Duncanville defeats South Oak Cliff 23-10 in highly anticipated season opener

Photo Credit: Brian McLean (ScoreBook Live)

Both teams had something to show; Duncanville came in in the national Top 25, and South Oak Cliff came in as a defending 5A D2 state champion. In a matchup between two of the best teams in Texas, the defensive battle determined the game, and the game most definitely lived up to the hype.

Duncanville’s defensive push came in the second half, where they took their first lead of the game on a safety. They then kept South Oak Cliff out of the end zone for the rest of the game.

Duncanville’s one slip up on defense came on a personal foul after forcing a three-and-out from South Oak Cliff while up by only six with four minutes left in the game. But the Panthers bounced back, as they forced a turnover from South Oak Cliff shortly after.

Kaleb Kenney secured the win for Duncanville with a 30-yard touchdown reception from Keelon Russell with 1:12 left in the game.

The Duncanville-South Oak Cliff rivalry is dominated by Duncanville; the Panthers out scored the Golden Bears 142-33 in the past three years. But last season, after losing to Duncanville 42-27, South Oak Cliff won out the rest of their season and won a state championship. So the gap is closing between the two teams that are only 12 miles apart.

South Oak Cliff made that known at the start of the game, as they took the lead first with a 5-yard touchdown from Danny Green on third and goal.

While Duncanville’s defense was the key to victory, the offense showed some promise as well. Four-star running back, Caden Durham, tied the game with a 99-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter. The Panthers then took the lead on a safety constructed by Elijah Wilson and Jabreohn Peters, and they didn’t look back. Two fourth quarter touchdowns sealed the 23-10 win for the Panthers in the season opener.

These two teams will be two of the best teams in Texas the rest of this season, and it is great opening up the season seeing two powerhouse programs battle it out on the field.