By Zach Duncan/ Red River Roundup
IOWA PARK – After Brekken Ireland returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter Friday afternoon, Randall owned a three-touchdown lead over Burnet.
However, the Bulldogs didn’t go away quietly in a Region I-4A Division I area matchup at Hawk Stadium.
Burnet scored twice in a three-minute span, but it was Randall making critical plays down the stretch, earning a 24-14 victory.
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“Burnet’s a good football team in a tough district. They’re big and they’re physical,” Raiders coach Dan Sherwood said. “I’m proud of our defense bowing their neck there at the end.”
Randall (10-2) advances to the regional semifinals for the third time in four seasons where No. 2 Stephenville (12-0) awaits after the Yellow Jackets claimed a 55-7 victory over Dumas.
After the Bulldogs sliced Randall’s lead to 21-14 with 9:19 remaining, the Raiders shaved five-plus minutes off the clock, making it a two-score game with Jacob Avalos’ 30-yard field goal.
Then the Raiders’ defense slammed the door as Garrett Splitt and Terry White teamed up for one sack and Isael Medina forced a fumble on another sack of Burnett quarterback Fisher Powell in the final minutes.
That marked the third turnover Randall’s defense forced after Tayren Combs’ interception with Burnet threatening before the half and Ireland’s pick-six that gave the Raiders a 21-0 lead with 2:26 left in the third quarter.
“Turnovers is one of our keys to the game. You’ve got to get two-plus turnovers,” Ireland said. “And if you’re going to accomplish that, then it’s going to be a pretty good night.”
It was a pretty good start for the Raiders, which reached the 10-win mark for the second straight season. Randall opened with a 75-yard touchdown drive as Braylen Preciado found Phoenix Sherwood in the end zone for a 13-yard score.
Drayden Ray had a key 36-yard catch on Randall’s first possession and found the end zone on a 22-yard run early in the second quarter to put the Raiders ahead, 14-0. The junior finished with 93 rushing yards and 37 receiving yards – easily both team highs.
“I knew we had to start fast, and we have a good defense that can come through in hard moments,” Ray said. “We knew we had to get that spark quick, and on that first drive we did.”
Burnett (4-8) was content relying on the legs of senior Josiah Coronado, who finished with 165 yards on 29 carries. After Ireland’s interception bumped the lead to 21 points, the Bulldogs benefitted from a strong kickoff returns and two penalties as Coronado scored on a 9-yard run.
Coronado got loose for a 40-yard run after Randall was forced to punt, and Burnet’s Bryan Johnson scored from 2 yards out on the ensuing play.
With momentum leaning the Bulldogs’ way, Randall’s offense went to work converting a couple third downs and benefitting from two Burnet pass interfere calls. The snap was high on Avalos’ field goal attempt, but the holder got it down, enabling the Raiders to lead by 10 points with 3:58 remaining.
A year ago, Randall lost a 47-7 decision against Stephenville in the third round, and the Raiders will be decisive underdogs again. But Sherwood’s guys know the stakes and will be ready to play.
“Playoffs are electric, man. Anything can happen,” Ireland said. “You never know when it’s your last game, so you have to play your heart out every night.”