Raiders set up showdown with West Plains after dominant win over Hereford

The stage is officially set for next week’s much-anticipated Canyon ISD showdown, and the Randall Raiders made sure they arrived there in convincing fashion. On Friday night at Whiteface Stadium, Randall left no doubt about who belonged atop the District 2-4A Division I standings, blanking Hereford 24-0 in a statement performance that showcased power, precision, and poise.

With the victory, the Raiders (6-1 overall, 2-0 district) now head into a marquee matchup against fellow district leader West Plains (6-1, 2-0) at Happy State Bank Stadium. The winner will seize sole possession of first place and the inside track to the district championship — something both programs have been building toward all season.

If anyone thought Randall might be looking ahead to that clash, they were mistaken. The Raiders came out laser-focused and physically dominant from the opening kickoff.

Senior running back Drayden Ray stole the show in the first half, scoring all three of Randall’s touchdowns before the break — including two explosive runs of over 60 yards. His blend of speed and vision gave Hereford fits all night.

Randall wasted no time asserting control. After forcing a Hereford punt, the Raiders marched 80 yards down the field on their opening possession. Facing a fourth-and-three from the Hereford 10, Randall coach Gaylon Selman kept the offense on the field, and Ray rewarded that confidence by slicing through a crease on the right side for the game’s first touchdown.

Moments later, Ray struck again. On Randall’s next drive, he found daylight in nearly the same spot, bolting 61 yards untouched to put the Raiders up 14-0 late in the first quarter.

The only real threat from Hereford came early in the second quarter after Randall was stopped on fourth-and-one deep in its own territory. But just as the Whitefaces looked poised to capitalize, disaster struck. Quarterback Kalub Ramirez went down with an ankle injury after leading his team inside the Randall 10-yard line. Backup Bennett Bell stepped in but was denied on fourth-and-one from the Raiders’ goal line — a crushing missed opportunity that swung momentum squarely back to Randall.

From there, the game belonged entirely to the Raiders. With 16 seconds left before halftime, Ray broke loose one more time, sprinting 73 yards straight up the middle to give Randall a commanding 21-0 lead. That burst not only sealed the game but served as a reminder of how dangerous Randall can be when Ray is in rhythm.

Quarterback Kaison Benton, typically the centerpiece of the Randall offense, played the role of steady game manager Friday night. Benton completed 17 of 24 passes for 176 yards without a turnover — an efficient, composed performance that kept the offense balanced and Hereford’s defense guessing.

The Raiders’ defense, meanwhile, was impeccable. They stifled the Whitefaces’ attack, especially after Ramirez’s injury, limiting them to short gains and forcing them into predictable passing situations.

Randall’s only second-half points came on a grueling 7:49 drive to open the third quarter, capped by Jacob Avalos’s 32-yard field goal. From there, the Raiders simply controlled the clock and shut the door.

Now, all eyes turn to next week. Randall vs. West Plains — a game months in the making — will decide who sits atop District 2-4A Division I. If the Raiders bring the same defensive intensity and explosive ground game they showed against Hereford, the Wolves of West Plains may be in for their toughest fight yet.

Next week’s showdown isn’t just another district game. It’s for bragging rights, playoff positioning, and a chance to prove who truly rules Canyon ISD.