Photo by Brian McLean
BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
ARLINGTON— Without any timeouts left and the seconds winding down, Dallas South Oak Cliff’s field goal unit rushed on to set up for the game-tying kick from 45 yards.
But the try was wide left – sending Richmond Randle to a historic first state championship 38-35 in the Class 5A Division 2 final on Friday in front of 15,032 at AT&T Stadium.
Randle completes a perfect 16-0 season in only its third year of football. Meanwhile, SOC ends at 13-3 – snapping a 13-game winning streak. The Golden Bears were making an appearance in the title game for the fourth consecutive year, winning in 2021 and 2022. SOC came up short against PNG in last year’s final.
After trailing for the whole first half, SOC came out on fire in the third quarter and scored a pair of long touchdowns in a 2 1/2 minute span. The Bears trailed by as many as 10 in the first half, but Mikail Trotter took the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter 75 yards for a touchdown to pull within three.
Then Kendrick Carter picked off a Randle pass on the ensuing drive to set SOC up at its own 15. After an incompletion, Damond Williams took a hand off 85 yards for the touchdown – giving the Bears a 28-24 lead with 9:28 left in the period.
There were four lead changes in the second half.
SOC couldn’t extend its lead as both teams traded back-to-back-to-back punts. The Bears had another chance, but a pass attempt was picked off by Perry Kindred and Randle took advantage. Four plays into a new drive, Keilan Sweeny scored on a 21-yard touchdown run to give the Lions a 31-28 lead, which they took into the fourth.
The Bears went back in front after a 12-play 70-yard scoring drive that lasted over four minutes. Williams converted a fourth and three and then QB Carter Kopecky scored on a keeper from 22 yards to give SOC a 35-31 edge with 9:02 left to play.
Randle killed the momentum and took the lead for good on the ensuing kickoff as Sean Smith returned it 72 yards to give the Lions a 38-35 lead. SOC was forced to punt with 5:57 left, but the defense forced Randle to a three and out.
The Bears got good field position on a short punt and started the next drive at the Randle 44 with 3:36 to go. Williams found the end zone from 42 yards, but the touchdown was called back on a holding penalty. SOC got to the Randle 29, but was forced to call its final timeout with 35 seconds on the clock.
Kopecky kept it for a short gain to the 27, but with no timeouts and not being able to spike it on fourth down, the special teams group came running onto the field. The ball was snapped around four seconds before the kick was wide – sending the Lions to a mad scramble for the celebration.
Sophomore running back Landen Williams-Callis was voted offensive MVP with 23 carries for 106 yards and one touchdown. Junior linebacker Ryan Mallory took home defensive honors with a game-high 12 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Randle opened the game with fireworks as Sincere Timpson returned it for an 82-yard touchdown. The Lions are the first UIL team in any classification to have two kickoff returns for touchdowns in a state championship game since Beaumont Hebert in 1976.
Williams-Callis scored his lone touchdown from the 1 and the Lions led 14-0 midway through the first quarter. Kopekcy hit Jaylen Moore on a 17-yard TD to get SOC within a single possession with 1:38 to play in the period.
Christian Munguia made a 44-yard field goal for Randle – tied for third longest in a 5A state champ game. Trotter scored from the 2 for SOC and the Lions added one more TD before the break following an 11-yard pass from Sweeny to Mason Mixon to make it 24-14 with 46 seconds until halftime.
Trotter led all players with 170 yards on 19 carries along with two TDs. Williams chipped in 138 yards and one touchdown on 13 attempts. Kopecky recorded 42 yards rushing and 106 in the air. SOC’s defense was led by Jamarion Phillips and Jayden Shelton, who registered nine and eight tackles, respectively.
