CYPRESS -- The scene was what you would expect.

Players were crying. Coaches offered encouragement that seemed to do little to cheer up their players. Marty Murr hugged his son, Gavin, as both coped with defeat.

Gavin Murr, the quarterback for San Augustine, played his final game for his father on Thursday. Murr is a senior. He and the Wolves fell, 63-21, to Refugio, the defending state champion, in the 2A Division I state semifinal.

Marty Murr declined to be interviewed after the game.

It was a drastic change from the Wolves' usual postgame temperament. San Augustine was undefeated heading into the game. Hugs after games are typically celebratory, not attempts to mend broken spirits.

The Wolves finished the season 14-1, by all means a success. However, in the immediate moments following such a crushing loss, perspective is a difficult thing to have. One game can feel like the defining mark for the entire season.

When Daryon Ramirez flipped into the end zone to make it 49-21 with 10 minutes to go, the game was over. San Augustine was simply awaiting elimination. The final few minutes seemed to last an eternity, before the buzzer sounded mercifully. A new feeling settled in: shock.

"It hurt," running back K.J. Davis said. "I'll never forget it. We fell short. We worked hard. I never thought we would lose."

Although defeat seemed possible early in the game, the fashion in which Refugio controlled the game was surprising.

The score was even after the first quarter. Even heading into the locker room there was still hope for San Augustine. The Wolves trailed only 28-13.

"We thought we were gonna come out and score," Davis said. "Get a stop on defense and make it a closer game. They weren't stopping me early in the game and we thought we'd come out and hit them."

Refugio scored the first touchdown of the half when Ysidro Mascorro ran through several would-be tacklers for a nine-yard touchdown. That's when it felt like the Bobcats were pulling away.

However, a defensive play from San Augustine kept it in the game a little longer. After Davis scooped up a Refugio fumble, he noticed Kris Wade in his periphery. Wade had a much clearer path to the end zone, so Davis tossed the ball to his teammate.

Wade went 95 yards for a touchdown. The Wolves converted the 2-point conversion and, with 3:14 still to play in the third quarter, the deficit was a manageable 14 points.

Not even two minutes later, Jacobe Avery scored his third touchdown of the game to push the lead back to three touchdowns. San Augustine wouldn't score again.

Davis finished with 114 yards rushing and a touchdown to lead San Augustine. Murr was 8-of-29 for 93 yards and threw a five-yard touchdown in the first quarter to Quay Johnson.

The Wolves couldn't find an answer for Refugio's ground game, which totaled 430 yards. Ramirez led the team with 247 yards and a touchdown.

"They were the more physical team," Davis said. "We got down early and I guess we laid down early."

Refugio, a town that suffered plenty of damage from Hurricane Harvey in August, will face Mart at 7 p.m. Wednesday for the 2A Division I championship in Arlington.

During the postgame huddle, Mary Murr asked all the seniors to stand. It was a bittersweet moment for them, to be honored for a memorable season on the heels of such a painful defeat. Years from now, the loss won't weigh as heavily as it did in Cypress as the players walked to the locker room.

They'll remember the district and regional championships. They'll remember being a part of the final four. They'll remember breaking school records.

"I'll remember the way we came out together every week," Davis said. "I'll remember it forever."

Refugio 63, San Augustine 21

Class 2A Division I
State Semifinal
At Cy-Fair FCU Stadium, Cypress

San Augustine                7      6      8    0    --    21
Refugio                         7    21      14    21    --    63

First quarter
REF—Trent Ross 14 pass from Jared Kelley (Diego Gonzales kick), 7:18.
SA—Quay Johnson 5 pass from Gavin Murr (Alberto Bahena kick), 5:06.
Second quarter
REF—Jacobe Avery 3 run (Gonzales kick), 11:27.
SA—KJ Davis 3 run (kick failed), 9:57.
REF—Ysidro Mascorro 22 run (Gonzales kick), 6:35.
REF—Avery 1 run (Gonzales kick), 1:54.
Third Quarter
REF--Mascorro 9 run (Gonzales kick), 7:05. 
SA--Kris Wade returned fumble 95 (QuenTyvian Borders 2-point good), 3:14.
REF--Avery 3 run (Gonzales kick), 1:52.
Fourth Quarter
REF--Daryon Ramirez 3 run (Gonzales kick), 10:00. 
REF--Ross 38 pass from Kelley (Gonzales kick), 6:33. 
REF--Michael Firova 19 pass from Kelley (Gonzales kick), 1:10.

                                             SA                     REF
First Downs                             6                       26
Total Yards                             202                     547
Rushes-Yards                    17-109                  56-430
Passing Yards                         93                    117
Comp.-Att.-Int.                   8-29-2                 7-12-0
Punts-Avg.                          3-31.3                 0-0.0
Fumbles-Lost                           2-0                    1-1
Penalties-Yards                       11-96                  6-70

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--San Augustine, KJ Davis 14-114, Tijay Thomas 1-1, Gavin Murr 1-(-1), Team 1-(-4). Refugio, Dragon Ramirez 25-247, Jacobe Avery 15-75, Ysidro Mascorro 11-89, Johnathan Havens 4-29, Team 1-(-10).
PASSING--San Augustine, Murr 8-29-2--93. Refugio, Jared Kelley 7-12-0--117.
RECEIVING--San Augustine, QuenTyvian Borders 6-88, Quay Johnson 1-5, Davis 1-0. Refugio, Trevor Ross 2-52, Chris Moya 2-23, Michael Firova 1-19, Jake Tinsman 1-12, Donavan Bailey 1-11, Jamel LaFond 1-8.

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