A4
HORNETS UPSET UNDEFEATED DEERFIELD 34-33 IN DOUBLE OT
last year - 12/8/2025 12:55 AM GMT-3
SPRINGER — In one of the most dramatic championship finishes in recent state history, the Springer T. Hornets shocked the previously undefeated Deerfield Bucks 34–33 in double overtime to capture the Division A Class 4 State Championship on Saturday night.
Under the bright lights and with everything on the line, the Hornets delivered a performance that will be talked about for years — outlasting a Deerfield team that entered the title game unbeaten and widely favored.
The game lived up to its billing from the opening kickoff. Deerfield struck first behind its explosive offense, building a slim halftime lead as the Bucks’ speed and tempo kept Springer scrambling early. But the Hornets refused to fold, answering with a physical ground game and timely defensive stops to keep the contest within reach.
Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Springer engineered a clutch drive to force overtime, capped by a conversion that sent the Hornets’ sideline into a frenzy and the championship into extra periods.
Both teams traded field goals in the first overtime, neither willing to blink. The tension only intensified in the second overtime when Deerfield scored first, putting immense pressure on Springer to answer. The Hornets did just that, punching the ball into the end zone to pull within one point.
With the title on the line, Springer’s coaching staff made the bold call to go for two.
The snap. The hold. The finish.
Springer converted the decisive two-point attempt, sealing a 34–33 victory and completing one of the biggest upsets in Class 4 history. Hornets players rushed the field in disbelief as Deerfield stood stunned on the opposite sideline, their perfect season ending inches short of a championship.
“This team never quit — not once,” said a jubilant Springer coach after the game. “They believed from day one, and tonight they earned every bit of this championship.”
For Deerfield, the loss was heartbreaking but a testament to their dominance all season long. The Bucks controlled much of the game and fought through double overtime but ultimately fell in one of the narrowest defeats possible.
For Springer, the victory cements a legacy. Against an undefeated opponent, in a state championship, in double overtime, the Hornets found a way.
The title trophy now belongs to Springer T. — and so does a place in state championship history.
Under the bright lights and with everything on the line, the Hornets delivered a performance that will be talked about for years — outlasting a Deerfield team that entered the title game unbeaten and widely favored.
The game lived up to its billing from the opening kickoff. Deerfield struck first behind its explosive offense, building a slim halftime lead as the Bucks’ speed and tempo kept Springer scrambling early. But the Hornets refused to fold, answering with a physical ground game and timely defensive stops to keep the contest within reach.
Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Springer engineered a clutch drive to force overtime, capped by a conversion that sent the Hornets’ sideline into a frenzy and the championship into extra periods.
Both teams traded field goals in the first overtime, neither willing to blink. The tension only intensified in the second overtime when Deerfield scored first, putting immense pressure on Springer to answer. The Hornets did just that, punching the ball into the end zone to pull within one point.
With the title on the line, Springer’s coaching staff made the bold call to go for two.
The snap. The hold. The finish.
Springer converted the decisive two-point attempt, sealing a 34–33 victory and completing one of the biggest upsets in Class 4 history. Hornets players rushed the field in disbelief as Deerfield stood stunned on the opposite sideline, their perfect season ending inches short of a championship.
“This team never quit — not once,” said a jubilant Springer coach after the game. “They believed from day one, and tonight they earned every bit of this championship.”
For Deerfield, the loss was heartbreaking but a testament to their dominance all season long. The Bucks controlled much of the game and fought through double overtime but ultimately fell in one of the narrowest defeats possible.
For Springer, the victory cements a legacy. Against an undefeated opponent, in a state championship, in double overtime, the Hornets found a way.
The title trophy now belongs to Springer T. — and so does a place in state championship history.
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