South Oak Cliff (14-1) vs. Richmond Randle (15-0), 11 a.m. Saturday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium

It’s a rematch of last year’s classic state title showdown in which underdog Randle stunned South Oak Cliff, which was playing in their fourth straight title game. 

With SOC’s 35-17 win over Melissa last week, the Golden Bears are just the eighth team in history to play in five straight UIL State title games.

SOC used a big first half offensive outburst to put Melissa away as the Bears led 35-10 at the half before shutting the offense down.

RB Mikail Trotter led SOC with 117 yards and four touchdowns, while the Golden Bears defense contained the explosive Melissa QB run game and got an interception return for a score that effectively put the game out of reach at 21-3.

Randle went to the Alamodome last week in what amounted to a true road test against Boerne, and passed that test with a 40-16 win. RB Landen Williams-Callis was again the story for Randle with 202 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. But the real difference in the game was Randle’s red zone defense as they stoned Boerne three times inside the five-yard line and also forced a missed field goal on another red zone drive.

That’s a good news/bad news scenario for Randle as you’ve got to love the red zone defense, but Boerne did move the ball well in the game. The Lions made a few other mistakes on the night and that will have to be cleaned up this week against SOC.

SOC held Wlliams-Callis relatively in check last year, but mistakes, especially on special teams, doomed the Golden Bears. If SOC plays a clean game, their dominance in the trenches on both sides of the ball is the difference. But Randle is fully capable of pouncing if SOC plays sloppy.

Stepp’s Pick: South Oak Cliff 30, Richmond Randle 23

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Oak Cliff

Sr. LB Jamarion Phillips - The leader of the Golden Bears defense has signed with Baylor, but before he heads to Waco he'll look to build off of last season's state title performance in which he had a team-high nine tackles, including one for loss, and a pass breakup. There may not be a linebacker in the state that lives in opponent's backfields more than Phillips (6-foot, 210 pounds).

Sr. RB Mikail Trotter - While the running back on the opposite sideline will get the majority of the headlines leading up to kickoff, Trotter is just as deserving given his resume, including in the state title game last season when he out-rushed Landen Williams-Callis 172-106 and scored two TDs to Williams-Callis' one.

Sr. RB/KR Levon Morton - In a game that most are expecting to be evenliy-matched, a big play from special teams could be the difference and that's precisely where Morton (5-foot-7, 175 pounds) shines. He's lethal in the return game, but can also get it done as a complementary back to Trotter.

Richmond Randle

Jr. RB Landen Williams-Callis - If this superstar isn't already one of the greatest to ever play Texas high school football, he's on the doorstep. Williams-Callis could leave no doubt with another sensational performance on Saturday. The Texas Gatorade Player of the Year has over 7,000 rushing yards in his career and is the most-offered prospect in Texas.

Sr. QB Tyler Skrabanek - The 6-foot-4 signal-caller has been surgical this season, particularly in the playoffs where he's been among the best QBs in the state. He completed 81-of-104 passes for 1,109 yards, 8 touchdowns and three interceptions in the first four games of the postseason. He wasn't asked to do much in last year's state championship game (4-of-9 for 49 yards). That won't be the case this year with how he's playing.

Sr. LB Noriel "Pac Man" Dominguez - After having to sit out last season due to transfer rules, "Pac Man" has chomped his way through opposing offenses with ease. He's one of the more violent linebackers in Texas, which is why TCU is excited about his future in Fort Worth.

- William Wilkerson

PREDICTIONS

THE PICK