Whataburger Team of the Week | Randle Answers Back With Authoritative Win Over SOC
Among the more prominent headlines to emerge from opening week: Round 3 goes to Randle. The long-awaited rematch with South Oak Cliff saw the Lions triumph 20-14 on Friday, opening the fall by avenging their 5A Division II state championship defeat from a year ago.
This rivalry has quickly become a defining piece of Randle’s recent history. The Lions captured their first UIL title by defeating South Oak Cliff at AT&T Stadium in 2024, only to see the Golden Bears return the favor in the 2025 championship game. Friday’s latest chapter at Prairie View A&M brought the all-time series to 2-1 in favor of Brian Randle and the Lions.
It took some time to get cooking, but Randle still consistently moved the ball into field-goal range, converting twice to build a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Then, with just under nine minutes left in the half, senior tailback Landen Williams-Callis broke the game open with a sweep down the sideline for a touchdown.
SOC responded in quick succession, turning an interception into a red-zone opportunity that senior Kenneth Young converted into a touchdown, bringing the Golden Bears within 13-7 just before halftime. Williams-Callis had another answer, however, taking a carry to the house with 2:40 remaining in the third quarter to give Randle a 20-7 advantage. All told, the five-star Texas commit racked up a monstrous 230 rushing yards.
Despite South Oak Cliff trimming the deficit to 20-14 on a swing pass from Jayden Williams to Young with less than two minutes remaining, Randle held on to secure the victory.
Randle’s payback could prove to be an early glimpse of what the Lions have in store for the months ahead. The statement has been made. Now comes the opportunity to build on it. Their next test arrives Thursday night at home against Westfield.
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