Photo credit Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Arlington, Texas – We fought hard, came from dark days and hard times. The Jack-in-the-box player of the game Qualon Farrar described the Golden Bears’ journey. This history-making moment showed the Texas high school football world in front of 42,275 and the South Oak Cliff Community.
Inner-city schools have seen little with winning state titles. Typically, that sides with the suburban schools. However, 71 years later, Dallas ISD and South Oak Cliff became tremendous stories.
That’s how long it’s been since the Sunset Bisons; a Dallas ISD school, defeated Houston Reagan, 14-6, to bring home a state title to Dallas ISD. Eight years later, Booker T. Washington won the Prairie View Interscholastic League title.
“We feel what you feel in the stadium, excitement,” says Golden Bears running back Farrar. “This is one of the best accomplishments in South Oak Cliff Football.”
The Golden Bears (15-1) has chased history since the first round of the playoffs as it sent shock waves throughout Texas after shocking perennial power Aledo, 33-28, which holds ten state titles.
Sophomore kicker Diego Varela booted a 29-yard field goal with 8:25 remaining, and the Golden Bears defense kept the Liberty Hill Panthers’ Slot-T offense in check in the second half, sending South Oak Cliff to its first state championship, 23-14 in the Class 5A Division II state championship on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.
The win gives the Golden Bears its first title in school history. Liberty Hill (13-3) fell short of its third title, with its last coming in 2007, a 35-13 decision over Gilmer.
Varela did the honors of giving South Oak Cliff the edge, 17-14, with a 29-yard field goal with 8:25 remaining. The kick came after three big plays by senior running back Ke’Undra Hollywood, who rambled 32 yards to the Panthers 41. Hollywood caught a nine-yard reception from offensive MVP quarterback Kevin Henry-Jennings, who connected on 12-of-23 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, while facing fourth and five and scampered 15 yards to the 12.
“We told them about character reveal,” said Golden Bears coach Jason Todd. “We’ve been up in some games, but one thing we know how to do is climb back and scratch it out and find a way to win at the end.”
The Panthers seemed poised to answer but, junior defensive lineman Keith Smith and junior MVP defensive back Abdul Muhammad, who led the Golden Bears with ten tackles, turned in huge stops to halt one of a few impressive Liberty Hill possessions. Smith tackled sophomore running back Noah Long for no gain on third and six to force a fourth down. Liberty Hill’s offense stayed on the field but drew a holding infraction back it up to its 24. That’s when Coach Kent Walker sent out the punt unit, which ran a fake when linebacker/running back Andon Thomas, who received the snap from center, threw a pass intended for sophomore running back Joe Pitchford, who rushed for 158 yards on 20 carries, but Muhammad, defending on the play, knocked the ball away, giving the Golden Bears possession at the Liberty Hill 24 with 4:39 remaining.
“I’m proud of these kids; they fought their tails off,” Panthers coach Walker said. “I can’t say enough about our kids and our community. They showed out today, and I’m very grateful for that.”
Three plays later, South Oak Cliff enjoyed its largest lead when Farrar took the handoff going right and turned upfield for a 17-yard scoring run, making the score 23-14 after Varela kick. That all but sealed the deal.
The Golden Bears defense had its hand’s full bending but not breaking as it faced a well-oiled Slot-T offense that rushed for over 5,000 yards this season. Defensive back Kyron Chambers, sophomore linebacker Brandon Jones, defensive linemen, Courtland Kidd, junior defensive lineman Keith Smith, and Tyler Young proved to be up for the task, controlling the line of scrimmage for most of the evening. Holding the Panthers scoreless in the second half while its offense mustered nine points proved to be the difference.
“They are the fastest and the most physical team we faced and huge upfront,” coach Walker mentioned.
Still, sophomore defensive back Semaj’ere Gasaway’s jarring hit on Noah caused a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, which watched junior receiver Taylor Starling recover the ball on the Liberty Hill 27 with 3:07 left.
The Golden Bears were on the receiving end as the game opened. Liberty Hill’s on-side kick to begin the game caught South Oak Cliff by surprise; however, the ball traveled six yards instead of the allotted ten yards, setting up first in ten from the Panthers 46. South Oak Cliff converted two fourth downs before Henry-Jennings threw a 17-yard strike to junior receiver Corinthean Coleman to put the Golden Bears up 7-0 after Varela’s kick.
After both teams forced a three and out, the Panthers’ best frame of the evening foiled when Ethan Minix’s 35-yard field goal attempt drifted left with 37 seconds to go in the first quarter. But the running game settled in, including carries by Long, Pitchford, and senior Thomas for double-digit yards. Yet, a holding penalty forced fourth and eight with the kick to follow.
“It’s a special group, for obvious reasons,” coach Walker explained. “Most of you all know what they’ve been through and what we’ve been through over the past year.” (The passing of former head coach Jeff Walker, the brother of coach Kent.)
Henry-Jennings engineered an 80-yard drive, including tossing a pair of 15 yard passes to receiver Kylin Mathis coupled with Hollywood 13 run to the 27, setting up the scoring strike to sophomore receiver Jamyri Cauley in the corner of the end zone, increasing its lead, 14-0 with 7:46 left in the second quarter.
Just when the Golden Bears looked to blow open the game, Liberty Hill, who rolled up 208 first-half ground yards, responded with an eight-play, 63-yard touchdown drive. Behind sound blocking up front, Pitchford picked up 14 yards to South Oak Cliff 45. Three plays later, Long churned out 11 yards to the 23 before standout Thomas bowled his way up the middle, mowing defenders to the end zone as the Panthers cut the lead in half, 14-7 following Minix’s PAT.
On South Oak Cliff’s next possession, junior linebacker/receiver Colin Brandt and junior defensive back Carlton Schrank provided blanket coverage and held Farrar to five yards, forcing a punt. That momentum carried over to Liberty Hill’s offense as it quickly progressed 87-yards on the strength of its ground game, including Pitchford highlight 62 yard run to the Golden Bears 4. Thomas would eventually cap the frame, scoring from a yard to tie the game, 14-14 with 11 seconds left in the second quarter.
Liberty Hill started the third quarter with excellent field position at the 46 after a good return by its special teams. Pitchford, junior running back Logan Dyer, Long, and Thomas shared the ball pounded the Golden Bears defensive front to the 17; still, possession came up empty when Minix missed his second field goal attempt wide left.
From there, the defense headlined the third quarter.
The Panthers watch its season end on a sad note but will have much to look forward to with experience and youth returning next season.