By Anthony Council
In one of the most stunning upsets of the Texas high school football season, the North Crowley Panthers (15-0) dethroned defending champion Duncanville (13-2) in a dramatic 36-34 UIL Class 6A semifinal showdown, punching their ticket to the state championship with a performance for the ages.
North Crowley (15-0) came out aggressive from the start, jumping to a 12-0 lead after recovering an onside kick and scoring two quick touchdowns. Quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. was pivotal, connecting with wide receiver Quentin Gibson for a 32-yard touchdown, followed by a 26-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius Warren III. North Crowley also added a 27-yard field goal from Diego Gonzalez, extending their early lead to 15-0.
Duncanville (13-2) responded quickly, with two touchdowns before halftime. Jaqualon Armstrong scored on a 2-yard run, and quarterback Keelon Russell added a 12-yard touchdown run. At halftime, North Crowley led by just one point, 15-14. The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading touchdowns. Duncanville took a 21-15 lead on a 51-yard touchdown pass to Dakorien Moore, but North Crowley didn’t back down. Jimerson Jr. threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cam Hunter, and then connected with Gibson again for a 49-yard touchdown, putting North Crowley ahead 29-21. Defense was key for North Crowley, as Aaron Bradshaw intercepted Russell, and Duncanville’s two turnovers gave the Panthers the edge. Warren capped off the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, and even though Duncanville answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Russell to Ayson Theus, the Panthers held on to win 36-34. Coach Gates spoke about his team’s resilience: “Well, man, we scheduled for this moment. You go back and look at the teams we played, it’s not ironic that we’re here. We went through the district of doom… All the teams we played prepared us for this moment.”
Looking ahead to the state championship, Gates emphasized what’s next for his team: “Finish.”
Top performers in the game included Jimerson Jr., who completed 11 passes for 185 yards, and Gibson, who had multiple big catches, including the game-changing 49-yard touchdown. Defensive standouts like Bradshaw helped shut down Duncanville’s offense when it mattered most.
North Crowley will face Austin Westlake in the UIL Class 6A Division I championship on December 21 at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington
