RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
With victory No. 1 under their belts, the Randolph High football team is aiming for a superior performance tonight at 7:30 p.m. versus Karnes City.
Cesar Ledesma registered 16 tackles last Friday and Randolph picked off three passes in a 35-14 win against Tom Moore High of Ingram.
Randolph (1-1) continues non-district play on the road against a Karnes City program it has had success with in recent seasons.
"Karnes City always plays us tough and we are not overlooking them or any team on our schedule," said Pete Wesp, Randolph head coach. "We had a good effort against Ingram and it's time to look at our next opponent."
Several reserve Ro-Hawk players got field time in the final quarter of the Ingram game. Wesp said RHS coaches did not substitute as freely because the regular rotation needed more repetitions to become cohesive prior to the start of District 27-2A play.
The early output against Ingram (0-2) all but sealed a victory as Randolph built a 28-0 lead before halftime. The Ro-Hawks got insurance points just before the intermission as Nic Walters passed to Tony Hopkins on a senior-to-senior aerial touchdown covering 20 yards.
Walters had a quarterback keeper for a score, and the Ro-Hawks got touchdown runs by Kyle McNally and Deron Terrell to build their insurmountable lead. Three RHS runners - Terrell, McNally and Tony Smith - gained over 100 yards rushing and the team combined for 342 total ground yards.
Smith, playing extensively at fullback, had the final Randolph touchdown on a 39-yard scamper.
Josh Dodgen and Kory Kuhl combined for 17 tackles, including eight behind the line of scrimmage. Ledesma had five tackles for losses.
Ingram scored twice in the second half but was not able to seriously challenge the deficit. Smith booted five extra-points in the win, which came at Mickler Stadium. Now, RHS will play two of its next three games on the road.
"We need to be consistently good both at home and on the road," Wesp said. "Most playoff games are going to be road games and that's a constant goal for us, to make the playoffs."
The Karnes City clash this week and a home game with Navarro are all that remain before Randolph begins district play Sept. 26 at Blanco.