December 22, 2018: A date that will live in infamy at Duncanville High School.
Mere months removed from having the chance at a state title slip through their fingertips and into North Shore’s, D-Ville paved the road back to Arlington in Thursday’s spring game.
The last time they took a field, the Panthers left it 14-1 and in a state of devastation.
Since that moment, a simple belief has been ingrained into the program’s culture:
The past is irrelevant. The future is unwritten.
With a recharged roster loaded with tantalizing talent and untapped potential, Duncanville is flipping the page to a new chapter in 2019.
Duncanville’s nearly unbeaten 2018 campaign put the program under a national spotlight. Tearing through district play and terrorizing postseason opponents, the Panthers thoroughly dominated competition leading to their dethroning of then-champion Allen.
Orchestrating the state power is Reginald Samples, a highly accomplished coach entering his fourth season at Duncanville.
Samples’ attention rests solely on what’s ahead for his Panthers, “one game at a time.”
Key Departures
Offense: WR Marquez Beason, OL Jordan Phillips, RB Nakia Brown
Defense: DB Stacy Brown, DB Tre’shon Devones, DT De’Braylon Carroll
Key Returners
Offense: QB Ja’Quinden Jackson, OL Savion Byrd, RB Trysten Smith, WR Zeriah Beason, WR Roderick Daniels Jr.
Defense: DB Chris Thompson Jr., LB Kendrick Blackshire (Move-In), DT James Mitchell, DB Jadarius Thursby
Telling by the team’s star-studded lineup, highlighted by 2020 Top of Texas prospects Ja’Quinden Jackson and Chris Thompson Jr., one thing Duncanville does not lack is talent.
Whether Samples can rally the troops en route to the school’s first state championship in 21 years, and the first of his own illustrious career, is yet to be seen.
Coming one Hail Mary short from ending a title drought understandably left battle scars. However, Panther fans still healing from old wounds can rest assured.
Big things look to be in store this season.
