Randall stays perfect with 50-26 win Over Estacado, moves to 5-0

The Randall Raiders maintained their perfect season with a commanding 50-26 victory over Lubbock Estacado on Thursday night. The Raiders jumped out to an early lead and withstood a strong effort from Estacado to improve to 5-0 on the season, while their next opponent, Dumas, faces a challenging test against undefeated Bushland Friday night.

Randall wasted no time setting the tone, scoring on the game’s opening drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kaison Benton to wide receiver Kaiden Miller. Moments later, Randall capitalized on special teams, blocking an Estacado punt. Senior Dylan Ray followed that up with a 5-yard touchdown run, putting the Raiders up 13-0.

Ray wasn’t done. Just over a minute later, he broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run, extending Randall’s lead to 20-0 with more than eight minutes left in the first quarter. However, Ray’s night was cut short after he took a hard hit on the sideline in the first half. Fortunately, he walked the sidelines for the rest of the game, showing no signs of serious injury.

Estacado refused to fold despite the early deficit. The Matadors fought back in the second quarter, scoring their first points midway through the period. Just before halftime, quarterback Nate Johnson found Le'Darius Hall for a deep pass on fourth-and-5, cutting Randall's lead to 28-14. However, Randall's defense stepped up when Brad Matthews intercepted a pass in the final two minutes of the half, setting up another Benton touchdown pass to send the Raiders into the locker room with a 36-14 lead.

The third quarter turned into a defensive battle as both teams’ offenses stalled. Estacado finally found the end zone early in the fourth quarter, with Johnson connecting on another touchdown to trim Randall’s lead to 36-20. The Matadors followed up with a successful onside kick, but Randall’s RJ Matthews quickly dashed any hopes of a comeback, intercepting Johnson’s pass and returning possession to the Raiders.

Benton capitalized on the turnover, leading a drive capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run to increase Randall’s lead to 43-20. Roberto Chavira added a 25-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. Estacado’s Bobby Ross responded with a long rushing touchdown in the final seconds, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Randall’s control of the game.

After the game, Randall head coach Dan Sherwood praised both his team’s resilience and Estacado's relentless effort.

"It was a very satisfying win, but credit to Estacado—they didn’t go away," Sherwood said. "They kept fighting until the very end, even getting that big touchdown there at the end. I love seeing teams fight like that, whether it’s ours or another team. It shows a lot about their character."

Sherwood acknowledged the challenges Estacado presented and how facing adversity was beneficial for his team moving forward.

"We needed to see the speed and explosiveness that Estacado brought," Sherwood said. "They threw a lot of different formations at us, and I wanted to put us in difficult situations to see how we’d respond. We had some slips, but we found a way to get it done. That's what I’m proud of."

Sherwood also explained his strategy of going for it on multiple fourth downs throughout the game.

"I told Kaison [Benton] and the captains that I was going to put us in tough spots because you never know when we’ll need it," Sherwood said. "Sometimes we executed, sometimes we didn’t, but they bounced back when it mattered. That’s what I was most proud of."

Reflecting on his team's performance, Sherwood emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes, especially as Randall prepares for tougher matchups in district play.

"We’ve been starting fast, but fighting through tough situations is something we needed to experience," Sherwood said. "Estacado put us in those positions, and it’s going to make us better. We’ll be ready when district games roll around."

When asked if his team relaxed after the early lead, Sherwood said he hoped that wasn’t the case but acknowledged the natural tendency for teams to ease up.

"I hope not," Sherwood said. "I hope I’m doing a better job of not coaching them to think that way. But kids are kids, and people can fall into a lull after getting ahead. We made a couple of mistakes, but I’m confident we’ll be better for it."

Estacado head coach Eric Ward, in his first season with the Matadors, was optimistic despite the loss. He praised his team’s growth and discipline throughout the game.

"We preach discipline and leadership, and what you saw tonight was my boys coming together as a team," Ward said. "Randall is a disciplined football team, and my boys gave them everything they had. We’re building something, and I’m proud of what we’re doing."

Ward highlighted his team’s unity and determination, even as they fell to 1-4 on the season.

"The vision is still the same, and I believe in my boys. They’re the best 1-4 team I’ve seen, and they showed it tonight," Ward said. "The positives are coming, and when it all clicks, it’s going to be something special."

Looking ahead, Randall will enjoy a bye week before traveling to face Dumas, who currently holds a 2-2 record. Dumas started strong, with comfortable wins over Caprock and Borger, but they’ve struggled in recent weeks with back-to-back 35-28 losses to Canadian and Plainview—another Randall opponent the Raiders defeated 26-16 in Week 1. Dumas faces undefeated Bushland tonight at home in a game that will likely reveal more about their readiness for the upcoming clash with Randall.

Estacado, meanwhile, prepares for a matchup against Andrews High School on Oct. 4, as they look to rebound from the loss.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Randall defeats Estacado 50-26 to stay undefeated at 5-0