Duncanville preview: Can North Crowley bring Fort Worth to top of high school football?
With TCU and SMU’s longtime Iron Skillet game ending, Dallas-Fort Worth football fans have been yearning for a Metroplex rivalry.
They won’t find it in college football after 2025.
The new premier Metroplex spectacle involves North Crowley vs. Duncanville: The Panthers of Fort Worth vs. the Panthers of Dallas. Both schools, in Texas’ largest classification, are undefeated and are nationally ranked by Max Preps as high school football powerhouses.
If you want to see the best football in Dallas-Fort Worth, you’ll find it at Allen Eagle Stadium at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in the UIL State Semifinals. A trip to the state championship game at AT&T Stadium is on the line.
For generations, Fort Worth schools have sat on the sidelines while Dallas-area teams have reaped all the state championship success. North Crowley’s ascension, however, has returned Fort Worth to high school football relevancy.
“It’s our time to have this type of run and show people that football in the DFW isn’t just the D but the F and the W as well,” North Crowley head coach Ray Gates said. “We’ve got to go work – it’s not going to be an easy week.”
Of course, Duncanville (13-0) is a massive challenge, and North Crowley (14-0) must play its best football to have a chance. Duncanville defeated North Crowley 52-10 in the 2023 state semifinals.
After a year of growth, North Crowley is confident in its ability to compete while also playing the best football Fort Worth has seen in decades.
Gates, who has brought North Crowley back to prominence in three seasons as head coach, said “everything” has been geared toward competing with Duncanville.
“We have a team that’s been there,” Gates said of Duncanville. “A team that beat us last year. Our guys will be ready and prepared for the moment.”
North Crowley’s rise brings Fort Worth back to relevancy
A high school from the city of Fort Worth hasn’t competed for a UIL state championship in the largest classification since 1948, when Arlington Heights won a UIL City state title. North Crowley won a 4A Division One title in 2003.
Fort Worth Kirkpatrick won a PVIL 4A title in 1963, and Fort Worth Terrell made a title game appearance in the 1965 season.
In the past 59 years, in general, Fort Worth schools have mightily struggled while Dallas schools have thrived in Texas’ largest classification.
In recent years, Duncanville has dominated Class 6A football and is currently searching for a three-peat. Although eliminated in 2024, DeSoto has thrived in Class 6A D2, winning state titles in 2022 and 2023.
South Oak Cliff, a Dallas ISD school, has seen 5A D2 state championship success and is in a position to compete for another. Schools from Tarrant and Parker Country, such as Aledo, Euless Trinity and Southlake Carroll have also won state titles.
Schools inside the Fort Worth city limits, however, haven’t made any title games in nearly 21 years. Now, North Crowley has a chance to end the drought, and they are extremely vocal about playing “for the city.”
Throughout the season, North Crowley has showcased 817 on its helmets, proudly displaying its Fort Worth ties.
Kiante Ingram, a standout sophomore running back, said it means a lot to represent Fort Worth against the best competition in Texas high school football.
“To me, it’s about pride,” Ingram said. “It’s our culture versus their culture. Our coaches vs. their coaches. Our players versus their players.”
North Crowley vs. Duncanville: Star players to watch
Both Duncanville and North Crowley have some of the best talent in Texas.
One of North Crowley’s stars, wide receiver Quentin Gibson, is a nominee for the Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year and a Colorado Football commit. Gibson, a highlight machine, has 32 receiving touchdowns.
If North Crowley is to compete with Duncanville, they must have a big performance from the offensive line, or “The Wall”, and the running backs. Offensive coordinator Eli Reinhart and company have been utilizing three productive backs: Cornelius Warren III, Daniel Bray and Ingram.
The biggest question is whether North Crowley can contain Duncanville’s elite offense. Leading the unit is quarterback Keelon Russell, a five-star Alabama commit and the Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year.
His favorite wide receiver target, five-star Oregon commit Dakorien Moore, is arguably the best receiver in Texas. Although Duncanville’s offense is clearly one of the best in the nation, the group has weaknesses North Crowley can capitalize on.
In the regional finals, Russell completed 14 of 28 passes for 222 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Moore had 97 yards on five receptions.
The key for North Crowley is forcing turnovers and making timely plays. Three players to watch in that department include linebackers Jonathan Cunningham, a Texas commit, and Ja’Brelle Asberry, as well as cornerback Draden Fullbright, an Oklahoma State commit.
Duncanville has one of the most talented teams in the history of Texas football, yet North Crowley knows it has the talent to compete. With arguably the most important game in program history coming up, North Crowley will focus on itself.
“We’ve got to be a better version of ourselves next week than we were this week,” Gates said. “And that’s just been our entire motto: It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. It’s a headless opponent type of approach.
“And so, it’s all about us. If we can show up and we can put together our best game, I feel good about whoever we play on any day at any time.”
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: The article was updated to mention Fort Worth Kirkpatrick’s 4A PVIL state title win in 1963.
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