Richland Springs (10-0) has knocked off Blanket (56-30) and Oglesby (70-38) to reach the third round of the playoffs, while Calvert (9-2) has defeated Dime Box (52-0) and Cherokee (69-44).
Friday marks the 12th meeting between the two teams, all taking place in the playoffs, and the Coyotes own an 8-3 edge in the series. Last season’s 34-29 triumph was the narrowest margin of victory for the Coyotes en route to their ninth state title.
“One of the things that just happens within our region is the road goes through Calvert or Richland Springs. We know this week is going to be tough, and here on out it’s going to be tough,” said Richland Springs head coach Jerry Burkhart. “Calvert is always Calvert. They’re very fast, Coach (Ja’Marcus) Ashley does an awesome job with them so you better get ready to play. They want it just as bad as we do.”
Richland Springs carries a flawless record into Friday’s contest, but has experienced a few closer calls this year – at least compared to traditional Coyote results – including an 84-81 win over Cherokee that ensured the program’s 19th straight district title. The Coyotes were also forced to rally from a halftime deficit against Blanket in the playoff opener.
“We still have the heart, the talent hasn’t changed much, but when you go from 27 to 14 players that takes a little toll on you but you have to go with what you have,” Burkhart said. “We just don’t have as much depth, but whatever God presents you is what you coach up and prepare for the next week.”
In Calvert’s first-round win over Dime Box, the Trojans yielded just 44 yards of total offense and one first down with three takeaways – including an 11-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Tre’Quinton Green.
Offensively, Davien Flentroy rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown and also recorded a receiving touchdown. Da’Vion Allen, a 6-2, 280 sophomore, added a 23-yard touchdown run and Cohan Thompson scored on an 8-yard carry.
Through the first half last week, Calvert held Cherokee – which scored 81 on Richland Springs – scoreless as the Indians tallied all 44 of their points after halftime.
Calvert’s two losses this season occurred in the season opener against Division I No. 2 Borden County (62-42), then to Division I No. 5 Rankin (60-14). Since their second loss, the Trojans have won seven games in a game.
“Any time you play Calvert you know you’ve got a fight on your hands,” Burkhart said. “We know that they’re going to come out to play and give us their best game. They’ve always had a lot of speed and athleticism, and we’ve got make sure we stay focused and be really fundamentally sound.”
Richland Springs is averaging 60 points and 333 yards – 210 rushing and 123 passing – per game, with seven turnovers.
The Coyotes’ ground game is led by Landon Burkhart (978 yards, 20 TDs), Jadeyn Bryant (525 yards, 15 TDs), and Zane Capps (314 yards, 6 TDs).
Through the air, Burkhart has passed for 978 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions, and Bryant has thrown for 113 yards with two scoring tosses.
Leading receivers include Capps (16-255, 6 TDs), Bryant (14-273, 8 TDs), Chase Gossett (12-195, 4 TDs), T.J. Grant (6-231, 4 TDs), Kelton Lusty (5-71, TD), and Lane Garcia (3-60).
Defensively, the Coyotes yield 22 points and 171 yards – 103 passing and 68 rushing – per outing, with 18 takeaways.
Standouts include Bryant (54.5 tackles, 17 for loss, 7 sacks, 6 fumble recoveries), Burkhart (40.5 tackles, 10 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception), Capps (38.5 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack), Gossett (27.5 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Lusty (25 tackles, 9 for loss, 1 interception), Grant (23 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 interception), and Nick Nilson (13.5 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 1 fumble recovery).
“We’ve been a little banged up as far as ankle sprains and things like that go, so we need to heal up and have a good week of preparation, that’s the key,” Burkhart said. “God has given us this opportunity, it’s up to us to take advantage of it. We’re working hard and our kids are blessed to get to practice this week. If we all get healthy and are ready to go I think we’ll make a good game out of it. We just need to play hard, execute well on offense, play physical on defense and making our extra points is a key, too.”
Friday’s winner will face the Region III champion – either No. 10 Fannindel (11-0) or No. 11 Strawn (10-2) – in the state semifinals next week.
According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is a 3-point favorite.