For the first time since 1997, the varsity football team has made it past the third round of the Texas high school playoffs. Tonight the Raiders will suit up in Snyder at 7 to face the Aledo Bearcats for the class 5A quarter-finals.

“Aledo is unstoppable.”

“There’s no way Randall can keep up.”

“You shouldn’t even be on the same field as Aledo.”

Since before last week’s victory over Wichita Falls Rider, these comments, along with many more have surrounded the Raiders. Fear and doubt in the Raider’s ability to continue their success has grown from a buzz to a deafening roar. Amarillo’s own newspaper, the Amarillo Globe News, went as far as to call the team “a familiar hurdle” for “powerhouse Aledo.”

Rather than taking the negative comments to heart, the Raider team has decided to continue their season like any other game, refusing to throw in the towel just yet.

“(Tonight is) the same as every other game,” senior linebacker Giovanni Centeno said. “We are ready and motivated.”

Through all of the open opinions circulating around the Randall community, senior quarterback Brett Taff said his coaches have told the team to “do their jobs and don’t worry about who is on the other sideline, and most importantly, just play football.”

“These comments don’t affect how we play on the field,” Taff said. “We will just go out there and play our hardest and to the best of our ability and try to leave with a win.”

Taff attributes this season’s success to team chemistry and accountability.

“We have really just played as one,” Taff said. “(We) have relied on each other. We have formed a brotherhood that can’t be broken.”

Each team holds a 12-1 record, and the victor of tonight’s game will advance to the semi-finals. Time and place will be available at a later date.

“I believe in my teammates,” Centeno said. “I know we can do what nobody thinks we can.”