The last game of the regional final weekend in the state was a thriller at NRG Stadium Saturday night, as the Iowa Colony Pioneers took on the Richmond Randle Lions. These schools are programs on the rise in the Houston-area, with both in their third varsity seasons.
Iowa Colony has had an impressive year, with their lone loss coming to these Lions. In contrast, on the other side, Richmond Randle has had a historic undefeated season so far, with their closest regular season matchup being a 20-point win against these Pioneers. Their first matchup ended with a score of 30-10, but this rematch would come down to the wire Saturday night in Houston.
Game Recap
Iowa Colony received the ball to open the game and would immediately get the scoring started. A seven-play drive was capped off with Carson White keeping it himself for a three-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 Pioneers. On the ensuing Richmond Randle possession, a pass was intercepted by Jeremy Garner II to set up Iowa Colony in Lion territory. Iowa Colony drove into the redzone, but the drive would end on an interception by Randle’s Ryan Mallory.
Starting at their 29-yard line, the Lions marched down the field, using a 14-play drive, eventually getting into the endzone on a Keilan Sweeny three-yard touchdown run. The Pioneers would line up to punt after going three-and-out on the following drive but attempted a fake. Richmond Randle was all over it, forcing a turnover-on-downs and setting themselves up deep in Iowa Colony territory.
After a roughing the kicker penalty on a field goal attempt extended the drive, Randle would find the endzone again on a six-yard touchdown run by Sweeny, making it 14-7 Lions, but Iowa Colony would knot this one up before halftime. White found Ian Hill over the middle for a 22-yard touchdown to make it 14-14, where it stood at the half.
Both defenses came out and dominated the second half. All four third-quarter drives resulted in punts, leading us to a 14-14 stalemate entering the fourth. The fourth quarter was much of the same, although Randle did have a chance to take the lead. With 4:32 remaining, the Lions lined up for a 36-yard field goal, but the kick went off the upright and off the crossbar and was no good.
Following another Iowa Colony punt, the Lions had one more chance to win it in regulation. With three seconds left from the Pioneer 44-yard line, Tyler Skrabanek threw a pass over the middle to Dacorian Rubin, pitching it back to Cedrick McClintock, who found a seam down the right side but a game-saving tackle by Iowa Colony’s Chandler Love at the eight-yard line would send this one to overtime.
Randle started overtime with possession and would strike first, as Skrabanek found Sweeny in the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown, meaning the Pioneers needed a touchdown to keep their season alive. On third down, White dropped back, and as he threw, he got hit from behind, forcing the ball out. The Lions recovered it, giving Richmond Randle the 21-14 win in overtime.
Richmond Randle’s historic run continues as the Lions advance to the state semifinals for the first time in school history to face off with Boerne.
