DALLAS — Two of the best football programs in all of Texas high school football will square off on Friday night in a massive non-district test as Duncanville and South Oak Cliff, both ranked No. 2 in the state in their respective classifications, square off.
Both teams played for state championships a year ago, with Duncanville winning 6A-Division I, and South Oak Cliff falling in the 5A-Division II title game. This year, both teams are expected to get back to AT&T Stadium again and play for another championship. Friday night, they'll test one another to prepare for the playoff runs they hope will come in November and December.
You can watch the game live on our streaming platform WFAA+, which is available on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. You can also watch the game right here on WFAA.com, or our WFAA YouTube channel.
The game features two of the most impactful coaches in Texas high school football history, Jason Todd and Reginald Samples. Samples has led Duncanville to consecutive state titles and is looking for a third straight this season. Todd led SOC to titles in 2021 and 2022 and wants to re-assert the Golden Bears as the preeminent team in 5A-Div. II.
Duncanville has the unenviable task of replacing two superstar talents in running back Caden Durham and defensive end Colin Simmons. Both players were instrumental in the Panthers back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. Now Kevin Ford and Landon Barnes will look to replace the production of Simmons. JaQualon Armstrong and Devine Green will be the main backs, as Duncanville aims to fill the void left by Durham.
Duncanville does have a superstar tandem in the passing game, though, with quarterback Keelon Russell and wide receiver Dakorien Moore. Moore is the top receiver in the country in the senior class, and Russell is also a five-star prospect, and the third-ranked quarterback in the country. The tandem is virtually impossible to stop.
Defensively, the Panthers will feature several future Division I players at all three levels. Defensive tackle AJ Brown is headed to Louisiana Tech, linebacker Nehemiah Borner is going to Lamar, and secondary mates Javion Holliday and Tyren Polley are both going to SMU.
The Golden Bears have some change at the quarterback position as Carter Kopecky takes over the main role. He will share some time with Reggie McNeal, who will also play a major role as a wide receiver. Damond Williams and Levon Morton will share time in the backfield, and they will run behind a big and talented offensive line. Right tackle Emeka Ugorji is committed to Stanford, right guard Brian Swanson is a superstar sophomore who is being heavily recruited, and center Brison Ramsey-Brooks is a 6'4 330-pound mountain of a center, the younger brother of Bubba Ramsey-Brooks, who played on SOC's recent state title teams and is now at TCU. Left guard Byron Abner is committed to Army, and left tackle Courtavious Tisaby is a junior with 14 scholarship offers.
Defensively, SOC features defensive end Kamauryn Morgan, who is a four-star transfer from Red Oak and a dangerous pass rusher. Jayden Shelton and Jamarion Phillips will roam the field as linebackers, and both are very talented. And Tobias Gary and Rickey Giles will play centerfield for the Golden Bears at safety.
Our Friday Night Football pregame show will begin at approximately 6:50 p.m., with kickoff to follow at 7 p.m.