Motley County (11-3) vs. Richland Springs (12-0): 1A Division II Six-Man UIL Football State Championship Preview

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GAME PREVIEW

A young Motley County squad will battle with one of the winningest programs in Texas football history in Richland Springs.

Motley County comes into the state title game after upsetting previously unbeaten Blackwell, 56-44.  The leader of its rushing attack is sophomore RB Jake Richards, who set a new six-man state record for rushing yards in a season last week.  He will enter this game with 3,903 yards on the year, breaking Mozelle’s Bryan Griffin’s 1983 mark of 3,798. Not to be over-looked is the fact that such a run based offense sets up the Matador’s passing game quite well.  QB Demitric Sims (1,430 yards, 32 TDs passing) has been great this year and his big receiver, TE Kade Wampler (30-751 yards, 20 TDs receiving), will be a tough target to cover.

Richland Springs will be making its 10th state title game appearance after knocking off two-time defending champion Strawn, 62-14.  Coach Jerry Burkhart has one of the deepest teams to date and uses a steady rotation of equally capable and fresh offensive players to run up the score on almost every opponent this season.  With four great backs splitting carries, including Lane Shannon, Landon Burkhart, and Griff Rigdon, it is easy to see how the Coyotes tend to run away with games offensively.  The secret weapon for coach Burkhart, though, may be the overall play of Shannon, who tends to be all over the place making big plays on offense with his limited touches, but more importantly on defense making tackles, staying in coverage, and breaking up plays down field or in the backfield for big losses.

While Motley County’s run game can be troublesome, Richland Springs has one of the best weaponized offensive attacks in the game.  If the Matadors want to win they will need to jump out to an early lead and maintain it by grinding the game down with their running game and keep the ball out the of Coyotes’ hands.  This is easier said than done and I think Richland Springs’ linebackers will come up with big stops, forcing turnovers on downs and giving the Coyotes extra possessions enabling them to pull away from the Matadors. 

These two teams faced off in the 2011 D2 title game with Richland Springs handling the Matadors a 76-28 loss. I am expecting a similar result in 2019.  The silver lining for Motley County is they will be able to claim the state’s second ever 4,000-yard rusher in Richards, but when it’s all said in done I expect Richland Springs to set a state record of their own by winning their new state record 9th title. 

Saunders' Pick: Richland Springs by 40

- Leman Saunders

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Motley County

Jake Richards (HUDL)

Tough running back with breakaway speed, Richards will attempt to be only the second player in state history to rush for 4,000 yards in a season.  Season stat line: 278-3,903 yards, 66 TDs; 4,095 yards of total offense.

Demitic Sims (HUDL)

Small quarterback with a big arm.  Play-action pass is a big part of the Matadors game and Sims is lethal at picking the secondary apart.  Season stat line:  60-113-5 for 1,430 yards, 32 TDs.

Richland Springs

RB/S Lane Shannon (HUDL)

Tough as a barrel of rusty nails.  He’s the team’s leading tackler (51 solo, 48 assists) who love to find the ball and make defensive plays in the backfield from his position in the secondary (17 TFL).  Also a weapon on offense with 12 rushing TDs, 7 passing TDs and 5 receiving TDs.

RB/LB Matthew Rigdon (HUDL)

Bruising back and linebacker.  Whether he hits you running the ball or with you carrying the ball, you are going to feel it.  Team’s leading rusher (110-1,108 yards, 21 TDs), passer (42-70-0 for 888 yards, 12 TDs) and scorer (156).  A big game from Rigdon usually means a big game for the Coyotes.

- Leman Saunders

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PREDICTIONS

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TEPPER'S PICK

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