The defending champs are still motivated for the three-peat.
South Oak Cliff dominated Lovejoy, triumphing 42-0 to win the UIL 5A Division II regional title. It was the second consecutive season that the Tigers lost to the Bears in the postseason.
After the Leopards opened the contest with an interception, the Bears rebounded with a pair of early touchdown runs from Danny Green. By halftime, the team was up 21-0, later doubling their points by the end of regulation. The Bears defense stepped up in the third quarter, restricting the Leopards on two scoring chances.
In total, South Oak Cliff held their opponent to 215 total yards, including 97 on the ground. Wide receivers Parker Livingstone and Daylan McCutcheon were limited to a combined eight catches for 99 yards, and just one catch for more than 18 yards—impressive considering the Tigers had one of the most potent pass offenses in the state. Green, by himself, had 187 yards rushing and three touchdowns; senior tailback Khalil Ewell added 78 yards on 16 carries for two total touchdowns.
Before their current dynasty, South Oak Cliff hadn’t won a state title in 60 years. After losing a multitude of starters to graduation before the season, and starting the season 1-2, many wrote the Bears off. However, the team rebounded, ending the regular season with seven straight wins, all by an average margin of 43.3 points.
Next up, South Oak Cliff will compete in the state semifinal against Frisco Emerson. The Frisco Emerson Mavericks are 12-2 and coming off of a 59-48 win over Colleyville Heritage.
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