The Oil Bowl was a special moment that almost wasn’t for the Ritchey brothers.
Bradan and Ian Ritchey committed to coaching the Oil Bowl’s West all-star football team together months ago. It marked the first time the brothers coached on the same staff — a career goal for both of them.
“This is something we’ve talked about doing together,” said Bradan, who will be entering his third season as Archer City’s head football coach in August. “We have always wanted to coach together on the same staff.”
But Ian nearly didn’t make it to Wichita Falls.
The older of the Ritchey brothers was completing his time as the athletic director at his alma mater, Boyd. The Yellowjackets’ baseball team was playing in the state semifinals, needing to win Game 3 of a series against Wall on May 31 to earn a berth to the Class 3A Division II state title game in Austin.
While Boyd fell short, Ian’s commitment to the Oil Bowl was pending that outcome. And he and his family are also transitioning to Stephenville where he’ll be an assistant coach with a new group of Yellow Jackets.
Boyd’s loss made Ian’s trip to Wichita Falls bittersweet, but the opportunity to coach alongside his brother more than made up for it.
“That’s really the way I was looking at it,” Ian said. “Either way, I was going to be part of something special.”
Selfishly, and with all due respect to Boyd’s baseball team, I’m glad it was the Oil Bowl.
The Ritcheys have played a starring role during my lifelong journey with high school football.
Bradan and Ian’s uncle, Mike, was one of my coaches when I played at Big Spring High School. He became an assistant principal my senior year.
Mike was also the first head football coach I ever…
Source link : https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2025/06/12/bradan-and-ian-ritchey-coach-together-at-oil-bowl-football-game/84156709007/
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Publish date : 2025-06-12 09:07:00
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