Duncanville’s 45-17 Victory Over Arlington Martin Displays the Panthers as Playoff Worthy

All it took was one highlight-reel catch by junior wide receiver Roderick Daniels to light a fire under undefeated Duncanville as they move one step closer to its first football state championship since 1998.

With Duncanville backed up at its 11-yard line, Daniels made a leaping 20-yard catch along the sideline, getting his toe down in bounds by just inches. Three plays later, Texas pledge Ja’Quinden Jackson hit Marcus Vinson with a 54-yard pass toset up a 1-yard touchdown run by Trysten Smith, setting Duncanville on there way to a 45-17 win over Arlington Martin on Friday in a Class 6A Division I Region I semifinal at AT&T Stadium.

“Big players make big plays in big-time games,” Daniels said. “I had to keep making big plays to get us going.”

Daniels finished with 161 yards of total offense (98 rushing, 63 receiving), and Jackson took over in the second half. Jackson, scoring on runs of 26 and 57 yards  finished with 164 yards on 16 carries as Duncanville (13-0) advanced to the regional final for the third time in four years. Smith ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns for Duncanville.

Arlington Martin, rated the third best team in the nation, struggled to score against Duncanville, who locked them to a rare scoreless game in the second quarter.

The Warriors became the first team this season to score more than 14 against  Duncanville defense.

Duncanville will face the winner of Saturday’s game between Southlake Carroll (12-0) and Midland Lee (11-1). If Southlake Carroll is next week’s opponent, it will be a rematch of last year’s regional final — a 51-7 Duncanville win.