Richland Springs-Strawn rematch to again decide state qualifier

December 2, 2021 at 9:03 am Derrick Stuckly

Zane Capps (8) and the Richland Springs Coyotes will look to oust Strawn in the state semifinals for a third straight year as they target a return to the state championship game. [File photo by Derrick Stuckly]

In a rematch of last year’s Class A Division II state semifinal game that was decided on the final play, the Region IV champion Richland Springs Coyotes and Region III champion Strawn Greyhounds cross paths again with a state berth on the line.

No. 3 Richland Springs (10-1) and No. 2 Strawn (13-0) will square off at 7 p.m. Friday in Dublin. The Coyotes defeated the Greyhounds, 59-56, last year to reach the state final, and by a 62-14 count in the 2019 state semifinals en route to their state record ninth six-man state championship.

Richland Springs carries a 10-game win streak into Friday’s contest with victories over Coolidge (66-32), Nueces Canyon (70-22), Fort Worth Covenant Classical (119-112), Rochelle (79-30), Cherokee (92-70), Mullin (48-0), Lohn (54-0), Sidney (58-8), Oglesby (53-0), and Oakwood (86-41).

For the season, Richland Springs is averaging 69 points and 375 yards – 294 rushing and 81 passing per game – with seven turnovers, while giving up 34 points and 267 yards – 181 passing and 86 rushing – per contest, with 19 takeaways.

Leading the way on the ground are Jadeyn Bryant (1,688 yards, 40 TDs), Zane Capps (1,063 yards, 26 TDs), and Keston Lusty (412 yards, 7 TDs).

Through the air, Bryant has completed 31 of 49 passes for 708 yards with 15 touchdowns, while Capps has connected 10 of 18 attempts for 174 yards with two scoring tosses.

Top receiving threats include Cohen Tharp (13-349, 6 TDs), Capps (7-156, 3 TDs), Nick Nilson (7-146, 3 TDs), Brandon Stewart (6-56, TD), and Jayden Sutherland (3-79, TD), Lusty (3-61).

Defensive standouts are Lusty (75.5 tackles, 21.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 FRs), Capps (60.5 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 4 FRs), Bryant (55.5 tackles, 14.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT, 5 FRs), Nilson (44 tackles, 6 for loss, 1.5 for loss, 1 FR), Stewart (41 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 4 sacks,1 FR), and Sutherland (37 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 3 INTs).

Strawn’s perfect run to the fourth round of the playoff includes wins over White Deer (56-8), Burnet Smoking for Jesus Christian (88-47), Bryson (56-0), Gorman (60-15), Westbrook (68-52), Fort Worth Covenant Classical (114-97), Bluff Dale (78-6), Three Way (54-7), Gustine (54-0), Gordon (83-38), Morgan (72-7), Throckmorton (61-8), and Gordon (66-16) again last week.

The Greyhounds are led by Griff Rigdon, a member of Richland Springs’ 2019 state championship squad, and his younger brother Grayson. Both are sons of former Richland Springs assistant coach Jamie Rigdon, who held the position of head coach briefly before Burkhart returned after a year away from the program.

In Strawn’s second-round 61-8 victory over Throckmorton, the Greyhounds led 30-0 after one quarter and ended the contest at halftime.

Grayson Ridgon rushed for touchdowns and 7, 11, 12 and 15 yards, and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Griff Rigdon, who also rushed for an 8-yard score. Lorenzo Garcia added a 3-yard touchdown run, Jesse Corona scored on a 3-yard carry and the Greyhound defense recorded a safety as well.

The only points surrendered by Strawn were on a 52-yard touchdown pass in the second period.

According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 15-point underdog

Friday’s winner will face either Region I champion and fifth-ranked Klondike (12-1) or Region I champion and top-ranked Motley County (13-0) in the Class A Division II state championship at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.