The Ryan High School varsity football team (Denton, TX) will play a neutral-site playoff game against Richland (North Richland Hills, TX) today at 2:00 PM. This matchup is part of the 2024 UIL Texas Football State Championships, specifically the 2024 Football Conference 5A Division 1 tournament.

Ryan vs Richland Game Info:

What: Texas High School Football Playoffs
Who: Ryan vs Richland
When: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Bracket: 2024 UIL Texas Football State Championships – 2024 Football Conference 5A D1
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Ryan vs Richland

As the Richland (North Richland Hills, TX) and Ryan (Denton, TX) football teams face off in a highly anticipated playoff matchup, both teams enter the game with impressive records and a history of dominant performances. Here’s a detailed look at how these two teams compare, their performance throughout the season, and what to expect from their playoff clash.

Season Records & Performance

• Richland enters the game with a 10-2 overall record, finishing 6-2 in district play. The team has been strong at home (6-0) but has faced some challenges on the road (3-2). Despite these setbacks, Richland boasts a solid overall win percentage of .833 and a district win percentage of .750.
• Ryan, on the other hand, is coming into the matchup with an 11-1 record, with a 7-1 district performance. The team has been dominant at home (6-0) and on the road (4-1), giving them a win percentage of .917 and a district percentage of .875.

Head-to-Head History

In their previous matchup earlier this season on October 11, Ryan came out on top, winning 44-19 in a dominant performance. Ryan scored consistently through all quarters, with Richland struggling to keep pace, particularly in the second and fourth quarters. Despite Richland’s strong start with a 7-3 lead after the first quarter, Ryan’s explosive offense quickly turned the tide, and Richland couldn’t recover.

Offensive & Defensive Breakdown

Both teams excel in different areas, with Ryan’s rushing game being a key strength. Here’s a closer look at their offensive and defensive stats:

• Richland’s Offensive Stats:
  • Rushing Yards per Game: 147.8
  • Passing Yards per Game: 313.4
  • Total Yards per Game: 461.3
  • Points per Game: 47.5
• Ryan’s Offensive Stats:
  • Rushing Yards per Game: 212.6
  • Passing Yards per Game: 196.4
  • Total Yards per Game: 409.0
  • Points per Game: 35.7

Richland’s passing attack has been their main offensive weapon, averaging over 300 yards per game. They have balanced their offense well, with strong performances through the air and on the ground. In comparison, Ryan has been more focused on the rushing game, averaging 212.6 yards per game, a full 65 more yards than Richland.

Defensive Comparison

Defensively, both teams have shown strong performances, though Ryan has been slightly more aggressive in terms of pass rush:

• Richland’s Defense:
  • Tackles per Game: 73.1
  • Sacks per Game: 0.6
• Ryan’s Defense:
  • Tackles per Game: 71.5
  • Sacks per Game: 2.5

While Richland’s defense has been solid overall, Ryan’s defense has been more effective in getting to the quarterback, recording more than twice the sacks per game compared to Richland.

Key Players to Watch

• Richland:
  • Jayshon Gibson: The team’s leading rusher, with 72.2 yards per game.
  • Drew Kates: A key player in the passing game, averaging 288.8 passing yards per game.
  • Xavier Johnson: Leading the receiving corps with 102.8 yards per game.
  • Roddrick Roberts: A standout on defense, with 10.4 tackles per game.
• Ryan:
  • Nehemiah Warmate: Ryan’s top rusher, with 86.5 yards per game.
  • Quin Henigan: The team’s quarterback, averaging 175.8 passing yards per game.
  • Braeden Mussett: A major threat in the receiving game, leading with 68.3 yards per game.
  • Errol West: A key defensive player, contributing with 0.7 sacks per game.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced several common opponents this season, and each team has fared well against them. Notable matchups include victories over teams like Brewer, Birdville, and Granbury. However, both teams have also faced losses against Aledo, showing that they aren’t invincible.

Game Outlook

With Richland’s high-scoring offense and Ryan’s balanced attack, this playoff game promises to be a competitive and exciting contest. While Richland has the edge in total yards per game, Ryan’s strong rushing game and better pass rush could give them an advantage in this matchup. Richland will need to adjust to Ryan’s aggressive defense and find ways to move the ball effectively, especially through the air.

The key to the game will likely be how well Richland can protect its quarterback and exploit Ryan’s defense. Ryan, meanwhile, will look to maintain their offensive rhythm and control the tempo of the game with their powerful running game.

Prediction: While both teams have been impressive throughout the season, Ryan’s overall performance and dominance in their previous matchup make them the favorites heading into this neutral-site playoff game. However, with Richland’s potent offense, expect a competitive game that could go down to the wire.