Raiders defeat Bulldogs 24-14, advance to regional semifinals

Randall’s postseason run stayed alive Friday afternoon at Hawk Stadium, but it didn’t come without some late-game tension. What looked like a comfortable three-touchdown lead in the third quarter suddenly tightened, forcing the Raiders to dig deep to secure a 24–14 win over Burnet in their Region I-4A Division I area matchup.

The turning point appeared to come late in the third quarter when Brekken Ireland jumped a route and raced 64 yards for a momentum-shifting interception return. His score pushed Randall ahead 21–0 and seemed to put the Bulldogs in a hole too deep to escape. Burnet, however, proved determined to make things interesting. The Bulldogs struck for two touchdowns in a three-minute burst, turning what once looked like a rout into a tense one-possession battle early in the fourth.

With the Randall lead cut to 21–14 and more than nine minutes remaining, the Raiders needed a steady, clock-draining response—and they delivered exactly that. Leaning on a physical ground attack and some timely conversions, Randall melted over five minutes off the clock before extending the margin with a 30-yard field goal from Jacob Avalos. The drive not only widened the lead but also reasserted control at a critical moment.

From there, the Randall defense closed the door for good. Garrett Splitt and Terry White combined for a key late sack, and Isael Medina added another that jarred the ball loose from Burnet quarterback Fisher Powell. The fumble, recovered by the Raiders, was the third takeaway of the day for a defense that repeatedly rose to the moment. Earlier, Tayren Combs halted a promising Burnet drive with a first-half interception, and Ireland’s pick-six remained the highlight of the afternoon.

The Raiders opened the game with the kind of fast start that coach Dan Sherwood emphasizes. A 75-yard opening drive ended with Braylen Preciado hitting Phoenix Sherwood in the end zone for a 13-yard score. Big plays continued in the second quarter, particularly from junior Drayden Ray, who sparked the offense with a 36-yard catch before later breaking loose for a 22-yard touchdown run. Ray ultimately led Randall in both rushing (93 yards) and receiving (37 yards), giving the Raiders a versatile weapon that Burnet struggled to contain.

Burnet, meanwhile, leaned heavily on senior running back Josiah Coronado, who delivered a workhorse performance with 165 yards on 29 carries. His persistence helped fuel the Bulldogs’ brief comeback. Strong returns and two costly Randall penalties set up his 9-yard rushing score shortly after Ireland’s interception. Coronado added a 40-yard burst moments later, setting up a short touchdown by Bryan Johnson that brought Burnet within striking distance.

But when the pressure mounted, Randall responded like a battle-tested playoff team. The offense converted two important third downs and benefitted from a pair of pass interference penalties, setting the stage for Avalos’ clutch field goal. Despite a high snap, the hold was executed cleanly enough to extend the lead to double digits with under four minutes remaining.

With the win, Randall (10–2) advances to the regional semifinals for the third time in four years. Awaiting them is undefeated No. 2 Stephenville—a team that routed the Raiders 47–7 in the same round a year ago. Randall will enter as clear underdogs, but players and coaches alike understand the unpredictable nature of playoff football. The moment demands everything, and the Raiders appear ready to embrace it.