-of-25 for 241 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, it was an emotional victory.

“I’m trying to not cry around here, but it’s a great feeling,” Trevino said. “I love it.”

Trevino knows that, while Tulia is celebrating like it’s back to neon colors, grunge music and prime Michael Jordan, there’s plenty more work to do.

“The community is right behind us, and it feels great,” Trevino said. “But we’re not done yet. We have a lot left to do. So, we’re going to celebrate this weekend, go back to work next week and be ready to go.”

Tulia quarterback in maroon jersey #5 prepares to throw a football during a night game. — Tulia senior quarterback Jacob Trevino prepares to fire a pass downfield during a District 2-2A Division I contest against Floydada, which took place on Friday at Younger Field in Tulia. [Tyler Anderson / Press Pass Sports]

It took a little bit for the formidable Hornets offense, who averaged 41 points per game this season, to get going. Tulia held a 14-6 halftime lead, before using a 20-point third quarter to pull away from a determined Whirlwinds team who had undertaken their own turnaround season, thanks to head coach Jeff Smith.

“We let it slip away from us there with a couple of big plays in the third quarter,” said Smith, who came over to Floydada after coming off a state semifinal run with West Texas High. “Our guys competed and fought all year long and have bought into what we’ve been trying to preach. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish to this point.”

Tulia finished the regular season with a 4-0 record within District 2-2A Division I with a 7-2 overall record. The Hornets clinched the district’s top seed, and will take on Sanford-Fritch in a Class 2A Division I bi-district matchup at 7 p.m. on Friday at Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon.

The Eagles (3-7, 1-3 in District 1-2A Division I) endured through a 65-0 setback at the hands of Panhandle this past Thursday at Panther Stadium in Panhandle. Sanford-Fritch locked in the district’s fourth and final seed when Highland Park rallied from a 27-0 halftime deficit to snatch a 48-47 victory from Sunray on Friday at Hornet Stadium in northeast Amarillo.

Going into the first round, Cordova is optimistic in his staff and players.

“We can do things that not a lot of teams can replicate what we have, in terms of our athleticism and speed on the outside,” Cordova said. “It’s just being confident in their abilities, confident in their assignments, confident in our coaching, and ultimately, that’s going to lead to success.”

Trevino echoed his head coach.

“We need to trust each other,” Trevino said. “We have to keep our eyes forward. (A district championship) is good, but we want more. We need to keep the brotherhood around. The community is going to be right behind us. So, we just need to go execute and do what we do best.”

The Whirlwinds finished the regular season with a 5-5 overall record with a 1-3 mark within district play. It’s enough for Floydada to lock in the district’s fourth seed, and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Floydada will challenge Panhandle in a bi-district round contest at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Wildcat Stadium on the campus of River Road High School in north Amarillo. The Panthers boast a 6-4 record with 4-0 mark in their respective district, after dismantling the shutting out the aforementioned Eagles at home.

Smith knows that the Panthers are going to be tough, but the Whirlwinds have nothing to lose.

“When you’re going in as the fourth seed, there’s no pressure on you,” Smith said. “The only expectation is what we have for ourselves. We’re going to have to go back to work and prepare for a great Panhandle team.”

It took a while for scoring to happen, but it was Floydada who struck first. The Whirlwinds finished off a long drive with an eight yard touchdown run from sophomore quarterback Brandyn Diaz with 49 seconds left in the initial period.

“(Diaz) had a big night running the football,” Smith said. “We struggled a little bit throwing it, but that’s just something we’ve got to continue to get better at.”

The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Whirlwinds with a 6-0 lead. No more than 20 seconds later, Tulia responded.

Junior running back Zai’Brien Frost found an opening, and sprinted past Floydada defenders en route to an 82 yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left in the quarter. The PAT missed the uprights, but provided the Hornets with a tie to end the stanza.

Frost finished the night with 152 yards and the score on just 11 carries.

“People don’t think we can run the ball consistently,” Cordova said. “That’s what helped set up Jacob for some success on the perimeter. It’s us being able to consistently run the football, soften up the defense, and hit them over the top. It’s been the recipe for success for us all year.”

Football player in maroon uniform running with the ball at night, gripping the football securely in both hands — Tulia junior running back Zai’Brien (21) reels in a pass for a successful two-point conversion during the second quarter of a District 2-2A Division I matchup between the Hornets and Floydada, held on Friday at Younger Field in Tulia. [Tyler Anderson / Press Pass Sports]

Trevino had more praise to heap on his teammate.

“(Frost) keeps me up every day,” Trevino said. “He’s right there, and makes sure that I’m good to go. He tells me that I run the offense, but I feel like he does, because he’s a big talker.”

The Hornets did make another drive down the field at the eight minute mark of the second quarter, only for Floydada to make a goal line stand. Just as the Whirlwinds were about to make a drive of their own, senior defensive back Jarvia Pastrana reeled in an interception for the Hornets.

Despite penalties backing up Tulia and eventually facing a fourth down and long, the Hornets managed to strike paydirt. Trevino was flushed out of the pocket by the Whirlwinds, before firing a pass toward the near corner of the endzone. It was there where he found senior wideout Adrian Reyes for the six points.

“Man, it was scary,” Trevino said, recalling the score. “I knew I was scared, because if I missed, the coach was going to be mad at me. The offensive line held up great for me right there and the receivers were in the right routes. I just put my faith in my guys out there.”

Trevino then connected with Frost on the two-point conversion, extending Tulia’s lead to 14-6 going into intermission.

When both teams returned to the field following the 20-minute break, Tulia stretched the lead with a Trevino pass to sophomore receiver Francisco Velazquez, which was good for a 38-yard touchdown at the 9:26 mark. Senior kicker Roberto Martinez split the uprights to give the Hornets a 28-6 lead.

Floydada replied quickly, as junior running back Josiah Scott took the ensuing kickoff back for six points. On the two-pointer, Diaz connected with freshman Derrik Henderson to keep the Whirlwinds within striking distance at 28-14 with 9:13 left in the third.

“Any kind of special teams play like that is going to flip the momentum,” Smith said of Scott’s kickoff return for the touchdown. “It was fun for us, but you have to continue to play and keep that momentum if you can.”

Tulia countered quickly, with a Deshaun Yarbrough touchdown run at the 7:34 on the clock.

Moments later, the Hornets reached into their bag of tricks with an onside kick. Tulia recovered, and it paid off with a 47-yard touchdown connection between Trevino and Reyes. Reyes caught a screen pass, bounced to the outside, and ran it into the endzone for six.

“We really hadn’t shown much on special teams all year,” Cordova said. “I felt like we had a little bit of a matchup that we could take advantage of. We put the ball where we needed to, and our guys made the play when we needed to. We really wanted to sway momentum in our favor, and (the onside kick) was the time to do it.”

Reyes would end up with 100 receiving yards on four catches. With 7:14 to play in the third, the Hornets held a 33-14 advantage.

The score remained until 5:35 remained in the game, when Floydada senior running back Logan Gutierrez scored on a bruising run to the endzone. Even though the two-pointer failed when the Hornet defense stopped Gutierrez short of the goal line, the Whirlwinds trimmed the Tulia lead down to 33-20.

With 3:33 left, the Hornets sealed the game with a six-yard touchdown run from Yarbrough. Yarbrough finished the game with 37 yards and two TDs on seven carries, while reeling in 27 yards on two catches.