Two football players in midair celebrating a win, one in black with Demons text, the other in white and orange, as teammates and a crowd cheer nearby on the field. — Dumas receiver Tate Dunnam (3) and assistant coach Cade Cox celebrate following a Dunnam touchdown against Randall during a District 2-4A Division I game Thursday night at Happy State Bank Stadium.

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Heading into a crucial district tilt, held on a gusty Thursday evening at Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon, the Randall Raiders had an inside track with an unbeaten record and title ambitions. The Dumas Demons, despite losing eight starters due to injury to start their autumn campaign, had something to say about that.

Staring down a nine-point deficit at intermission, Dumas scored 18 unanswered points to knock off previously unbeaten Randall with a 28-19 result. It was Dumas’ first win over Randall over the past eight contests, which stretched all the way back to 2017.

It’s been a climb for the visiting Demons to reach this moment of the season. However, Dumas head coach Aaron Dunnam preaches procedure rather than results.

“We try not to be a scoreboard watcher,” said Dunnam. “We’re process oriented. So, we talked with our kids about the process, what’s still in front of us, and what we can still do. Football is full of life lessons, and these young men – when they get older – will know how to handle the adversity that life throws at them. For 24 hours, we’re going to enjoy it,” Dunnam added. “But we’re going to get back to work.”

Senior quarterback Colton Mills was one of the leaders behind the Demons splendid second half. Mills went 8-of-12 for 71 yards and two touchdowns to one interception, while rushing for 90 yards and another score on nine carries.

“It feels good,” Mills said, after prompting his team to victory. “We’ve had a lot of adversity throughout our season. We just keep coming, keep showing up every day, and keep fighting.”

For Randall head coach Dan Sherwood, the loss stung. Sherwood took full responsibility for the Raiders first setback of the season.

“We relaxed,” said Sherwood. “That falls solely on me. We’ll get it fixed. Dumas is a great team, and we know they’re a great team. Forget their record, they’re a good football team and they did a really good job.”

Dumas snapped a four-game skid, and improved to 2-5 overall with a 1-1 record in District 2-4A Division I. The Demons will return home next week, playing host to Pampa at 7 p.m. at Demon Stadium in Dumas.

“There’s no time off,” Dunnam said of Pampa. “We have a really tough district. We have to get back to work again next Friday.”

Lacrosse player in a black helmet and jersey with number 13, pink gloves, holding a brown lacrosse ball on a green field. — Randall’s Phoenix Sherwood looks for yards after making a reception against Dumas on Thursday night.

Randall suffered their first loss of the season, dipping down to 1-1 in district play and 6-1 overall. The Raiders will look to bounce back against Canyon in the GOAT Game, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. next Friday at Happy State Bank Stadium.

“We have to put our best version of ourselves forward,” Sherwood said. “That’s all that matters. We’re just going to take it one step at a time, one day at a time.”

Dumas struck first, when junior kicker Christian Saldana blasted a line drive through the uprights for a 40-yard field goal at the 9:23 mark of the opening stanza. The three points was set up by an interception, snagged by junior defensive back Tate Dunnam.

The Raiders countered with a run heavy, time consuming drive that culminated in a two-yard touchdown dive from senior standout Drayden Ray. The drive looked to stall, before sophomore quarterback Hendrix Funk connected with junior wideout Kash Funk for a 29-yard gain.

As the PAT from senior kicker Jacob Avalos sailed true, the Raiders picked up a 7-3 lead with 2:38 remaining in the opening stanza. The Raiders looked to carry that momentum into the second quarter, when junior defensive back Koba Baccas snagged a leaping interception with 1:38 left in the first period.

Even though the drive saw Avalos miss a 30-yard boot at the 11:12 mark, the junior redeemed himself with a 46-yard field goal with 5:43 to go until halftime. At that point in time, Randall nudged their lead to seven at 10-3.

Football player in a white Demons jersey with number 17 running with the ball on a field at night. — Dumas quarterback Colton Mills takes off for a 65-yard touchdown run against Randall on Thursday night.

The Demons responded with 4:50 remaining in the first half, when Mills faked out the Randall defense and took off down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown run. Following Saldana’s PAT, the Demons notched the game up at 10-10.

“It was beautiful,” Mill said of the play. “I got the choice to read it. I pulled it, and it gave us the touchdown.”

Within the span of 56 seconds, Randall enjoyed a favorable nine-point swing. On a fourth and nine with 1:48 left until half, the snap leapt over the head of Saldana. The football rolled out of the back of the endzone, resulting in a safety for the Raiders.

Randall capitalized on the free possession, and on a fourth and four, Funk found senior wideout Phoenix Sherwood beyond the sticks. From the 34 yard line, Sherwood spun, made a cut inside, broke free, sprinted and dove for the pylon for a 40-yard touchdown.

Sherwood caught six passes for 72 yards before the end of the night.

With 52 seconds left, the Raiders captured a 19-10 lead. It was an advantage that Randall would carry into the locker room. At that point, the Raiders had held the Demons just 76 yards of total offense.

Once the intermission was over, the proverbial tide shifted toward the Demons. According to Mills, his head coach had the team motivated.

“Coach Dunnam just fired us up,” Mills said. “We came out, told the offense that we had to execute, and that’s what we did.”

According to Dunnam, it took a nice pep talk to steer his team in the right direction.

“We just challenged them,” Dunnam said. “I thought that we hadn’t performed like we needed to. We were down nine, but there was a lot of football to be played. It wasn’t something that we couldn’t fight back from. We challenged our offense to move the ball. We had an opportunity to win a football game, and we did it.”

Football play: running back in white jersey and orange pants carries the ball, pursued by defenders on a green turf field. — Randall running back Kelton Dill ran for 73 yards against Randall on Thursday.

Dumas started the rally by way of a 22-yard field goal from the boot of Saldana at the 7:41 mark of the third quarter. The drive, which stalled out at the Randall three yard line, was boosted by several tough runs from junior fullback Kelton Dill.

Dill ended the night with 73 yards on 15 carries.

The Demons then regained the lead at 20-19 with 3:23 left in the period, when Mills and Dunnam connected for a 19-yard touchdown. Mills used his precision to guide the football through two Randall defenders and into Dunnam’s hands.

“It’s just chemistry,” Mills said. “We work together every day at practice, and constantly throw the ball to one another. It paid off.”

Tate Dunnam recorded six catches for 60 yards and the score. On defense, the junior compiled five tackles to go along with his INT.

Coach Dunnam praised his son, and extended that applause to the rest of the team.

“I thought he played really well,” Dunnam said of Tate. “He’s grinding. He’s finding a way to get on the field. He has to work double time, and he’s in the training room every single day to get to Friday. But he’s just one. We have a really good team. We have a lot of kids who refuse to give up. They continue to show up every single day and fight. I’m proud of Tate, but I’m really proud of this team.”

Randall wasn’t planning to go away quietly. The Raiders converted fourth and two, thanks to Ray, and picked up a first by way of a tough pickup from senior running back Danny Nunez. However, the drive stalled via turnover on downs at the Dumas 35 yard line.

Quarterback in a white jersey with orange pants throws a football during a game, wearing a patterned helmet and black faceguard. — Dumas quarterback Colton Mills ran for 90 yards and threw for 71 yards with a combined three touchdowns.

The Demons converted the opportunity into a nine-play, 65 yard march into the endzone. With 4:05 left to play, Mills launched a nice touch pass to senior wideout Haziel Lozoya in the corner of the endzone. Lozoya reeled in the football.

Dumas then went for two, which resulted in Mills catching Dunnam on a short curl beyond the goal line. With those eight points, Dumas created a nine-point gap at 28-19.

As time dwindled away, Randall made a late push. On a fourth and three at the Dumas 48 yard line, Hendrix Funk found Kash Funk beyond the sticks for a first down. However, an intentional grounding call and two incomplete passes — the latter swatted down by Dumas senior linebacker Blaise Williams — sealed the Raiders’ fate.

On defense, Williams totaled eight and a half tackles, followed by senior teammate Kayson Benge’s eight tackles.

Hendrix Funk paced the Raiders on offense, going 11-of-20 for 126 yards and one touchdown to just one interception. Ray carried the football 28 times for 92 yards and one score, and Kash Funk caught three passes for 33 yards.