Richland Springs Heads Into State Final as Underdog Against No. 1 Jayton

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Richland Springs Coyotes are the greatest six-man dynasty the game has ever seen, but they’ll be the underdog Wednesday in the Class 1A Division II state final against No. 1-ranked Jayton.

Though Richland Springs is home to a record nine state titles, the No. 3-ranked Coyotes are heading to the state championship game for the first time since 2020.

They haven’t won it all since 2019.

So for this year’s group of players, playing for the state title is something they’ve never experienced. 

Their opponent, meanwhile, is the defending state champion and has spent all season as the favorite to do it again.

Jayton has won 29 straight games and 41 of its last 42. The Jaybirds have been dominant this year, winning all but two of their games by the 45-point mercy rule.

Even their matchup with No. 2 Klondike in the state semifinals turned into a 64-19 blowout.

Does Richland Springs have any hope of pulling off the upset?

The Coyotes do have some factors in their favor. They’ve won 12 in a row since a season-opening 52-6 loss to Gordon, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 1A Division I.

Richland Springs followed that up with a 42-14 win over state power Jayton, and they’ve 45’d everyone since, including an impressive 66-20 romp past No. 6 Strawn in the state semifinals.

And though the players don’t have any experience in the state final, their head coach certainly does. 

Harley Ethridge was the offensive coordinator for Richland Springs when its dynasty began with the first state title back in 2004, and he has been an assistant at the school for other state-title runs since then.

Ethridge also led Follett to the state final in 2012 when the Panthers lost to Richland Springs.

Ethridge’s son, Tyler, was a legendary spread back for the Coyotes when they won their first three state titles, and another son, Cohen, is leading this year’s team.

Cohen has accounted for 2,554 yards of offense and 50 touchdowns, and he also has an incredible 10 kick returns for scores (five from kickoffs and five from punts).

The Coyotes are from a one-man show. They have two other all-state players in Billy Perry, who is a force on the defensive line, and Ethan Deeds, who has intercepted seven passes. 

Perry and Deeds have also combined for over 2,500 yards of offense.

Center Brice Roesler anchors Richland Springs’ offensive line and is a “devastating blocker,” according to Harley Ethridge.

Like Richland Springs, Jayton returned four starters on both sides of the ball from last year’s team. The Jaybirds are led by last year’s state MVP running back Bode Ham, quarterback Sean Stanaland (the Offensive MVP of last year’s title game) and Colt Gentry (the Defensive MVP of last year’s title game).

In addition to last year’s state title, Jayton also won back-to-back crowns in 1984 and ‘85.

Remarkably, this will be the first-ever meeting between these storied programs when they play at 2 p.m. Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The other six-man final in 1A Division I will be between Gordon and Rankin at 11 a.m. Wednesday. It’s a classic David and Goliath matchup as Rankin is making its first-ever appearance in the state final, while Gordon has won 43 straight games and is going for the three-peat.