Water Valley Wildcats Upset No. 1 Rankin

WATER VALLEY, TX — The Water Valley Wildcats got their revenge against the No. 1-ranked Rankin Red Devils, 93-90, Friday night at Diddle Young Field.

Last season, Rankin and Water Valley went 1-1 as the Wildcats got the better of the Red Devils during the regular season, 67-20. Then in the state semifinals, Rankin beat Water Valley, 54-46.

A third matchup was set Friday, and after a brief lightning delay, the game was under way. The first quarter was a scoring bonanza, with both teams combining for 57 points.

After Rankin’s Matthew Ramos took the rock 40 yards to start the scoreboard up, Water Valley’s Branson Lacy found Cole Baker for a 60-yard touchdown. Rankin responded with a Kayin Hanna touchdown from 44 yards out to make the score, 14-8.

Lacy came right back after putting his foot in the ground and cutting up field to get in for another score to tie the game 14-14. At this point, there was still 7:18 left in the first quarter.

With 7:03, Hanna hit the jets again and scored from 50 yards out to put the Red Devils up 22-14. Again, Lacy stepped up and rushed for 66 yards and a score with 6:20 on the board. The extra point was stopped, and Water Valley was down, 22-20.

Rankin started to pull ahead after Ramos scored on an 8-yard run to extend their lead, 30-20, with 1:46 left in the first quarter. On the next drive, Lacy took the ball 44 yards for a score. After the first quarter, Rankin led 30-27.

At halftime, the Red Devils still led 46-41, but the shootout continued in the second half, and Water Valley outlasted Rankin for a win that will shake up the state rankings.

This story will be updated Saturday with stats.