Waxahachie flipped the Texas high school football world Friday night, storming back from an 18-point third-quarter deficit to knock off nationally ranked No. 4 Duncanville 28-27.
The Panthers, heavy favorites and defending 6A power, seemed in command early. Maximus Denson hit Trenton Yancey for a 77-yard touchdown and later found Ayson Theus for an 85-yard strike. A 35-yard pick-six by Victor Lincoln helped build a 27-9 cushion midway through the third quarter.
But Waxahachie never blinked. Jerry Meyer III tossed two touchdown passes, including a 24-yard strike to Jordan Thompson-Woods, and Nolan Barnard’s one-yard scoring run capped a furious 19-0 run. The decisive score came with 3:48 left as the Indians’ defense forced a late punt and denied a final Duncanville drive.
Meyer finished with 115 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Taylen Furlough-Strange and Jordan Smith powered a balanced ground attack. Waxahachie’s defense tightened dramatically, limiting Duncanville to fewer than 20 rushing yards after halftime.
For Duncanville, Denson threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, but nine penalties and stalled second-half drives proved costly. The loss ends the Panthers’ hopes for an unbeaten regular season and shakes up the state and national rankings.
Duncanville will look to improve to 2-1 next week as they play the 0-3 Skyline Raiders. Waxahachie will look to stay unbeaten when it travels to DeSoto. A win over DeSoto, after a win over Duncanville, might get the Indians ranked nationally.
Photographer Pat Carrigan was at the game to capture these photos:
