Cowboys OL Tyler Smith sends support to former high school, North Crowley, ahead of state semifinal
Around this time of year in Texas, a lot of attention turns toward high school football playoffs as teams dive into the state semifinal round with a berth to AT&T Stadium and the state championship on the line.
In the state’s highest classification, the undefeated North Crowley Panthers will travel to Eagle Stadium in Allen to take on the No. 3 nationallyranked Duncanville Panthers, who are searching for their third consecutive 6A Division I state championship. For North Crowley, it’s an opportunity to get a team within the Fort Worth city limits into the state’s most prestigious championship game since Arlington Heights in 1948. In the segregated PVIL classification, Fort Worth Kirkpatrick won the state championship in 1965.
From the college ranks to the two professional teams in the state, there will be a lot of eyes on what happens at the prep level this weekend. They include North Crowley graduate and current Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith.
Smith, who graduated from North Crowley in 2019, has been blown away by the team’s success as he’s watched from afar.
“Man, I’m extremely proud of the team,” Smith said. “The kids, what they’re doing is special. It’s been constant since [Coach Ray Gates] got there, just constant improvement. The culture that they formed, the precedents they’ve set for the kids after them, how far they’ve come, I’m extremely proud.”
Gates was hired prior to the 2022 season after serving as the defensive coordinator for Cedar Hill. In his three seasons, Gates has amassed a 40-2 record and has the Panthers sitting as the No. 9-ranked team in the country going into its biggest game as a program since it won the 4A state championship in 2003.
“Coach Gates has really fostered a culture of hard work,” Smith said. “They’re dogs. I remember last year when I went to the playoffs and I was on the sideline with him, some of the kids don’t even drink water. I’m over there trying to get them to drink water, but they’re so invested in the game. They’re so invested into just dominating. They’re honed in and focused. He’s done a great job of really inspiring that positive culture.”
Smith has been busy with his own season starting at left guard for the Cowboys, but has grown fond of watching senior wide receiver Quentin Gibson, who has exploded onto the scene in 2024.
“The offense to me is explosive,” he said. “They got so many pieces. [Gibson] is just a special talent. It’s his senior year and he kind of came out of nowhere. They just have a lot of special talent on their offense.”
Smith will not be able to attend Saturday’s game in Allen, as the Cowboys will be on their chartered flight to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers when the game kicks off at 3 p.m., but Smith will be keeping up with the game.
“I’ll definitely keep up with it throughout the day,” he said. “I was heartbroken when I found out what time the game was, but I’m rooting for them and hoping for the best.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 5:02 PM.
