Sports

Bulldogs start to take form in Mason shootout

HOME OPENER: The Bulldogs had their first home game of their title defense 2026 season. Julian Ruiz (#56) Vanden Phillips (#60) and Zeb Murphee (#62) shoot out the “Dogpound” with flags to fire up the crowd and let them know the Bulldogs have arrived. Photo by Tracy Cox
The Hamilton Bulldogs put on quite the memorable home opener for the 2026 season and the first time the reigning 2A D1 State champs have played at Kooken Field since winning their first-ever state championship. In what would be Harris’s last game odds as he steps away for health reasons, the game of the Mason Punchers and the Hamilton Bulldogs would be a pick ‘em, as both teams were deemed evenly matched. This was shown in the first few minutes as the Bulldogs received the kickoff, and Senior receiver Colton DeLaGarza received the kick and broke loose for a 75-yard rushing touchdown to start the game. Senior kicker Ethan Kalbas kicked the extra point and Mason answered back three plays into their first offensive drive of the game with a rushing touchdown of their own and a 2-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead minutes into the game.

SCORING HIGHLIGHTS

1ST QUARTER HAMILTON: #2 COLTON DELAGARZA 75 YARD KICKOFF RETURN TD #82 ETHAN KALBAS EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT GOOD MASON: 3 YARD RUSHING TD - 2 POINT CONVERSION GOOD MASON: 11 YARD RUSHING TD - 2 POINT CONVERSION GOOD 2ND QUARTER MASON: 9 YARD RUSHING TD - 2 POINT CONVERSION NO GOOD HAMILTON: 24 YARD TD PASS FROM #10 OLIVER SUMMERS TO #8 MADDEN WEAVER - #82 ETHAN KALBAS EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT GOOD HAMILTON: 12 YARD RUSHING TD BY #33 EASTON MARWITZ - 2 POINT CONVERSION PASS GOOD FROM #10 OLIVER SUMMERS TO #1 BRYAN IBARRA 3RD QUARTER MASON: 30 YARD PICK 6 - 2 POINT CONVERSION GOOD HAMILTON: 3 YARD TD PASS FROM #10 OLIVER SUMMERS TO #33 EASTON MARWITZ - 2 POINT CONVERSION PASS GOOD FROM #10 OLIVER SUMMERS TO #1 BRYAN IBARRA HAMILTON: 76 YARD TD PASS FROM #10 OLIVER SUMMERS TO #8 MADDEN WEAVER - #82 ETHAN KALBAS EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT GOOD 4TH QUARTER MASON: 31 yard rushing TD by Mason - 2 point conversion good MASON: 41 yard rushing TD by Mason - 2 point conversion good HAMILTON: 10 yard TD pass from #10 Oliver Summers to #2 Colton DeLaGarza - #82 Ethan Kalbas Extra point attempt good

Hamilton debuts two JV teams, freshmen take the field

OPEN OPPORTUNITY: Aaron Aleman brings in a touchdown on a down-the-middle pass from Cristian Flores for the Freshman team’s lone touchdown against Breckenridge on Thursday, September 3rd. Aleman and other younger Junior Varsity players are getting more opportunities to play on the freshman team that will have games against the normally scheduled opponents on a weekly basis. Photo by Jaxon Hansard
The Hamilton High School Athletic Department made a decision early in the first week of September to benefit their football program. With the success of a state championship in 2025, a lot of interest and excitement built in the program for the next year. Ryan Marwitz and his staff split the Junior Varsity teams into two with a mostly freshman team and the primary JV team. The decision was influenced by the interest and fairness to the kids in the program.

Run for Hope benefits area children

September starts many things, such as school, 100-degree days and the fall season. It is also the start of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. To raise awareness for children’s unfortunate fight against cancer, the 2nd annual Run for Hope Fun Run on September 12 at the Game Warden Training facility. “Going Gold” during the month of September brings awareness to young children and families fighting the long battle against cancer.

Bulldog XC improves taking right steps

ALL OVER THE COURSE: Hamilton High School Cross Country Lady Dogs finished third as a team at the Zephyr Invitational with all but one Varsity runner placing in the top 30. Pictured left is Milagros Moncada, who placed 22nd; Chaska Downs, who finished first and Berlin Bolton, who placed 73rd. Photo by Jennifer Bolton
Hamilton High School Cross Country took to the fields again on Wednesday, September 2 at the Zephyr Invitational. Varsity Senior Chaska Downs grabbed herself a first-place finish and medal, with her top time being almost a minute faster than the competition. Only one Lady Bulldog did not place in the top 30. Sophomore Elijah Looke placed in the top 10 of varsity boys.

An encouraging start to the season

BY THE HORNS: Hamilton senior TE/ILB and steer wrestler Cade Banquinho (#44) got some rodeo reps in with a tackle of one of Bremond’s barreling running backs. The Rodeo back finished the game with 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, and a quarterback pressure. Photo by Tracy Cox
The 2026 high school football season kicked off with the Hamilton Bulldogs starting their season away under Bremond’s Friday night lights. The defending 2A D1 state champion Bulldogs rolled out their younger, refreshed team against a 2A D2 contender in the Bremond Tigers, who took home the victory with a 26-21 victory. While Hamilton lost, it was a tale of two halves for the Bulldogs as the young offense took a quarter to shake out the nerves and pull together an almost come back.

101 N. Rice
PO Box 833
Hamilton, TX 76531
254-386-3145