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Duncanville races past DeSoto in a star-studded high school football contest in Texas

Duncanville races past DeSoto in a star-studded high school football contest in Texas

Don’t look now – a Texas high school football powerhouse has asserted itself again.

Five-star prospects Keelon Russell and Dakorien Moore scored four touchdowns in the first half, leading to a 42-20 rivalry victory over DeSoto in a statewide district showdown of No. 1 Duncanville on Friday night at Eagle Stadium.

Russell, an Alabama player, finished the game with 429 passing yards on 26-for-36 attempts and six total touchdowns – four of which went to Moore, an Oregon player and the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver.

Moore, who came into the game averaging more than 100 yards per game, rushed for 229 yards on nine catches.

The win gives the Panthers (5-0) a shot at the 6A District 11 title.

Moore had five catches in the first half and scored on four of them while accumulating 179 yards. Duncanville took a 28-6 lead thanks to Russell’s 246 passing yards in the first half.

DeSoto’s only score in the first half was an 88-yard kick return for a touchdown by Daylon Singleton.

His offense gained 381 yards but struggled to find the end zone late. Myson Johnson-Cook helped fuel the second-half comeback with 79 rushing yards after halftime and a 46-yard TD run.

The Eagles made a late surge when DeSoto pulled within two touchdowns of the lead on a two-yard touchdown run by Deondrae Riden with just under five minutes left.

Keylan Abrams helped the DeSoto defense force a punt, then the Eagles drove into the Panthers’ red zone and appeared poised to cut the lead to one score.

Then a stray snapshot flew over Kelden Ryan’s head. He tried to catch the ball to throw it away, but it slipped out of his hand, forcing him to fall on the ball, a 26-yard loss and a once-promising shot attempt.

Duncanville’s Jaylyn Manning singled Ryan with 5:04 left and the Panthers ran out the clock from there.

Duncanville faces Lancaster next Friday in Week 8 and DeSoto plays Horn.

More Duncanville vs. DeSoto:

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— Andy Bühler | [email protected] | @sblivetx