ARLINGTON, Texas – South Oak Cliff fell short in the state championship for the second straight year.
Richmond Randle defeated the Golden Bears 38-35 to take home the 5A Division II title at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Friday night.
South Oak Cliff dominated the stat sheet, outgaining Randle 461-221, but special teams struggles swung the game in the Lions’ favor.
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Sincere Timpson took the opening kickoff 82 yards for a score for Randle.
South Oak Cliff trailed by 10 points at halftime, but rallied back.
Running back Mikail Trotter took the first play from scrimmage in the second half 75 yards for a touchdown.
On the Golden Bears’ next drive, Damond Williams ran for an 85-yard score to give South Oak Cliff the lead.
The game continued to go back and forth until Randle’s Sean Smith ran back the team’s second kickoff return for a touchdown. That score put the Lions up 38-35.
South Oak Cliff missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal as time expired.
It was the Golden Bears’ fourth straight appearance in the 5A Division II championship game.
South Oak Cliff won the state title in 2021-22 and 2022-23 season, but lost in last year’s title game to Port Neches-Groves.
