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The ultimate goal of any defense is simple — keep the opponent off the scoreboard. But the truly elite units go beyond that. They control tempo, force turnovers, and sometimes even score points of their own. On Thursday night at Happy State Bank Stadium, the Randall Raiders checked every box, leaning on a ferocious defensive effort to claim a 27-14 victory over Dumas in a pivotal District 2-4A, Division I showdown.
In a district packed with offensive firepower, defenses often determine postseason fate. Randall’s group showed why it may be the most complete in the field, overwhelming a typically high-octane Dumas squad and taking the early lead in the playoff race.
Head coach Dan Sherwood credited his team’s defensive identity and resilience.
The defensive star of the night was sophomore linebacker Jevin Gallegos, who delivered a two-minute highlight reel that completely swung the game. Late in the second quarter, Gallegos stripped Mills, scooped up the loose ball, and sprinted 67 yards downfield. Moments later, he snagged a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown. In total, Gallegos finished with seven tackles and two tackles for loss — plus 14 points’ worth of defensive fireworks.
Senior defensive linemen Garrett Splitt and Terris White anchored the front, combining for 19 total tackles and three quarterback pressures. Their ability to dominate the line of scrimmage kept Mills on the move all night and stalled Dumas’ normally potent rushing attack.
The Raiders’ offense did its part early, methodically chewing up clock and punching in two first-half scores. Senior quarterback Kaison Benton threw for two touchdowns — an eight-yard strike to Phoenix Sherwood and a 23-yard connection with Brekken Ireland — while junior running back Drayden Ray powered through for another on the ground. By halftime, Randall led 27-0, and the defense had all but smothered Dumas’ rhythm.
To their credit, the Demons didn’t fold. Mills regrouped, guiding Dumas to two second-half touchdowns — a short run by ZJ Jara and a 17-yard pass to Chris Jimenez — to trim the deficit to 27-14. The defense also stiffened, forcing Randall into several short drives. But three red zone stops by the Raiders kept the comeback from gaining full steam.
The win bumps Randall to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in district play, setting up a road matchup with Hereford next week. For Sherwood’s team, the message remains consistent: defense wins championships — and sometimes, wins games all by itself.
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