Two dominant backs in Jayshon Gibson and Ryan Estrada are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Richland Royals will square off against the El Dorado Aztecs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Richland is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Wyatt 77-43. The Royals' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Brett Kates
| 11/14/25 @ Wyatt | 327 |
| 09/12/25 vs Denton | 297 |
| 11/07/25 @ Azle | 274 |
| 10/17/25 @ Granbury | 269 |
| 08/29/25 @ Haltom | 232 |
Brett Kates was his usual excellent self, throwing for 327 yards and three TDs while completing 73.7% of his passes, and also punching in a pair of scores on the ground. Those 327 passing yards gave him a new career-high. Aaron Brooks did his part to keep the secondary busy, picking up 102 receiving yards.
Meanwhile, El Dorado came tearing into Friday's game with six straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 33.7 points), and they left with even more momentum. They came within a single point of losing the streak, but they secured a 77-76 W against the Sandies. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Aztecs have posted since September 20, 2024.
Richland better keep an eye on Jadarius Sanders. He was instrumental in El Dorado's win, picking up 101 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 99 yards and one TD on only five carries. Rahsan Bryant did his part for the team as well, scoring a TD off of 156 receiving yards.
El Dorado was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 411 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Amarillo only rushed for 186.
Special teams was a major factor in the game for El Dorado, racking up 23 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Sanders, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Richland's record now sits at 8-3. As for El Dorado, their record is now 10-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Richland has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 256.7 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like El Dorado struggles in that department as they've been averaging 350.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other football content.
