Richmond Randle 38, South Oak Cliff 35

December 20, 2024

AT&T Stadium

Arlington, TX

It was a battle of two teams who had differing historical resumes in the 5A-Division II state championship game as South Oak Cliff was playing in their fourth straight state title game winning titles in 2021 and 2022. Unbeaten Richmond Randle had run up an impressive 15-0 record, but the program was just in their third season of existence, therefore they came into the game as underdogs in the eyes of local and statewide media.

Randle opened the game with a bang as Sincere Timpson would return the opening kickoff 82 yards for a score, faking a reverse to RB Landen Williams-Callis and racing up the sideline to put the Lions up 7-0. SOC would go three and out on their opening series of the game and Randle with their first offensive series would pick up one first down and be forced to punt. This time SOC’s punt team would make a big mistake as the returner would muff the punt, Randle’s Cameron Hypolite would fall on the muffed punt giving the Lions the ball at the SOC 21-yard line. Randle would cash in on the mistake as Williams-Callis would score from a yard out giving RHS a shocking 14-0 lead with 6:45 remaining in the first quarter.

South Oak Cliff would settle in on their next drive marching 76-yards on thirteen plays to cut into the lead as QB Carter Kopekcy would connect with WR Jaylen Moore for a 17-yard touchdown making it 14-7 Randle with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Lions appeared to have an answer on the second play of the next drive as Williams-Callis ripped off an impressive 65-yard touchdown run, but it was called back for holding. Randle would march to the SOC 26-yard line but the drive stalled there and Randle settled for a 44-yard Christian Munguia field goal to extend the RHS lead to 17-7 with just over ten minutes left in the second quarter.

SOC would have answer on the next drive with an impressive ten play 75-yard march capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from Mikail Trotter to cut into the Randle lead making it 17-14 with 6:29 left in the second quarter.

The Golden Bears appeared to have momentum on their side as they forced a Randle three and out, SOC got the ball back, but facing a 4th and 3 on their own 41 South Oak Cliff rolled the dice and went for it. QB Carter Kopecky’s pass on the rollout was batted down by 6’7 DE Wayne Kelly to give the Lions another short field. Randle would cash in with under a minute left in the half as Keilan Sweeny would connect with TE Mason Mixon for an eleven-yard touchdown pass to put Randle up 24-14 heading into the locker room.

The second half would start with a bang, much like the first half as SOC would break a big play on the first offensive play of the third as Trotter would rip off a 75-yard touchdown run to cut the Randle lead to three at 24-21.

The SOC momentum would continue on the next series as after Randle had moved to the SOC 41, DB  Kendrick Carter would pick off Randle QB Tyler Skrabanek at the Golden Bears fourteen-yard line. South Oak Cliff would seize the opportunity after the turnover as on the second play of the drive RB Damond Williams would race 85-yards for the touchdown and all of sudden South Oak Cliff led 28-24 with 9:28 still left in the third quarter.

Both defenses would settle in for the middle part of the third quarter with Randle punting twice and SOC punting once, after the second Randle punt however, it was the Lions defense who came up with a play to swing momentum. Facing a 3rd and 8 on their own 35, Kopecky was pressured by Randle DL Chace Sims and after the pass was tipped Randle DB Perry Kindred would fly in and make a diving interception to give the Lions the ball on the SOC 38.

Randle would need just four plays to regain the lead as Sweeny lined up at the QB spot would score on a 21-yard run to put the Lions back up 31-28 with 1:42 left in the third quarter.

The Golden Bears would have an answer in this absolute classic going on another long drive this one eleven plays and 70-yards and it would get capped off by a 22-yard run from Kopecky to give SOC the lead back at 35-31 with 9:02 left in the game. That lead didn’t last long however Randle’s Sean Smith would take the ensuing kickoff 72-yards for the score to put the Lions back up 38-35.

SOC would punt on their ensuing drive, but Randle’s offense after the punt was unable to put the game away going three and out, giving South Oak Cliff the ball on the Randle 44 with 3:36 left in the game. On the second play it appeared SOC took the lead on a Williams touchdown run, but it was called back for holding. After converting a 4th and 10 on a Kopecky to Reggie McNeal, Jr. pass completion, SOC had a 1st and 10 on the Randle 33 with just a single timeout left and 1:16 left on the clock.

The Golden Bears would run the ball three straight times and after second down the Golden Bears were forced to use their second timeout which they were saving for the field goal attempt. Randle would hold on 3rd down and SOC scrambled the kicking unit out as time was running out. The Golden Bears executed perfectly scrambling their kicking unit out, but the Golden Bears kicker pushed the 45-yard field goal wide left and Randle stormed the field with a major upset and state championship.