RICHLAND SPRINGS STATE CHAMPIONS

By
December 17, 2006

Saturday night in Abilene at Shotwell Stadium, somewhere in the neighborhood of 12000 people came out to watch Richland Springs and Rule play for the Division 1 Six-Man State Championship. They saw a great game between two very good teams. Only one team could walk away with the title. Last night that team was Richland Springs.

The Coyotes of Richland Springs defeated the Bobcats from Rule. The score was 78-58 and it was a great game between two great schools and programs. Unfortunately, neither school was at full strength due to injuries. It was a long season that began with two a days back in August and ended in Abilene here in the middle of December. Both teams played their hearts out just as you would expect them to.

Rule came into the game as a 15 point favorite by the people that are in the know about such things. Richland Springs left with a 20 point victory and a very nice piece of hardware to go into a trophy case that is already crowded. This was Richland Springs second State Championship in the last three years.
The Coyote win didn't come easy.

Coach Jerry Burkhart was glad to get the win. He was also very complementary of Coach Mike Reed and his Rule team. And why not? Rule gave Burkhart's team all it wanted.

Richland Springs kicked off to Rule to start the game. They did so by kicking the ball onside and apparently caught Rule by surprise. The Coyotes recovered the kick and immediately went to work with the ball at just inside Rule's 30 yard line. Two running plays resulted in no gain and on third down Tyler Ethridge threw an incomplete pass bring up 4th and 14 yards. Ethridge's favorite receiver line up split out to the left side. His route was fairly simple. He got behind the Rule defensive backs after appearing to be covered fairly well. At the last moment he accelerated in the end zone and Etheridge threw him a beautiful pass and just like that Richland Springs was up 6-0 with 8:31 left in the first. Richie Daniels converted on the PAT and the Coyotes led 8-0.

The kickoff was returned to the Bobcat 15 where it would be 1st and 15. Rule nearly gave the ball away deep in their territory when a pitch out went over the head of the intended Bobcat. He was able to pick the ball up from the turf and get a pass off that was caught for a first down. C J Saucedo, a speedy running back for Rule then got around the right side of the Coyote defense and looked like he was gone for a touchdown. Ethridge, who also plays on defense finally caught Saucedo which is pretty rare. Not before he got down to about the 5 yard line of the Coyotes. The Richland Springs defense held Rule at bay for three downs but on a 4th and goal from the one yard line, Julian Menchaca scored. Stephen Pace playing with a leg injury convert the PAT and the game was tied 8-8 with 6:14 left in the 1st quarter.

After a short kick by Rule, Richland Springs took over on their own 35 yard line. On third and long Ethridge completed a pass just long enough for a 1st down. The Coyotes would grind it out until Ethridge would score from 8 yards out. The kick would fail and Richland Springs led 14-8 with 3:21 left in the first quarter.

Rule would drive for a score. CJ Saucedo carried it in from 6 yards out. Pace missed the kick and the score was tied at 14 with 43 seconds left in the 1st quarter. On the next series the Coyotes would score again on an Ethridge to Jesstin Fox pass play good for 53 yards. Daniels Kick was good and Richland Springs was in front 22-14 with 5 seconds left in the first.

Rule would score on a 27 yard pass to Kyle Simpson but Pace would miss the PAT and Richland Springs remained in the lead 22-20 with 8:57 left in the half. The teams would trade scores before the half. Cason Fikes scores on a 15 yard pass from Ethridge and the kick was good and RS was up 30-20.
Rule came right back on a 25 pass to Simpson from Saucedo. Pace made the kick and the score was Richland Springs 30 Rule 28 with 6:18 left in the half. With 5:56 left Ethridge scored from 10 yards out the PAT was good and RS led 38-28 with 5:56 left in the half. Rule came back and scored on a Spitzer 13 yard pass from Saucedo. But Richland Springs blocked the PAT and led 38-34 at the half. Each team scored 5 tds in the first half but RS missed fewer PATs.

Richland Springs took the opening kickoff of the 2nd half and scored on their most time consuming drive of the night with Ethridge running the ball in from 4 yards out. Kick good and RS leads 46-34 with 7:52 left in the third.

Rule comes right back and takes their turn to score on a Tye Clark reception from Spitzer and Pace adds the PAT and it is 46-42 with 3:45 left in the third. Not missing a chance to score Richland Springs comes right back and scores on a 45 yard pass from Ethridge to Williams and the PAT is good and the score becomes 54-42 with 1:46 left in the 3rd. Going for the win, Richland Springs recovers an onside kick. The drive would stall those as Rule would intercept a pass in the end zone. Being down by 12 at this point Rule knows they must score and they do on a Kade Kittley reception from Spitzer and Pace converts and the score is 54-50 with 8:30 left in the game. Rule tried an on side kick that RS nearly breaks for a TD. Ethridge comes back and scores on a beautiful 29 yard run and the PAT is good and Richland Springs is back up by 12 with 8:11 left in the game. Rule is in the position now that they have to score.

The first blink, AT 7:29 left in the game, Rule loses a fumble and Richland Springs Coyotes are smelling blood. They promptly drive 40 yards and Score and with the PAT the score stands 70-50 with 5:13 left. With 4:14 left Rule gamely pulls back to with in 12 at 70-58

Methodically, the Coyotes with the skill of a surgeon go right back to cutting on the time clock and looking for one last score and they get it with 2:08 left in the game. The PAT is good and the score goes to 78-58.

The final is 78-58. Great game by Rule. The Championship belongs to Richland Springs.

Hail to the Victor.

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