Revenge secured: Duncanville topples DeSoto in battle of Texas football state champions
The line to get into the stadium to see Texas high school football’s most significant regular season spectacle stretched far into the parking lot well into the second quarter.
The fans packed Eagle Stadium on Oct. 11 to see DeSoto vs. Duncanville, a game between state champions and district rivals that have developed an intense, competitive rivalry. Max Preps ranks the Panthers No. 4 in the nation, while DeSoto is ranked No. 17.
The Panthers thrived in the clash of Dallas-area juggernauts behind a monster performance from senior wide receiver Dakorien Moore, securing a 42-20 statement victory. The Eagles surged from behind in the second half, but it was not enough.
Moore, an Oregon commit, tallied 231 receiving yards and four touchdowns on nine receptions. Senior quarterback Keelon Russell, an Alabama commit, tallied 429 passing yards and six touchdowns, completing 26 of 35 passes in a game he said commenced a “revenge tour.”
“The offense has been grinding since the summer,” Russell said. “We’ve been building relationships and chemistry, especially with ... Dakorien Moore. It’s electric. The duo is electric. The offense is electric.”
The Duncanville (5-0, 3-0 11-6A) offense was extremely pass-heavy, recording only 29 total rushing yards. Duncanville coach Reginald Samples said the game plan was part of a “chess game” that responded according to DeSoto’s defense.
“This is a dog fight,” Duncanville coach Reginald Samples said. “We’ve got a great group of receivers. We just do what we have to do to win. Sometimes we run good. Sometimes we don’t run so good.”
Duncanville’s defense stole the show early, allowing zero first-half offensive touchdowns. Linebacker Jaylyn Manning sealed the deal and extinguished DeSoto’s momentum with a fourth-quarter interception.
In 2023, DeSoto took down Duncanville en route to a District 11-6A title. Duncanville is now the clear district title favorite after getting revenge on the Eagles. Samples and the Panthers are searching for a three-peat in Texas’ largest classification.
DeSoto, playing 6A football with a 5A enrollment, has lost two games this year. The Eagles (4-2, 2-1) lost to North Crowley 57-51 in a non-district game. When DeSoto lost to Duncanville in 2022, the Eagles went on to win the Class 6A D2 state championship.
Russell called the rivalry special, and mentioned he wants to see DeSoto succeed down the road. The high schools in Duncanville and DeSoto are only eight miles apart.
“We grew up with each other,” Russell said. “We’re family. I get to see my brothers win. They get to see me win. It’s very special.”
Duncanville dominates with Russell-Moore connection
Both offenses struggled to move the chains until Russell heaved a 66-yard strike to a wide open Moore for a touchdown late in the first quarter. After a defensive stop, Russell made an accurate throw in a tight window to Moore, who tallied his second touchdown, a 19-yard catch in the left corner of the end zone.
“As a quarterback, you got to make things work for your team,” Russell said. “You got to get the open guys the ball.”
DeSoto special teams responded with an 82-yard kick return touchdown from Daylon Singleton, an SMU commit. The extra point was wide left; the Eagles did not score the rest of the half.
Moore then scored his third and fourth touchdowns, which were 38 yards and 44 yards, respectively. Duncanville carried a 28-6 lead into the half.
Duncanville added to its lead with a short screen pass to Devine Green, who scampered 42 yards to the end zone. Soon after, DeSoto seized the momentum with two consecutive touchdowns and revamped defensive play.
The running back room thrived with Myson Johnson-Cook breaking free up the middle for a 47-yard score and Deondrae “Tiger” Riden Jr., a Texas A&M pledge, adding a 1-yard scoring scamper.
DeSoto had an opportunity to make it a one-possession game when an errant snap sailed over quarterback Kelden Ryan’s head. He had a chance to throw it away but fumbled. The Eagles lost 26 yards, and two plays later, Manning’s interception sealed the deal.
A 16-yard touchdown pass from Russell to Trenton Yancey was the finishing touch on a dominating performance. Yancey, a sophomore receiver who transferred from Arlington Lamar, has offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M and more.
On Oct. 18, DeSoto will host Mesquite Horn. On the same day, Duncanville will host Lancaster.
“I’m hoping to put up 60 the next game,” Russell said. “We had a lot of points left on the board today.”
This story was originally published October 11, 2024 at 10:08 PM.
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