Everything you need to know for the final Rider-WFHS football game
It’s the end of one of the greatest rivalries in Texas high school football history.
Rider and Wichita Falls High meet for the 62nd and final time at 8 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium.
The rivalry started in 1964 with a 22-6 Rider victory. The Raiders have gotten the best of the Coyotes more often than not, holding a 40-18-3 record in the series.
The Raiders currently hold a nine-game win streak over the Coyotes, which is their second longest in series history. Rider won 11 straight from 1988 to 1998. Old High’s longest win streak in the series is four, achieved twice — 1969-72 and 1999-2002.
The Coyotes have not defeated Rider since 2014, 50-36.
More: Ranking the top 40 Wichita Falls High athletes of all time (Nos. 1-20)
But Friday’s game is regarded as the closest matchup between the two teams in recent memory. PigskinPrep.com rates the Raiders as a 16-point favorite.
Old High is fresh off its best season since 2014, advancing to the state quarterfinals where it lost to district foe Decatur. The Coyotes expect to contend for a district title again this season.
Rider has made 13 straight playoff appearances, and the program has established itself as one of the best in Region I-5A. Despite needing to replace several offensive starters, the Raiders expect to be a force in the region once again.
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about Friday’s big game.
TICKET AVAILABILITY
Tickets are in short supply. On Thursday morning, there were around 1,200 remaining on the Old High (visitor) side of the stadium.
Tickets, if available, can be purchased online at wfisd.net/tickets. Tickets are available at Memorial Stadium's east side (visitors) box office from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Tickets will not be sold at the box office before the game.
HOW TO GET UPDATES
Don’t fret if you didn’t get a ticket. There are still multiple ways to keep up with the game.
There is a live stream of the game on the WFISD YouTube channel with commentary from TRN Sports writer Jonathan Hull, Rider soccer coach Dustin Holly and former WFHS quarterback and current Hirschi coach Rahsaad Bell.
You can also listen to a WFHS radio broadcast of the game on 100.9 FM or streaming online at www.jackwichitafalls.com with Chris Koetter on the call.
The Rider radio broadcast is streaming online at www.rohosportsnetwork.com with Marty McBride commentating.
You can also follow Jonathan Hull (@Hull_TRN), Zach Duncan (@trnsports), Cory Hogue (@coryhoguesports) and Naomi Skinner (@Naomi_TRN) on X, formerly known as Twitter, or the Times Record News Facebook account for updates.
More: Ranking the Top 25 Rider athletes of all time
STARTING LINEUPS
Lineups reflect the starter at each position and may exceed 11 players. This does not indicate who will actually be on the field for the first play.
WFHS Coyotes (Visitors)
Offense
QB – Zage Gravitt
RB – Eric Powell
HB – Zeke Mares
LT – Kyler Boone
LG – Isaac Ibarra
C – Jalen Leau
RG – Joel Davenport
RT – Josh Hart
WR – Jordan Mitchell
Slot – Jaxxon Mitchell
Slot – Justyn Judie
WR – Ke’Ondrae Fleeks
Defense
DE – Rudy Regino
NT – Jose Hinojosa
DE – Gabe Milyiori
SLB – Christian Velasquez
MLB – Jacobey Clay
WLB – Braylon Kinzie
CB – Carlos Moreno
CB – Jordan Luera
Bandit – Israel Villegas
FS – Ivy Kelley
Ranger – Ivory Kelley
Special Teams
K/P – Justyn Judie
DS – Braylon Kinzie
RIDER
Offense
QB – Joe Castles
RB – Kenji Johnson
LT – Norman Mendieta
LG – Gideon Perez
C – Isay Saldana
RG – Logan Brake
RT – Cape Johnson
WR – Grey Johnson
TE – Hunter Talley
WR – Tyrone Morgan
WR – Drew Haston
Defense
DE – Elijah Jackson
DT – Carson Ayres
NT – Evan Rios
Bandit – Jailyn Gibbs
SLB – Cayse Jung
MLB – Tanner Poirot
WLB – Ben Carr
CB – Tyrone Morgan
CB – Coby Robinson
SS – Jacob Cahill
FS – Ryan Jones
Special Teams
K – Kenji Johnson
P – Ashton Paschall
LS – Tanner Poirot
Holder – Austin Feldman
MATCHUP HISTORY
This is the 62nd meeting between Rider and Old High. The Raiders lead the all-time series 40-18-3, holding an eight-game win streak.
Rider and Old High met twice in the same season for the second time in history in 2019. The Raiders won the regular-season finale, 42-14. The Raiders and Coyotes met in the postseason for the first time ever. Rider won the third-round matchup, 56-20.
The Coyotes’ last win came in 2014, 50-36. The rivalry started in 1964. It was played twice in 1966 with the teams meeting in a non-district matchup, despite being in the same district. However, the district was split into different zones, and the Raiders and Coyotes were separated and not scheduled to meet in district action. Athletic director Joe Golding insured the two would still play by scheduling a non-district game. It ended in a scoreless tie.
The Raiders and Coyotes each won their respective zones, setting up a district championship matchup with a playoff berth on the line. Old High won the rematch decisively, 24-6.
Here are other notable matchups from the history of the series.
More: WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS: Jumping right into the high school football season
Nov. 13, 1970: WFHS 48, Rider 7
The first Memorial Stadium matchup of this storied rivalry was for the District 6-4A championship. And No. 1 Old High took it with ease, giving the Coyotes a postseason berth for an opportunity to defend their Class 4A state title.
Nov. 17, 1972: WFHS 12, Rider 7
The Coyotes claimed a seventh straight district championship with this win over the rival Raiders. It also gave WFHS its 29th playoff berth in program history, which was the most in the state at that time. The Coyotes wouldn’t claim another district title nor playoff berth until 1985. The Coyotes lost to Odessa Permian, 14-0, in bi-district.
Nov. 11, 1977: Rider 14, WFHS 13
The Coyotes pulled within a point with 11 seconds remaining in the game. WFHS coach Donnell Crosslin went for two and the win. Rider cornerback Bill Dawson deflected a pass intended for WFHS end Ken Hamilton, sealing the Raiders’ victory. The game may have been even closer than the one point that decided it. The Raiders stood the Coyotes’ up on a fourth and goal from the 1 earlier in the game. Rider’s Maurice Knight scored Rider’s final TD in the fourth quarter on a 33-yard interception return. It was Rider’s fifth straight win in the series. The Raiders finished the season 7-2-1. Old High was 5-4-1. Neither team advanced to the postseason. The game was voted 26th on the TRN Sports list of 50 most memorable games played at Memorial Stadium.
Nov. 9, 1979: Rider 7, WFHS 3
It was the last game the Coyotes played with legendary coach Donnell Crosslin at the helm. WFHS led for 41 minutes and 33 seconds. But a blocked punt, the second of the game by Rider, led to the Raiders’ scoring on a 14-yard John Duke pass to Craig Stevenson with 6:27 left to play. It was Rider’s seventh straight win in the series. Neither team advanced to the postseason, although Rider finished second behind champion Lewisville. Crosslin resigned less than two weeks later.
Nov. 8, 1985: WFHS 35, Rider 25
The Coyotes won its ninth straight game and finished undefeated in District 5-5A for their first district title since 1972. But they needed a fourth-quarter rally to secure it. Despite being out of playoff contention and trailing 21-0 after the first quarter, the Raiders showed life with an 18-point second quarter. They led 25-21 at the start of the fourth. Coyote quarterback Bill Mercer scored twice in the game’s final 4:48 to put WFHS on top plus some. The game was voted 36th on the TRN Sports list of 50 most memorable games played at Memorial Stadium.
Nov. 6, 1987: WFHS 31, Rider 31
Rider kicker Jason Reed kicked a 30-yard field goal on the last play, ending the game in a tie. It’s the way the season ended for both teams. The Raiders had a wide-open receiver in the back of the end zone on the play before the equalizing field goal. This was the first Rider-WFHS game that ended with a field goal as the last play, albeit not a game-winner. The feat wouldn’t occur again in the rivalry until 2015. The game was voted 47th on the TRN Sports list of 50 most memorable games played at Memorial Stadium.
Nov. 6, 1998: Rider 21, WFHS 18
Rider’s win forced a three-way tie for third between the Raiders, Coyotes and Burkburnett. A coin flip after the game gave the 2-8 Raiders a postseason berth. This was Rider’s 11th straight win against the Coyotes. The Coyotes pulled within 21-18 on a 62-yard TD pass from Greg Henderson to Derek Logan, and a two-point conversion run by Henderson. But Old High couldn’t pull off the onside kick, and Rider was able to run out the clock. The Raiders ended up winning as many playoff games as they did regular season matchups, advancing to the third round before falling to Plainview, 35-28. The game was voted 25th on the TRN Sports list of 50 most memorable games played at Memorial Stadium.
Nov. 7, 2003: Rider 44, WFHS 23
This game marked a changing of the tide in the rivalry. Old High led 16-7 at halftime, but three lost fumbles during the Coyotes’ first five plays of the second half gave Rider the momentum. The win led to the Raiders and Coyotes sharing the District 4-4A title. It was Rider’s first district title in 21 years and first win against WFHS since 1998. It was Old High’s fifth straight. The Coyotes haven’t won a district title since. The Coyotes have beaten Rider three times since 2002.
Nov. 5, 2004: Rider 31, WFHS 21
The game was tied 21-21 early in the third quarter when an illegal block penalty during an interception return backed Old High up to its own 6. Rider scored 10 unanswered to win the game and clinch the final playoff spot in the district. The Coyotes stayed home.
Nov. 4, 2005: WFHS 41, Rider 7
Pride and bragging rights proved enough for Old High in this shocking outcome. Rider was a heavy favorite, and the Coyotes already knew they were out of the playoffs. Rider lost in the first round of the postseason to Aledo. Old High rushed for 440 yards.
Oct. 3, 2014: WFHS 50, Rider 36
Old High’s 21-point lead midway through the third quarter was wiped out by the middle of the fourth. Quartez Carter scored two TDs in a 6-second span to give Rider the 36-35 advantage with 7:17 remaining. But the Coyotes scored the final 15 points of the night, including a 1-yard run by Robert Williams with 1:50 remaining. To date, it is Old High’s last win in the rivalry. The game was voted 32nd on the TRN Sports list of 50 most memorable games played at Memorial Stadium.
Oct. 2, 2015: Rider 24, WFHS 21
This was one of the most thrilling endings in the rivalry’s storied history. Rider running back Willie Phillips, serving as the holder on the Raiders’ field goal unit, bobbled the snap but got the ball upright just an instant before Brock Dowling’s foot connected with it. Dowling’s aim proved true on a 32-yard kick as time expired, lifting the Raiders to a thrilling victory. The game was voted 11th on the TRN Sports list of 50 most memorable games played at Memorial Stadium. It’s the highest-rated WFHS-Rider matchup on the list.
Nov. 29, 2019: Rider 56, WFHS 20
While it didn’t provide a great game, more than 10,000 fans watched the Raiders and Coyotes play the first playoff game in this rivalry’s storied history. Rider won for the 15th time in the past 18 meetings in a Class 5A regional-round playoff game on the day after Thanksgiving. This was Old High’s first playoff game at Memorial Stadium since 2007. Rider fell in the state quarterfinals to Lubbock-Cooper. This game was voted 18th on the TRN Sports list of 50 most memorable games played at Memorial Stadium.
More: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Revealing the 2023 Red River Preseason Super Team
RIDER VS. OLD HIGH
Rider leads all-time series, 40-18-3.
2022: Rider 58, WFHS 10
2021: Rider 58, WFHS 12
2020: Rider 53, WFHS 17
2019: Rider 56, WFHS 20^
2019: Rider 42, WFHS 14
2018: Rider 45, WFHS 27
2017: Rider 48, WFHS 6
2016: Rider 50, WFHS 16
2015: Rider 24, WFHS 21
2014: WFHS 50, Rider 36
2013: Rider 36, WFHS 21
2012: Rider 49, WFHS 0
2011: Rider 28, WFHS 7
2010: Rider 42, WFHS 7
2009: WFHS 28, Rider 18
2008: Rider 17, WFHS 0
2007: Rider 56, WFHS 13
2006: Rider 46, WFHS 17
2005: WFHS 41, Rider 7
2004: Rider 31, WFHS 21
2003: Rider 40, WFHS 23
2002: WFHS 49, Rider 14
2001: WFHS 35, Rider 15
2000: WFHS 35, Rider 0
1999: WFHS 40, Rider 7
1998: Rider 21, WFHS 18
1997: Rider 35, WFHS 7
1996: Rider 35, WFHS 7
1995: Rider 28, WFHS 7
1994: Rider 50, WFHS 7
1993: Rider 27, WFHS 15
1992: Rider 36, WFHS 13
1991: Rider 28, WFHS 7
1990: Rider 14, WFHS 7
1989: Rider 49, WFHS 28
1988: Rider 35, WFHS 6
1987: WFHS 31, Rider 31*
1986: WFHS 28, Rider 7
1985: WFHS 35, Rider 25
1984: WFHS 31, Rider 14
1983: Rider 24, WFHS 16
1982: Rider 7, WFHS 0
1981: WFHS 20, Rider 7
1980: WFHS 20, Rider 6
1979: Rider 7, WFHS 3
1978: Rider 12, WFHS 0
1977: Rider 14, WFHS 13
1976: Rider 21, WFHS 7
1975: Rider 28, WFHS 7
1974: Rider 27, WFHS 0
1973: Rider 18, WFHS 7
1972: WFHS 12, Rider 7
1971: WFHS 41, Rider 14
1970: WFHS 40, Rider 7
1969: WFHS 14, Rider 0
1968: Rider 0, WFHS 0
1967: WFHS 32, Rider 27
1966: WFHS 24, Rider 6
1966: Rider 0, WFHS 0
1965: Rider 29, WFHS 21
1964: Rider 22, WFHS 6
^ denotes playoff game
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: 2023 Rider-Wichita Falls High high school football preview
