Under the bright lights of Chad Richison Stadium last Thursday night, the Dewar Dragons wrote the final chapter to a season that already felt like a legend in the making. A season of grit, fire, heart, and unwavering belief ended with a roar from the stands as Class B-I’s No. 1-ranked Dragons defeated No. 2 Laverne, 14-6, securing their second straight state championship, their third title since 2020, and a defining moment for a team that never stopped fighting.
At 12-2 under first-year head coach Matt Ross, the Dragons completed what can only be described as a storybook season – one that will be talked about in Dewar for years. And fittingly, the final act required every ounce of strength, every drop of composure, and every player on the roster stepping into the fire.
Because on the biggest stage of the year, with momentum beginning to shift, Dewar lost its offensive engine.
And then, just as legends do, a new hero emerged.
—
Dewar’s quest for another gold ball was never going to be simple – not against a Laverne program known for toughness, discipline, and championship pedigree of its own. But the Dragons arrived in Edmond with confidence built from a season of dominant performances. Dewar had averaged an eye-opening 48.4 points per game and beaten opponents by an average margin of 41 points, one of the most commanding statistical profiles in Class B-I football history.
Yet this was no ordinary championship night. Fate would demand resilience.
Midway through the second quarter, starting quarterback Peyton Kilhoffer – the player who had guided Dewar’s offense all season long – went down with a knee injury. The stadium fell into immediate silence. Trainers rushed. Teammates knelt. Coaches held their breath. Fans prayed.
Kilhoffer never returned. Worse still, Dewar’s offense suddenly seemed to sputter. Momentum began to shift toward Laverne. And with the season on the line, Coach Ross faced the kind of decision that defines careers: Who would take the reins?
He turned to a freshman – a freshman who was a water boy just one year ago.
And that freshman, Traber “T-Mon- ey” Jones, stepped onto the turf and into Dewar history.
— From Water Boy to Championship Hero For Traber Jones, the moment felt surreal – and familiar.
Just 364 days earlier, he had rushed onto the same field to celebrate Dewar’s 2024 state title. Back then he was not a player. He wasn’t a varsity contributor. He wasn’t even a backup.
He was the team manager – “the water boy.”
But he remembered the feeling. The noise. The gold ball. The glory. And as he stood on the sideline watching the celebration, he quietly imagined being part of it someday.
On Thursday night, he became part of it. In the biggest way possible.
“I was just the water boy last year – this feeling right now is awesome,” Jones said after the win, his voice shaking with emotion. “I feel like I was just at that game last year. I really felt like I was a part of that team, but to actually be on the team now and make a difference is surreal.”
Thrown into the fire cold, the freshman didn’t just steady the offense – he ignited it. Jones completed seven of eight passes, totaling 104 yards and delivering a second-half touchdown that became the turning point of the night.
Coach Matt Ross could not have been more proud.
“Traber was phenomenal tonight,” Ross said following the game in an on-field interview. “He works on two-minute offense all the time in practice. And for him to come in and play the way he did just says a lot about him. But I think what’s most important is how great of a kid he is.”
Jones’ poise, accuracy, and confidence weren’t the work of luck. They were the product of months of preparation, practice, and readiness – even as he spent most of the season playing receiver and defensive back.
His teammates call him “T-Money.” On Thursday night, he lived up to the name. Every throw he made felt like pure profit.
And in the process, he gave Dewar something every champion needs: a spark.
— The Heart of a Champion: Braelin Lewis Runs into Dragon History If Jones delivered the spark, senior running back Braelin Lewis delivered the fire.
Son of former Oklahoma Sooners standout Ronnell Lewis, Braelin has been the beating heart of Dewar football for the past two years. And in the final game of his high school career, he delivered a performance worthy of the Dragon legend he has become.
Lewis bulldozed through Laverne’s defense for 152 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, adding three receptions for 38 yards in a true all-purpose display.
He never stopped moving. He never stopped fighting. And when Dewar needed tough yards – when they needed leadership – they turned to Number 2.
As the final seconds ticked away and Dewar players stormed the field, Lewis stood before a sea of orange and black in the stands. He lifted his hands and formed a heart – a gesture of gratitude to the town that embraced him.
“This moment, the offseason, the days in the weight room – this means everything to me,” Lewis said. “I’d die behind every single one of these guys out here with me tonight. I give them my all every day. I’d give them the shirt off my back if it meant we’d win one last time.”
He did just that. And more. Lewis leaves Dewar as one of its greatest players ever, a two-time state champion whose impact on the program will be talked about for years.
— Champions Are Built on Defense And Dewar Proved It While the offensive heroics took center stage, the Dragons’ defense delivered one of its gutsiest performances of the year.
The defining moment came late in the game. Laverne, trailing by eight, was marching – determined to tie the score. They pushed deep into Dewar territory, eventually setting up a critical fourth down with everything on the line.
Then came the play that sealed the season.
Dewar linebacker Braxton Wiebe knifed through the offensive line and brought down Laverne running back Kade Nichols short of the marker. The tackle not only preserved Dewar’s lead – it all but clinched the championship.
It was the exact kind of defensive stand championship teams are remembered for: gritty, fearless and perfectly timed.
— The Moment the Dragons Became Legends When the final buzzer sounded, Dewar’s sideline erupted. Coaches hugged. Players cried. Fans screamed. Helmets flew skyward. And in the center of it all, Coach Ross raised the gold ball high above his head in triumph.
This title carried a special meaning – not just because it represented backto- back championships, but because it marked the first under Coach Ross, who guided his team through adversity, injuries, pressure, and expectations with an unshakable sense of purpose.
He never asked his team to win for him. Instead, he insisted he was winning because of them.
From the seniors who became the backbone of the locker room, to the young players who grew up under championship pressure, to the families and community that filled the stands every week – this was a triumph for all of Dewar.
— Dewar’s Season of Dominance The Dragons finished the 2025 season at 12-2, securing the school’s sixth 12-win campaign since 1991. They did it with:
• A high-octane offense
• A punishing run game
• A disciplined defense
• A freshman quarterback who delivered in a moment most players only dream of
• A star senior running back who cemented his legacy
• And coaches who kept the team grounded through every challenge Just as importantly, they did it with the unwavering support of a town that loves its football and its Dragons with unmatched passion.
Even as the players celebrated, one voice hinted at what could come next.
“You can’t explain this feeling,” Jones said, beaming through the glow of the stadium lights. “It’s already fueling me for next year, I can feel it. I hope to do the same thing every year. I hope to win a gold ball every year and I think we have a pretty good shot at doing it.”
And with the heart Dewar showed on Thursday night, who could argue?
— Dewar 14, Laverne 6
• Player of the Game: Braelin Lewis – 23 carries, 152 yards, TD; 3 rec, 38 yards.
• Key Defensive Moment: Braxton Wiebe stops Laverne’s Kade Nichols on fourth down, denying potential tying score.
• Unsung Hero: Traber “T-Money” Jones – Freshman backup QB completes 7 of 8 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown after Kilhoffer’s injury.
— A Championship to Remember When teams win titles, they often recall the biggest plays and brightest stars. But for Dewar, this championship will be remembered for something deeper:
• A team that refused to quit
• A freshman who stepped into greatness
• A senior who played with the heart of a lion
• A coach who believed in every player
• And a community that lifted them every step of the way The Dragons didn’t just win a state championship.
They earned it. They fought for it. They lived it. And now, once again, they bring a gold ball back home to Dewar – the town where champions are made, dreams are chased, and Friday night lights shine just a little brighter.
