Quarterback Jaylen Johnson ran for two touchdowns and threw for three others to lead Thomas County Central to a 49-28 win over Woodward Academy in the Class 6A championship game on Tuesday.

The Yellow Jackets finished the season undefeated (15-0), only the second time in school history, in coach Jason Rogers’ second season and are 27-1 since he took over in 2022. It was the school’s sixth state championship, but first since it won five in six years from 1992-97 under legendary coach Ed Pilcher.

Click here to see the official box score. 

Johnson completed 6 of 8 passes for 135 yards and rushed 12 times for 105 yards. Teammate Trey Brenton carried 23 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Tre’von Pringle led the team with four receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown. The top tacklers were Dee Reddick (10 tackles, one sack), Tywon Christopher (seven tackles, three breakups), Caleb Anderson (seven tackles, two sacks) and Cameron Brooks (three sacks).

Woodward Academy (12-3) was led by quarterback Landon Walker, who completed 22 of 48 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Ben Grice had nine catches for 137 yards and one touchdown and Lucas  Farrington had seven receptions for 85 yards and one score. Amari Irvin led the team with 11 tackles.

The War Eagles had not been to the final since winning its last championship in 1980.

Thomas County Central jumped on Woodward for 28 points to open the game. The Yellow Jackets scored on Trey Benton’s 20-yard run, a 20-yard pass from Johnson to Malachi Thomas, and runs of 1 and 31 yards by Johnson. Woodward cut the lead to 28-7 before halftime on a 1-yard run by Landon Walker.

Woodward opened the third quarter with a score on Landon Walker’s 1-yard run, but Thomas County answered with a 57-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Tre’Von Pringle. Woodward again got to within two scores on a 41-yard pass from Griffin Marshall to Ben Grice with 13 seconds left in the quarter. But the Yellow Jackets had the answer again, this time a 37-yard touchdown from Johnson to Thomas.