Top Texas Prospects: DFW Spotlight Matchups

The bright lights of Dallas–Fort Worth shine this week on two heavyweight clashes that will shake up the state’s high school football landscape. These aren’t just games, they’re measuring sticks for championship-caliber programs.

DeSoto Eagles at North Crowley Panthers

State Champions Collide

The reigning 6A DII champion DeSoto Eagles head to Fort Worth to face the defending 6A DI champion North Crowley Panthers in a matchup loaded with talent and storylines.

• DeSoto Outlook: Head Coach Claude Mathis has guided DeSoto to back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023. But the Eagles enter this contest hungry after a humbling 70–28 loss to Georgia power Creekside in Week 1. The key will be quarterback Legend Bey, who must protect the football and pick his moments to attack. His top targets, playmaker SaRod Baker and USC commit Ethan Feaster, bring game-breaking speed and skill. If the Eagles can find rhythm early, they can put pressure on the Panthers.

  
  

• North Crowley Outlook: Head Coach Ray Gates has turned North Crowley into a juggernaut, going 41–2 in four seasons and claiming the 2024 6A DI title. Their offense starts with a punishing ground game behind Class of 2027 running backs Gyrell Smith and Kiante Ingram, who run behind the dominance of Texas OL commit John Turntine III. Defensively, EDGE rusher Jurwone Irvin is a difference-maker, and the secondary may be the deepest in Texas with Aaron Bradshaw, Thomas Cook Jr., Jerry Outhouse Jr., Elijuan Houston, and freshman phenom Braylen Cunningham.

  
  

Spotlight Question: Can DeSoto rebound from an early setback, or will North Crowley’s balance and toughness prove too much for the Eagles?

South Oak Cliff Golden Bears at Duncanville Panthers

Mentor vs. Pupil

Few rivalries carry as much weight as this one: South Oak Cliff’s Jason Todd squaring off against his former mentor, legendary Duncanville coach Reginald Samples. This matchup isn’t just about talent,  it’s about pride, legacy, and bragging rights in DFW.

• South Oak Cliff Outlook: The Golden Bears are no strangers to the big stage, having reached four straight 5A DII title games, winning two. Their Week 1 win over North Shore, 41–31, was a statement to the state. Junior QB Jayden Williams is emerging as one of the most dynamic passers in Texas, while RBs Levon Morton and Mikail Trotter provide a powerful one-two punch after both topping 100 yards against North Shore. SOC comes into this clash confident, balanced, and more physical than ever.

  
  

• Duncanville Outlook: The Panthers are a dynasty under Reginald Samples, and while Alabama signee Keelon Russell has moved on, new QB Maximus Denson is ready to take the reins. The receiving corps is elite, with Trenton Yancey, Zachery Turner (SMU commit), and Ayson Theus (TCU commit) capable of changing the game at any moment. Defensively, Duncanville remains ferocious, led by KJ Ford (Florida commit) off the edge, Landon Barnes (Ole Miss commit) in the front seven, and SMU-bound DB Braylon Edwards in the secondary.

  
  

Spotlight Question: Last season, Duncanville dominated 34–12. But this is a new year and a different SOC team. Is this finally the year Jason Todd topples his mentor and puts South Oak Cliff over the top against the Panthers?

The Bigger Picture

These two spotlight games are more than just early-season tests, they’re previews of December football. DeSoto, North Crowley, South Oak Cliff, and Duncanville are all built to make deep playoff runs. The question is: who will deliver a statement now and establish themselves as the team to beat in Texas?