A Homecoming in Leadership
The 2025 season marks a pivotal moment for Ripley Tigers football as alum Rico McDonald returns to his alma mater as the new head coach. A standout running back during his high school tenure, McDonald set a rushing record with 1,900 yards his senior year and earned All-State honors. His collegiate career at Delta State University was equally storied—leading the team to a Division II national championship in 2000 and ending as the school’s all-time leading rusher. His accomplishments earned him induction into the Delta State Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. After launching his coaching career at RHS in 2004 and serving in roles such as defensive coordinator, running backs coach, and wide receivers coach, McDonald ventured to other programs before returning as defensive coordinator in 2024. Now, he steps into the head coach role, carrying over twenty years of experience and deep ties to the Ripley football tradition.
Reflecting on 2024
The Tigers entered postseason play with determination but fell in the first round with a 28–49 result. Despite the setback, the decade-long consistency of the program—highlighted by an overall record well over .500 and multiple district titles, including a recent one in 2023—sets the stage for a potentially resurgent year.
2025 Varsity Football Schedule & Series Records
Here’s the full varsity schedule for the fall, now enriched with Ripley’s all-time series records against each opponent:
| Date | Opponent | Location | All-Time Series: Ripley vs. Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22 | Jamboree | Home | Exhibition game — no record |
| Aug 29 | Mooreville | Away | Ripley leads 4–0; total scoring difference is massive in Ripley’s favor |
| Sep 5 | Open | — | — |
| Sep 12 | Lewisburg | Home | Series tied—Ripley 1, Lewisburg 1 |
| Sep 19 | East Webster | Away | No matchups on record |
| Sep 26 | Booneville | Away | Ripley leads the series comfortably |
| Oct 3 | Clarksdale | Away | No matchups on record |
| Oct 10 | New Albany | Home | Ripley leads narrowly in a long-standing series |
| Oct 17 | Byhalia (Homecoming) | Home | Ripley dominates with a significant series lead |
| Oct 24 | Rosa Fort | Home | Ripley holds a slight series edge |
| Oct 30 | Senatobia (Senior Night) | Home | Ripley leads with a comfortable margin |
| Nov 7–28 | Playoffs / North Champs | TBA | — |
| Dec 4–6 | State Championships | TBA | — |
Season Outlook: Momentum, Legacy & Untapped Matchups
- Strong Rivalry Edges: Games against Mooreville, Byhalia, Booneville, and Senatobia reflect decades of Ripley dominance, offering a morale boost heading into the season.
- Evenly Matched Contests: Well-balanced series against Lewisburg and New Albany add dramatic stakes to mid-season games.
- Fresh Challenges Ahead: Clarksdale and East Webster are uncharted opponents—making for potentially intriguing first-time matchups.
- Milestone Moments: Homecoming vs. Byhalia and Senior Night vs. Senatobia are slated to be emotional highpoints and pivotal for sparking early momentum.
With the leadership of Coach McDonald—a familiar face armed with rich institutional memory—the 2025 Tigers are well-positioned to revisit the heights of their recent successes and build a new legacy of their own.