San Antonio Cole 35, Universal City Randolph 32

October 20, 2023

Cole Cougar Stadium

San Antonio, TX

One of the state’s most unique and underrated rivalries takes place every year in the Alamo City as students who are the children of military dependents battle it out in the JBSA Military Bowl. The games features the Cole Cougars representing the Army and the Randolph Ro-Hawks representing the Air Force.

It’s a spirited and friendly rivalry, but plenty intense nonetheless. And last season's version will go down as one of the best in recent memory as upstart Cole stunned previously undefeated Randolph, 35-32.

San Antonio Cole wasted no time jumping out to a lead as the Cougars found the end zone on their opening drive when Jeremiah Johnson hauled in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Freds.

Cole’s Taiwo Atunrase got an interception on the next series and it appeared the Cougars were primed to extend the lead, but the Randolph defense came up with a key fourth down stop on their own 19-yard line. The Ro-Hawks would go three-and-out and be forced to punt and that’s where Atunrase would strike again as he retuned the punt 44-yards to the end zone for the score to give the Cougars a 14-0 lead with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter Cole would extend the lead further as DL Alex Flowers would scoop up a Randolph fumble and race 54-yards the other direction to give Cole a stunning 21-0 lead. Cole came into the game with a 4-3 record and fighting for their playoff lives, while at 8-0 Randolph was on the fringe of jumping into the state rankings.

Randolph would get off the mat and show why they are one of Region IV’s best teams as QB Collin Stucki connected with WR Lee McMooian for a 52-yard scoring strike to cut the Cole lead to 21-7 early in the second quarter. After forcing a Cole three and out, the Ro-Hawks would cut into the lead again as Stucki connected with DeShon Cobbins for a 28-yard scoring strike and quickly the Cole lead was slashed to 21-14.

Universal City Randolph would add a field goal right before halftime to make it a 21-17 score with 1:21 remaining in the first half setting up maybe the drive that changed the course of this game. With underdog Cole teetering allowing 17-straight points, Cole got a kickoff return out to midfield and a long pass from Freds to Atunrase to set up RB Zachary Blue for a short three-yard touchdown run with just seven seconds left in the first half to push the Cole lead back to two scores at the break at 28-17.

Both defenses dominated the third quarter with neither team able to find scoring but less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Randolph would strike through the air once again as Stucki connected with Aaron Davis on a short pass over the middle, Davis’ speed did the rest as he raced 80-yards for the score and after the two-point conversion Cole’s lead was cut to 28-25.

The Cougars would have an answer on their next drive as on a third and six with 7:42 left in the game, Blue would score his second touchdown of the night, this one from 28-yards out to push the Cole lead back to ten at 35-25. Randolph wouldn’t go away quietly as they quickly marched 73-yards to score with 3:57 left as Stucki tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the night, a ten-yarder to Lee McMooian to again trim the Cole lead to three at 35-32.

Randolph with just one timeout left elected to go with the onside kick and it was executed to perfection as Cody Howard would come up with the loose ball and again Cole looked to be on the verge of letting the upset slip away. Randolph would pick up one first down, but the Cole defense stood tall after that forcing a turnover on downs at the 32-yard line preserving a huge win for Cole would use this victory to eventually propel themselves into the playoffs. Randolph, despite the loss would finish the season as district champions and ended with a 10-2 overall record falling in the area playoffs.