Duncanville beats North Crowley: Live score, Texas high school football state semifinals recap (12/9/2023)
Duncanville (13-1) hasn’t just been one of the best Texas high school football teams. The Panthers have been one of the top 25 teams in the country all season.
Undefeated North Crowley stood in the way of a trip to the state finals.
Duncanville blew by North Crowley, 52-10, in the UIL 6A D1 semifinals Saturday at Mesquite Memorial Stadium, earning a spot in next week’s state championship game.
The Panthers will take on North Shore in a rematch of last year's state championship game, which Duncanville won 28-21.
Duncanville, ranked No. 3 in Texas and No. 10 nationally, was led by LSU commit Caden Durham, who rushed for 225 yards and five touchdowns in the semifinals victory.
North Crowley (14-1) entered the playoffs ranked No. 16 in the state, and the Panthers took down Permian, Prosper and Allen in playoff games on their way to the semifinals.
DUNCANVILLE 52, NORTH CROWLEY 10 (FINAL)
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FOURTH QUARTER
-- Freshman quarterback Maximus The Great Denson gets in on the scoring party with a 41-yard touchdown run in the final minutes of a dominant win for the Panthers. (Duncanville, 52-10 | 3:10)
-- Looks like the day is over some of Duncanville's starters, including Keelon Russell and Caden Durham. The Panthers will try to milk the clock as much as possible this drive.
-- North Crowley finds the end zone for the first time today with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Chris Jimerson to Quentin Gibson. (Duncanville, 45-10 | 6:39)
THIRD QUARTER
-- Just in case there was any doubt, Duncanville is going back to the state finals, and Caden Durham is tough to bring down. Durham rushes for a 56-yard touchdown, his fifth of the day, to extend the Panthers' lead. (Duncanville, 45-3 | 1:15)
-- That should do it. Keelon Russell hits five-star receiver Dakorien Moore for a 43-yard touchdown to put Duncanville ahead by five scores. (Duncanville, 38-3 | 3:25)
-- Have a day, Caden Durham. The LSU commit goes for a nine-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the game. That score should be enough to secure the win for Duncanville considering the time remaining. (Duncanville, 31-3 | 4:46)
-- North Crowley starts the second half by putting together a solid drive and scoring its first points of the game on a 30-yard field goal. (Duncanville, 24-3 | 8:47)
SECOND QUARTER
-- North Crowley's Hail Mary attempt from the 41-yard line falls incomplete. The teams head to the locker rooms with Duncanville up 24-0.
-- Caden Durham does it again. He scores his third rushing touchdown of the day, this time from 23 yards out. (Duncanville, 24-0 | 1:13)
-- Duncanville's defense continues to stifle North Crowley, which punts it away again. Duncanville, starting this drive at its own 31 with 2:24 left in the half, has the chance to really take control of this game.
-- Duncanville gets points off the turnover, as Jonathan Batres hits a 22-yard field goal to extend the lead. (Duncanville, 17-0 | 2:49)
-- The first play of the drive for North Crowley goes bad, as Tyren Polley comes up with an interception. Duncanville takes over at North Crowley's 25-yard line with about five minutes left in the half.
-- On 3rd and 3 from the 16-yard line, Caden Durham breaks free for a Duncanville touchdown. That's the second score of the day for the LSU commit. (Duncanville, 14-0 | 5:43)
-- Duncanville gets the stop this series. North Crowley runs a fake punt that gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage, and Duncanville starts a new drive at its own 41-yard line with 8:42 left in the half.
-- North Crowley goes for it on 4th and 3 near midfield, and Cornelius Warren runs for the first down to keep the drive alive.
-- Duncanville has no success this drive, so the ball goes back to North Crowley, which takes over at its own 43 following the punt.
FIRST QUARTER
-- Still no points for North Crowley, which is forced to punt and give the ball back to Duncanville late in the first quarter.
-- Duncanville fumbles in North Crowley territory, and North Crowley comes up with the ball. North Crowley's offense takes over at its own 32.
-- Duncanville strikes first, as Caden Durham scores on a two-yard touchdown run. (Duncanville, 7-0 | 5:36)
-- North Crowley goes three and out on its first drive, and the ensuing punt isn't great. Duncanville's offense comes back out at North Crowley's 39-yard line.
-- Duncanville squanders great field position on the game's opening drive and turns the ball over on downs. North Crowley's offense comes out for its first drive of the day, which will start at its own 26.
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-- Zach Shugan | zshugan@gmail.com | @SBLiveTX
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(Featured photo by Michael Horboivetz)
