Six-Man Spotlight — Ranking Richland Springs' title teams

[caption id="attachment_29372" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Photo by Thomas Hays Photo by Thomas Hays[/caption] Was the 2016 Richland Springs squad the best Richland Springs team ever? I’m lucky enough to have seen them all. I witnessed Richland Springs turn into the equivalent of the New York Yankees of six-man football. The 2016 season ended with the Coyotes hoisting up high their 8th state championship. I started asking myself: where would this team rank with all the others? In trying to decide where the 2016 team ranks, I considered a wide range of things: offensive prowess, defensive points allowed, shutouts, 45-point mercy rule wins, point differential, and strength of schedule — looking at overall opponents’ win percentage, as well as isolating playoff opponents. All factors considered, this is how I would rank the Richland Springs title teams: No. 1 — 2007 Richland Springs (14-0) If I had to pick one RS team for the “Greatest Team of All-Time” playoffs, this would be it. Of the eight state title teams, this one ranks first in points scored (1,015) and points per game (72.5); tied for first in point differential (+788); tied for second in 45-point wins (13); and third in defensive shutouts (4) and playoff teams beaten (11 of Richland Springs’ 14 opponents made the playoffs). The 2007 squad played the toughest schedule in terms of overall opponents’ win percentage (.768), though just the fourth-hardest playoff schedule (.892). The defense gave up the second-most points in the playoffs (30.2 points per game) and fourth-most over the whole season (16.2 points per game), but again: the schedule was tough! Seniors Tyler Ethridge and Mark Williams formed an unstoppable 1-2 combo on offense. No. 2 — 2004 Richland Springs (15-0) This is the only Coyote championship team that won their title before the division split, meaning the playoff pool was comprised of tougher teams. In the playoffs, they beat the state’s Nos. 2, 3, 4, 12 and 23 teams, whose combined record was 54-6 (.900). That’s the second-highest among the Coyotes’ title teams, and remember: this is without the aid of the division split. Compared to all RS championship teams, this one allowed the third-fewest points per game (14) and held those tough playoff teams to just 19.2 points per game (third-best). This, I would argue, was the best defensive team, while also featuring freshman standout Tyler Ethridge. No. 3 — 2016 Richland Springs (14-0) Based off opponents’ win percentage, last year’s RS team had the third-toughest playoff schedule as their playoff opponents had a win percentage of .899. But their overall schedule ranks second in opponents’ win percentage at .735 and faced the highest percentage of playoff teams (12 of 14 opponents). This makes it arguably the toughest schedule of the eight. Defensively, the Coyotes gave up the third-most points per game (17.1) and most points per playoff game (39.8), though that can be chalked up to the schedule. They had the fourth-best point differential at +708, and were tied for third-most shutouts (4) and 45-point wins (12). Offensively, they were almost as unstoppable as the 2007 team thanks to Walker Tippie and Hutton Lusty. Rounding out the other title teams...No: 4 — 2010 Richland Springs (15-0): Fewest points allowed per game in playoffs (12.8) against opponents that had win percentage of .860; second in points allowed per game in a season (13.7); first in shutouts with 7; tied for second in 45-point wins (13). No. 5 — 2006 Richland Springs (14-0): Allowed the fewest points per game (13.7), but against the third-worst schedule (.653); allowed 24.4 points per game in the playoffs (fifth-best) against teams with an 86% win percentage. No. 6 — 2011 Richland Springs (15-0): Tied for the best point differential (+788) and second in points scored (1,013), but just the fifth-best opponent win percentage (.677) and just two shutouts (tied for last). No. 7 — 2015 Richland Springs (15-0): Played the toughest playoff opponents (.915) and had the most 45-point wins with 14, but had the worst overall point differential (+616) and most allowed points per game at (22.9). Two wins came via forfeit. No. 8 — 2012 Richland Springs (15-0): Worst opponent win percentage (.622), worst playoff opponent win percentage (.775) and allowed the third-most points per game in the playoffs (29.6). I might be missing a few things, and this is all subjective. But it sure would be fun to put all these teams in tournament to see who would come out on top.

Leman Saunders is a six-man football contributor to Dave Campbell's Texas Football.