The Richland Springs Coyotes’ bid to extend their record of six-man state championships to 10 takes them to AT&T Stadium in Arlington Wednesday, where the reigning Class A Division II state champion Jayton Jaybirds await in the 2 p.m. state final.
The Coyotes, who are making their 12th state championship game appearance, have reeled off 12 consecutive victories since a 52-6 season-opening loss to Gordon, which is playing for the Class A Division I state crown.
Jayton, seeking its fourth state title in its sixth trip to the final, carries a 29-game win streak into Wednesday’s contest, with all but two of those via the 45-point mercy rule. Since the start of the 2023 campaign, the Jaybirds have posted a 41-1 record.
The Coyotes are averaging 61 points and allowing 12 per outing, while the Jaybirds put up 59 points and surrender 11 per game, on average.
Since a 42-14 victory over May in Week 2, Richland Springs has 45’ed 11 consecutive foes, including Oglesby (72-22) and Strawn (66-20) in its two most recent playoff outings.
The last two weeks, the Coyotes have allowed just 339 total yards – 122 to Strawn, including -40 yards rushing, and 217 to Oglesby. Richland Springs tallied five sacks – with three by Billy Perry – in the state semifinal win over Strawn, and recorded a pair of safeties. Against Oglesby, the Coyotes hauled in two interceptions, both by Evan Deeds.
Offensively, Cohen Ethridge has shouldered the load the last two games with a total of 418 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, 192 passing yards and three scoring tosses, and a 60-yard kick return for a touchdown.
Against Oglesby, Perry added 33 yards on the ground and three scores, Eli Hutchins caught a 51-yard touchdown pass, and Ethan Deeds grabbed a 37-yard scoring reception.
Versus Strawn, Ethan Deeds rushed for a 19-yard touchdown and also caught a 3-yard scoring toss from Ethridge – one of a team-high four catches for 45 yards.
Leading the charge for Jayton are Colt Gentry, Bode Ham and Sean Stanaland. Stanaland was the offensive player of the game and Gentry the defensive player of the game in last year’s 54-8 state championship victory over Oakwood. Ham has amassed 102 rushing touchdowns in his career and is receiving college offers.
Other players to watch for Jayton include Lorenzo Vargas, who found the end three times in a 64-19 victory over Klondike in the semifinal round. Dayton Bleiker hauled in a scoring reception as well against Klondike, and Tucker Scott has caught nine touchdown passes throughout the season.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football predicts Jayton to win the game by 11 points, while sixmanfootball.com lists Richland Springs as a 13-point underdog.
The Coyotes last won a state championship in 2019, and last played for a title in 2020.
The game will be broadcast live on KOXE 101.3.