Abilene High, Red Oak rumble in Region I-5A Division I area football playoff
ABILENE HIGH (5-6) VS. RED OAK (9-2)
7 p.m. Friday ✮ Vernon Newsome Stadium, Mansfield
What’s riding on the game: Winner plays the Amarillo Tascosa (10-1)/Burleson Centennial (10-1) winner in the Region I-5A Division I semifinals next week. It’s the first meeting with Red Oak in AHS program history. Fans can listen to the game at live.abileneisd.org on any web browser or by clicking on the AISD Live button in the Abilene ISD mobile app. The game also will be streamed live on the AISD Live platform and on the AISD Live Facebook page at facebook.com/aisdlive.
Last week: Red Oak rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit to beat Denton Ryan 29-28 in overtime. Ryan scored first in OT and kicked a PAT. Red Hawk answered with a TD and went for two to win the game. Abilene High took down El Paso Del Valle 42-14 in El Paso
Scouting Red Oak: The Hawks, the No. 2 seed from District 4-5A DI, are averaging 406.2 yards (198.4 rushing/207.8 passing) and 44.3 points, while allowing 26.7 points. QB Jaylon Robinson (94-162-5) has thrown for 1,625 yards and 19 TDs. He’s also the leading rusher (84-751, 9 TDs), followed by Chris Martinez (95-583, 6 TDs) and Moses Martindale (92-550, 7 TDs). Ted Williams Jr. (30-572, 5 TDs), Jairrus Nicholson (27-519, 5 TDs) and Brayden Robinson (24-482, 7 TDs) are the leading receivers.
Eagles update: AHS is trying to reach the third round for the first time since 2020, when it beat El Paso Eastwood 42-35 and North Crowley 12-7 before falling to Denton Guyer 35-21. Freshman QB Brayden Henry had his best game in only his third outing with the varsity last week, completing all 14 attempts for 208 yards and 2 TDs with no interceptions. He also ran for 84 yards on nine carries, while Antoine “Bam” Rashaw ran for 108 yards and three TDs on 17 carries. Rashaw (173-852, 10 TDs) is the team’s leading rusher on the season. Tim Outlaw had four catches for 107 yards and a TD while throwing for another. Beckham Paul had a team-high eight tackles.
What the Eagles need to do to win: There isn’t a whole lot of room for error for either team. The team that’s more efficient, wins the turnover battle and most the most of its opportunities will move on to the region semifinals.
Joey D. Richards’ prediction: Red Oak 24, AHS 21
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene High plays Red Oak in Region I-5A DI area football playoff
