Ridge Point Receivers Chase School Record as Playoffs Approach

Two senior wide receivers at Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas, are producing numbers that place them among the top pass catchers in the Houston area. John Rangel ranks eighth in the region for receiving yards and has caught 10 touchdowns this season. Suhaib Ramseur sits just behind him in receiving yards with 11 touchdowns. Head coach Rick LaFavers described Rangel as "arguably, one of the best athletes on campus in anything," noting that Rangel carries AP courses and maintains a straight-A average.

The pair have combined to put Ridge Point's receiving record within reach. The mark was set by Dane Jones, now a TCU receiver, and either Rangel or Ramseur could pass it before the season ends. Ramseur framed the competition as a choice no opposing defense wants to make. "You have to pick your poison," Ramseur said. "You're going to leave him one-on-one, that's something you don't want to do. Shade to his side, you going to leave me one on one, and you know, that's just that's what it is."

The Panthers have sent receivers to higher levels before, and the current group has leaned on that history. "Coach LaFavers always likes to say we are walking on the shoulders of giants," Rangel said. "The people before us are greats and it's always good to look at who came before us and where they are now."

Rangel and Ramseur describe their partnership as supportive rather than competitive. "If he gets the ball, I'm cheering for him," Rangel said. "If I get the ball, he's cheering for me, so definitely we're brothers always." The two have set a team goal that goes past individual marks. "Knowing what we can do as a duo and as a team, this year we were really excited coming into this season and really expecting to go far, go to stay, hopefully go win a ring," Rangel said.

Ridge Point's regular season is winding down, and the district playoffs follow. LaFavers has kept the team's attention on the current opponent. "We really try to focus on this week; this week's the state championship we'll get to next week. That's the state championship. It's a cliché, but, you know, 'One game at a time,'" LaFavers said.