After coming off of two emphatic game-winning field goals from kicker Grady Jesseph, Derby went looking to win their first state championship since 2020 as they faced off against Gardner Edgerton. 

After a couple of stops both ways to start the game, Derby forces a key fumble, leading to a Da’Saahn Brame touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. 

The Panthers would stop the Trailblazers again, leading to a touchdown run from senior running back Derek Hubbard to take a 13-0 lead after the PAT was blocked. 

Gardner Edgerton finally ended the Derby lead with a big drive from quarterback Bravin Powell, who ended up in the endzone after a five-yard run. 

After a 13-7 halftime lead for the Panthers, the game would reach a stalemate as both teams were going stop for stop when a 60-yard touchdown pass from Powell gave the Trailblazers their first lead of the game, 14-13. 

The Panthers continued to shoot themselves in the foot with a couple of crucial penalties, which led to a blocked punt, giving Gardner Edgerton really good field position, leading to another Powell touchdown run. 

With the Panthers down 22-13 after a two-point conversion from Gardner Edgeton, Hubbard and the Panthers got rolling again, scoring a touchdown just two minutes later, getting the score to 22-19 after a failed two-point conversion. 

The Panthers would get a stop again, getting the ball back when a controversial flea flicker call was overturned by an illegal double pass, forcing the Panthers to punt to the Trailblazers with a little over four minutes left. 

Gardner Edgerton would finish this one, milking the clock on the ground to advance to win their first state championship. 

“After the loss, I was feeling a lot of emotions,” Hubbard said, who shined in his final game with 182 yards and two touchdowns. “I was sad we lost and that I would never get to play with my guys again, but I was also happy at how far we fought, and I never started crying or put my head down.”