The Lake Dallas Falcons (10-1) will travel to face the Rider Raiders (9-2) in the second round of the 2023 UIL 5A D2 Texas State Football Championships on Friday, November 17th at 7pm ET in Mineral Wells Ram Stadium, TX.
What it is: Texas High School Football
Matchup: Rider Raiders vs. Lake Dallas Falcons
Time: Friday Nov 17, 2023, 7pm ET
Game Type: Playoffs
Bracket: 2023 UIL 5A D2 Texas State Football Championships
Round: Second Round
Locations: Mineral Wells Ram Stadium, TX
Live Stream: Watch here
The Falcons are coming off a first-round bye in the playoffs. They are led by running back Dylan Brauchle, who has rushed for 73.9 yards and 8 touchdowns this season. Brauchle is also a threat in the passing game, with 300 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Falcons have a balanced offense, averaging 403.2 total yards per game. They are also a good defensive team, allowing only 39.5 points per game. The Falcons are led on defense by linebacker Riley Griffin, who has 11.6 tackles and 1.0 sacks this season.
The Raiders are coming off a hard-fought victory over the Denton Guyer Wildcats in the first round of the playoffs. They are led by quarterback Joe Castles, who has thrown for 1,267 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Castles is also a threat on the ground, with 120.6 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Raiders have a balanced offense, averaging 372.7 total yards per game. They are also a good defensive team, allowing only 32.2 points per game. The Raiders are led on defense by linebacker Elijah Jackson, who has 72.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season.
The Lake Dallas Falcons and Rider Raiders have never met on the football field before.
The Lake Dallas Falcons are the favorites in this game. They have a better offense and a better defense than the Rider Raiders. The Falcons are also playing at a neutral site, which gives them a slight advantage.
The Rider Raiders will need to pressure Castles and force him into making mistakes. They will also need to find a way to slow down Brauchle and the Falcons’ running game.
In the end, I predict that the Lake Dallas Falcons will win a close game, 35-28.
The key to this game will be which team can force the other into making mistakes. The Lake Dallas Falcons have a better defense and a more experienced team, so they have the edge in this category.
The Rider Raiders will need to play a perfect game to have a chance to win. They will need to protect Castles and give him time to throw the ball. They will also need to find a way to slow down Brauchle and the Falcons’ running game.
I predict that the Lake Dallas Falcons will win a close game, 35-28. The Falcons are the better team and they have the experience to win.
