Richland routs Birdville powered by Jayshon Gibson’s four-touchdown performance — PHOTOS
In a district battle between North Richland Hills schools, it was Richland, carried by Jayshon Gibson’s 195 rushing yards and four touchdowns, that got the win against Birdville.
The Royals won 51-21 against the Hawks, leading for most of the game as their lead just got bigger and bigger.
Birdville was coming off a one-sided loss to Aledo the week before. The Hawks were 2-2 overall and had a 1-1 record in district so far, with wins against Crowley and Granbury this season.
Richland came into the game with a 3-1 record and 2-0 in district play, winning games against Haltom, Denton and Brewer all by multiple scores.
The Royals got the ball first, driving down the field with steady runs and a big pass play from Brett Kates to Ben Sanders that went 22 yards. Richland was eventually stymied, but was close enough to attempt a 34-yard field goal, which sailed through the uprights by kicker Beck Spivey.
The Hawks did not have a successful first drive before punting the ball back to the Royals, but their defense made a huge play. One play after the defense gave up another huge passing play to Richland, Jamal Ramsey jumped a bubble screen and took it 45 yards for a touchdown. The Hawks led 7-3.
Richland answered back quickly. Kates found Theo Gray II open behind the defense after a pump fake for a 45-yard touchdown pass. The Royals went back ahead 10-7 heading into the second quarter.
Birdville drove down the field to start the second quarter. Facing a fourth and short from Richland’s 29-yard line, the Hawks converted for not just a first down, but a touchdown. Unfortunately for Birdville, a holding call brought the score back.
The Royals took advantage, with De’rion Jones recovering a fumble after the defense stripped the Hawks quarterback.
Richland’s offense again drove down the field, getting big chunk plays throwing the ball and running the ball with Gibson. The Royals scored from one yard out when Kates kept the ball on a zone read play. Richland’s lead grew to 17-7.
Birdville answered, with its offense sustaining its best drive of the night with big pass plays from Zach Wells and steady running from Christian Kargbo. Facing third and goal, Wells dropped back and decided to tuck the ball, dodging two defenders on his way to a seven-yard touchdown run.
The Hawks cut the lead down to 17-14 with a little more than three minutes left before halftime.
It proved to be just enough time for Richland, again driving down the field before Gibson scored on a three-yard plunge seconds before the end of the quarter.
The Royals led 24-14 at halftime.
Richland kept that momentum going to start the third quarter. Jones got another turnover on defense for the Royals, intercepting a pass with Birdville already backed up inside their own red zone. A few plays later and Gibson plunged into the end zone again, this time on a five-yard run to extend Richland’s lead to 31-14.
The Hawks were not going away so easily. Getting a big pass completion to Andy Broadwater that went 47 yards, Birdville completed the drive with Wells finding Triston Spain for a 13-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 10 points again, 31-21.
From there it would be all Richland for the rest of the game. The Royals scored on their next two drives, with two more touchdown runs from Gibson, from one and 14 yards to stretch their lead to 44-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, Richland’s defense made all the plays. Paxon Weeks picked up a fumble on defense and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown to put the Royals up 51-21. The next two drives saw Richland’s Jaxson Walker intercept a pass in a jump ball situation and Gavin Hamilton recovered a mishandled snap to give Richland five turnovers for the night.
The Royals’ second stringers ran out the clock to secure the win.
Besides Gibson’s big day on the ground for Richland, Kates finished with 180 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception while also rushing for 57 yards and one more score. Ben Sanders led the team with five catches for 72 yards.
The Royals stay undefeated in district play as they travel to 1-3 Fossil Ridge next week. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 3.
For Birdville, Wells threw for 265 yards and one touchdown while scrambling for the offense’s other score. Christian Kargbo led the team with 43 yards rushing. Broadwater had a big day, leading the team with six catches for 145 yards.
The Hawks fall to 2-3 and are 1-2 in district. They are set to take on 0-3 Azle at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3 at home.
This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM.