Duncanville, North Crowley set for top-five clash in Texas High School Football Playoff Semifinals

The UIL Texas State Football Championships have now reached the semifinals across all six classifications — and perhaps the game of the year in the Lone Star State is scheduled for this week.

The Class 6A Division I bracket is down to four teams, two of which are in the top five of the national On3 Composite Rankings. They’ll square off on Saturday when Duncanville and North Crowley meet for a spot in the championship game.

Both Panthers will enter the showdown undefeated, with Duncanville at 13-0 while North Crowley sits at 14-0. Duncanville is vying for its third consecutive state title, while North Crowley is looking to avenge its loss to Duncanville in last year’s semifinals.

Duncanville has been considered the top team in the state all season and currently checks in at No. 2 nationally in the On3 Composite Rankings. North Crowley has stayed near the top all fall, too, and is currently No. 4 nationally and No. 2 in the state.

On3 High School Snapshot
Rankings: No. 2 (No. 1 TX) Duncanville vs. No. 4 (No. 2 TX) North Crowley
Date & Time: Saturday, Dec. 14 — 3 p.m. CT
Watch Live: NFHS Network
Key Duncanville Players to Watch: QB Keelon Russell, WR Dakorien Moore,
Key Mater Dei Players to Watch: WR Quentin Gibson, LB Jonathan Cunnigham
Massey Ratings Prediction: Duncanville 42, North Crowley 34

Duncanville possesses the nation’s top one-two punch in Alabama Five-Star Plus+ QB signee Keelon Russell and Oregon Five-Star Plus+ WR signee Dakorien Moore. Russell is the favorite to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, having thrown for over 3,600 yards and 52 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Moore has over 1,200 receiving yards and 18 TDs.

Due to the focus on Russell and Moore, Duncanville also carries an underrated defense, having not allowed more than two touchdowns in a game 10 times this year. North Crowley will look to challenge that this weekend.

Colorado three-star WR signee Quentin Gibson has 81 receptions for 1,721 yards and 31 scores this fall. Crowley also boasts an elite offensive line, headlined by junior five-star tackle John Turntine III and Missouri three-star IOL signee Henry Fenuku. The offense has eclipsed 50-plus points in 10 games this season.

The winner of Saturday’s clash will square off against the winner of North Shore versus Westlake, the No. 3 and No. 6 teams in the state, respectively, per the On3 Composite Rankings.

The On3 Composite High School Football Team Ranking is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings listed in the public domain by respected High School media and data companies. It includes Massey, Max Preps, Cal Preps, ESPN and SI, creating the industry’s most comprehensive and geographically balanced High School Team Ranking.