GAMES
RANKINGS
THE ARCHITECTS: History being made as minorities lead all Class 6A state final super-programs
As Texas High School football takes center stage this weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, history is being made.
All four head coaches in the Class 6A title games are Black… Duncanville’s Reginald Samples, North Shore’s Willie Gaston, DeSoto’s Claude Mathis and Summer Creek’s Kenny Harrison.
Last season, Claude Mathis was the first Black head coach to win a state title at the highest classification of Texas High School football. A few hours later, Samples became the second as the Panthers knocked off North Shore.
Willie Gaston, who played QB for North Shore over 20 years ago before starring for the University of Houston, was elevated from his offensive coordinator position last spring after coach Jon Kay took a college position at Rice University. The first-year head coach has carried on the success of his predecessors as the Mustangs are in their fifth Class 6A DI state title game in six years. He will face Duncanville and coach Reginald Samples, the winningest black head coach in Texas high school football history with over 340 wins.
“It’s a special moment,” Gaston said. “There is a lot of people pumped up for this. There was a stereotype that minority guys couldn’t coach over the years. This weekend just shows you the growth of minority coaches and how good we have become.”
This week, the Houston TD Club awarded Gaston and Summer Creek coach Kenny Harrison as their 2023 co-Coaches of the Year. It is only the third time in the club’s history to have awarded co-coaches. Gaston and Harrison have led their teams to the top of the Texas high school football mountain this weekend… the coveted state game.
No team in the 105-year history of Humble ISD has ever reached a state final… until now. Harrison and his Summer Creek Bulldogs face DeSoto in the Class 6A DII championship. The history is not lost on Harrison, who grew up playing for Port Arthur Jefferson and SMU.
“It means a lot that all four of us have this opportunity,” he said. “We’re all quality coaches who have built tremendous programs. I’ve followed them for a long time and their successes. I’m excited to be a part of this for black coaches but even, more importantly, excited about the opportunity to win a state championship.”
Mathis, who was a star RB at Texas State, smashed through the ceiling last season, beating Austin Vandegrift 42-17 to win the Class 6A DII title in 2022. He’s back…
“This is just wonderful… this is history,” he said. “The only bad thing is that someone has to lose. We have come a long way in this profession of coaching and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”
While all four are playing to win and fit for championship rings, history is at hand as these four are breaking Texas-sized barriers.
How will Duncanville handle being the hunted, instead of hunter?
The Duncanville Panthers have become a massive brand in the state of Texas.
Thanks Captain Obvious… but winning a state title just over a year ago in a 28-21 win over North Shore, has made up for the near-misses of the past. It’s put Duncanville on a new level inside and outside the locker room.
“Winning a title really puts that stamp on your program,” coach Reginald Samples said. “It validates that you are one of the best teams in the state of Texas, maybe even the country. You can’t really say that until you win that state title.”
Duncanville is on another collision course with destiny as they face Westfield Saturday at 3 pm at Reeves Stadium in Round Rock in the Class 6A DI Region II Final. The Panthers beat Westfield (28-21) last season in the regional final before earning that coveted state title.
So, now they are the hunted instead of the hunter.
“Trust me, we aren’t looking past what is right in front of us,” he said. “Here’s why. We were trying so hard to beat North Shore in those state games, and lost. Eventually, we beat them. These teams in front of us are the same way. They are trying to knock us off like we were with North Shore. There are only really good teams left and we respect our opponents”
The Panthers are freakishly talented with the likes of QB Keelon Russell (SMU-commit) RB Caden Durham (LSU-commit), WR Dakorien Moore (LSU-commit), OL (Baylor-commit) DE Colin Simmons (Texas-commit), DT Alex January (Texas-commit), DB Ka’Davion Dotson (SMU-commit) walking the hallways. There is nearly a dozen more college commits on the way.
“We try and keep the outside noise to a minimum,” he said. “Yes, there are college recruiters here all the time, but we try and limit the distractions during the season, especially in the playoffs. You can have a bunch of great players, but if you don’t win, that doesn’t build a program. We are here to get kids recruited and we do a great job of that, but when it comes down to it, we’re also here to win ball games for Duncanville High School.”
The star of the Panther Den on the offensive side of the ball is Caden Durham, who has over 1,500 yards and 21 scores for the season. When the Panthers need a big play, he’s the guy.
“Caden started off slow and didn’t have those big stats, because we didn’t need that early on. We were winning by large margins,” Samples said. “In a lot of games, we pulled him by halftime because we knew we were going to need him later. He didn’t pout or anything, he just stayed positive. He’s a winner and all the great ones have another gear. He certainly does. When we have needed plays when the games count, he’s the guy that wants the ball and he delivers.”
With an explosive offense that is averaging nearly 50 points per game, the offense is equally as dynamic. The Panthers are only giving up 10 points a game and are punishing teams.
“We hang our hat on defense and being physical,” Samples said. “I’ve always leaned to the defense side of the ball and I believe defense wins championships.
“When those guys who now star on defense for us came into the program, we could easily have put them on the offensive side of the ball. They would have been really good, but we think put them in the right spot. I think they would agree.”
Unfortunately, so would their opponents.
So, how will Duncanville handle being the defending state champs as the postseason whittles down? With an unmatched swagger and the experience winning their first under Coach Samples, more dangerous than ever before.