South Oak Cliff came into the playoffs boasting consecutive Class 5A Division II state titles. The goal this season was simple: three-peating as champs. So far, they’re well on their way, defeating Melissa 38-30 at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco. For the Golden Bears, it was essentially an away contest; Melissa boasted more than double the amount of fans in the venue.
South Oak Cliff was led by a balanced rushing attack, with running back Danny Green Jr. scoring first on a 9-yard running score. Overall, Green scrambled for 128 yards overall and a trio of touchdowns; he now has five 100+ yard games. Running back Khalil Ewell also contributed 55 yards and a score. The Bears pulled ahead with a 17-0 lead, before Melissa narrowed the deficit to within three points by halftime.
A balanced second half was a back-and-forth affair, with Green icing it late in the fourth quarter, putting South Oak Cliff up by two scores with five minutes remaining. Both sides of the ball were supported by the program’s six Division I pledges in the 2024’s graduating class.
So far, after a 1-2 start, the Bears have rattled off nine straight victories, scoring 34 or more in each win. The only time the offense languished was against two of the best Class 6A schools locally: DeSoto and Duncanville.
After the close meeting against Melissa, the Bears will take on Midlothian Heritage in the regional semifinals. The team is fresh off a 21-14 victory over Marshall.
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