South Oak Cliff (13-2) vs Richmond Randle (15-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium: 

South Oak Cliff, making its fourth straight appearance in the state title game, has turned into an inner-city football dynasty, something that would have been unheard of in the state of Texas 10 years ago.

They Golden Bears have done it in 2024 on the strength of brute force and domination in the trenches. They've rolled through a difficult Region II like a hot knife through butter and continued that domination in the state semifinals with an emphatic 37-3 win over a very good Argyle squad.

SOC’s defense flat out dominated Argyle by making big play after big play and allowing just 134 yards. Leading 13-3 right before halftime, Arkansas LB commit Jayden Shelton picked off a pass and returned it for a score to give SOC a 20-3 lead and basically put Argyle in a hole it had no hope of climbing out of. SOC’s defense also forced two fumbles in the game that led directly to 10 more second half points.

Randle, in just its third varsity season, is in the state championship game after racing past Boerne 42-7 last week. The Lions defense has been the story of their season led by Texas A&M DL commit Chace Sims, DL LaJalen Jones, and a fast back seven that has yet to allow more than 14 points in a game.

Randle’s offense relies heavily on the talents of sophomore RB sensation Landen Williams-Callis, but in order for RHS to pull the upset the Lions need to get the passing attack going. Williams-Callis did have a touchdown last week, but it was ATH Keilan Sweeny who stole the show with a touchdown receiving, rushing and passing. Randle’s always-stout defense got themselves a pick six in the second half.

Randle’s defense, specifically the defensive line, against SOC’s massive offensive line will be the money matchup here. This alone will be worth the price of admission. However, SOC’s defensive line against Randle’s offensive line is a matchup where SOC has a big edge.

I think Randle’s defense spends too much time on the field and SOC simply wears them down. 

Stepp’s Pick: South Oak Cliff by 14

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Oak Cliff

QB Carter Kopecky - Kopecky is an excellent decision maker, throwing 20 touchdowns to zero interceptions on the season. He doesn’t make the costly mistakes that can affect his team, which allows South Oak Cliff to control football games.

DE Kamauryn Morgan - Morgan, a Baylor signee, is South Oak Cliff’s sack leader that wins with elite length (6’4, 230). He has excellent hands at the point of attack and is a relentless finisher in the backfield. Morgan could be a nightmare for Richmond Randle’s offensive line.

LB Jayden Shelton - Shelton, an Arkansas signee, is the lynchpin of a defense that hasn’t allowed over 20 points in a game since Week Three. He had a pick-six in the semifinal win against Argyle. Shelton will be tasked with tackling Randle superstar running back Landen Williams-Callis.

Richmond Randle

DT Chace Sims - The Texas A&M signee is a load in the middle of Randle's defensive front. At 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, Sims routinely lives in the backfield. He's ranked as the No. 4 DT and No. 63 player in Texas.

RB Landen Williams-Callis - A human highlight-reel, Williams-Callis is only a sophomore but already boasts more than 35 offers from the likes of Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, and Georgia.

ATH Keilan Sweeny - Few players in the state had a better showing in the state semifinals than Sweeny, who had a rushing, receiving and passing TD against Boerne. Defenses have to be aware of where he's lined up at all times.

PREDICTIONS

THE PICK