SAN ANTONIO — Paetow has been on a mission this entire season.

The Panthers knew they were good enough to win a state title and have been pushing all year to make it to that point.

The chance to make it to that state title game finally came Friday and the Panthers were committed to making the most of their opportunity.

“I just knew going into tonight, that if we played our brand of football that nobody can stop us,” said senior quarterback CJ Dumas. “We just had to trust the process, because no team can hang with us when we are playing on all cylinders. I was just super confident in our offense and our defense.”

Dumas was right, as Paetow steamrolled Flour Bluff, winning 73-14 to clinch its first berth to a state championship game in school history.

But it wasn’t a surprise to the Panthers, they were all business coming off the field and already looking ahead to next week.

“We’ve got a goal, and that’s to win a state championship,” said Paetow head coach BJ Gotte. “Our kids have talked about that since early on. We are focused on winning a state championship, not just going to a state championship.”

Paetow was led by Dumas, who may have had his best night of the season in the win.

The senior completed 10 of 12 passed for 216 yards and three touchdowns, he was dominant in the first half throwing for 205 of his yards.

Two of those touchdowns came to Kole Wilson, who finished with five catches for 14 yards and two touchdowns while also returning a punt 57 yards for another touchdown.

“I never know when I’ll get the ball or what read we’ll get on offense, so whenever I get the ball, I just try to make the best of my opportunity,” Wilson said. “We were just able to take advantage of some stuff and I got open.”

Paetow’s offense hung 52 points on Flour Bluff in the first half, but Paetow’s defense was just as impactful, holding Flour Bluff to seven points and 77 yards of offense in the opening half.

“Everyone on this defense really has a passion for the game,” said senior safety Kentrell Webb, who had a sack and an interception in the win. “Everyone has bought into the scheme that our coaches have put into place for us and it really all started in the offseason and even before that. There’s a lot of seniors on this defense so we knew for some guys this is the last time they’ll be playing football. We’re playing for them but it’s more than that too. We’re playing for the everyone in the stands and for the guys who came before us.”

The game shifted midway through the first quarter. Both teams had struggled to move the ball and Paetow had only come away with a field goal to that point.

Flour Bluff punted to Kole Wilson and it ended up being a mistake.

The senior fakes right and dipped his shoulder, running up the sideline behind blockers and getting past the defense for a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown.

From there Paetow rolled. Jacob Brown rushed for two scores and Damyrion Phillips also ran for two touchdowns. Paetow was able to put backups in midway through the third quarter as they cruised to the victory.

The win is a testament to the culture that has been created in the Paetow program, just five years into its existence.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Webb said. “We’re in our fifth year and we’re already in a state championship game. A lot of programs have been around way longer and haven’t gotten this far, it’s just a blessing to be a part of this.”

Paetow will face College Station in the Class 5A-Division I state final. College Station won its state semifinal game 25-21 over Mansfield Summit.

They game will be played 7 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlingoton.

“It’s a great feeling,” Dumas said. “We started out in the parking lot of our junior high in eighth grade and it’s crazy to see how far we’ve come. All the work, sweat and tears we have put in, it’s great to see it all pay off. It’s just a testament to the culture that we’ve built here. That we’ve built here. Just buying in and seeing the proof. But we aren’t done.”

Paetow 73, Flour Bluff 14

First quarter

Paetow: Anthony Fuentes 37 field goal (7:22)

Paetow: Kole Wilson 57 punt return (Fuentes kick) 6:17

Paetow: Damyrion Phillips 15 run (Fuentes kick) 5:14

Second quarter

Paetow: Jacob Brown 5 run (Fuentes kick) 11:55

Paetow: Brown 19 run (Fuentes kick) 9:19

Flour Bluff: Nash Villegas 6 pass to Christopher Giselwhite (Kyler Meschi kick) 7:57

Paetow: CJ Dumas 54 pass to Kole Wilson (Fuentes kick)

Paetow: Phillips 7 run (Fuentes kick) 5:39

Paetow: 47 pass to Wilson (Fuentes kick) 1:51

Third quarter

Paetow: Dumas: 6 pass to Jason Blue (Fuentes kick)

Paetow: Tamaal Comminie 3 run (Fuentes kick)

Fourth quarter

Flour Bluff: Villegas 2 run (Meschi kick) 8:52

Paetow: Jalyn Richardson 6 run (Brady Wade kick)

Team stats

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Paetow: Damyrion Phillips, 9-96-2; Jacob Brown, 14-51-2; Jalyn Richardson, 7-53-1; Yonis Descieux, 3-44; Jamaal Comminie, 5-36-1; Bryan Del Cid, 2-23; CJ Dumas, 2-10; DJ Johnson, 2-9; Kyle Hughes, 1-9; Gene Kendall, 2-7; Flour Bluff: Nash Villegas, 9-18; Connor Tyler, 4-0; Johnny Dickson, 1-0; Wyatt Elwood, 1-0; Isaac McElroy, 1-(-1)

Passing – Paetow: CJ Dumas, 10-12-216-3-0; KJ Truehill, 1-1-20-0-0; Flour Bluff: Nash Villegas, 11-32-136-1-2

Receiving – Paetow: Kole Wilson, 5-164-2; Montaye Hill, 1-20; Josh Stevenson, 2-19; Bryan Del Cid, 1-13; Brandon Shanks, 1-7; Jacob Brown, 1-7; Jason Blue, 1-6-1; Flour Bluff: Wyatt Elwood, 3-47; Isaac McElroy, 5-44; Connor Tyler, 2-32; Christopher Giselwhite, 2-13-1