Plenty of Dallas-Fort Worth area teams are vying for their chance at playing in the UIL State Championship game. Some of those teams are facing off against each other in the semifinals. Reigning state champion Dallas South Oak Cliff and Argyle are going head-to-head in the UIL State Semifinals on Friday. VYPE DFW lays out what fans can expect from these two programs!
South Oak Cliff Bears (11-3, 6-0)
After winning the state championship last season, the Bears had a rocky start to their 2022 campaign. Posting three-straight losses against Duncanville, Lancaster, and DeSoto to open their season, many people were wondering where the confident and determined team was that just won a state championship. Without hesitation, the Bears took on the rest of their schedule and proceeded to defeat the rest of their opponents with big victories over the likes of Dallas Spruce, Dallas Kimball, Seagoville, and more. South Oak Cliff allowed only one team to score against them in district play while shutting out five others.
Led by the likes of Danny Green Jr, Jamyri Cauley, Tedrick Williams, Joshua Manley, Corinthean Coleman, Brandon Jones, Billy Walton, William Little, David Spruiells, and a plethora of other really talented athletes, the Bears have plowed over their opponents for an 11 game win-streak. In playoffs so far, South Oak Cliff has defeated Mansfield Summit, Lucas Lovejoy, Midlothian Heritage, and Melissa.
Argyle (14-0, 6-0)
In their first season as a 5A team, the Argyle Eagles are having no trouble adjusting. On a 14 game win-streak, the Eagles have been able to post incredible victories from the very start of the season including wins over the likes of Melissa, Lovejoy, Lake Dallas, Frisco Emerson, Denton, and more. The team finished at the top of their district standings with an unblemished record before heading into playoffs where they continue to shut down opponent after opponent.
Led by RJ Bunnell, Will Hodson, Landon Farris, Will Krzysiak, Grant Mirabal, Dax Horany, Riley Van Poppel, Jaaqwan Felton, John Gailey, and more, the Eagles have ended the seasons of Fort Worth Wyatt, Wichita Falls Rider, Grapevine, and Abilene Wylie. With one of the strongest defenses in the area, Argyle is looking to continue acclimating to 5A with a state title game appearance.
What To Expect:
Both teams have incredible offenses and incredible defenses. This game is likely going to be one of the best matchups in the area if not the entire state this week. Fans can expect to see South Oak Cliff play a strong run game and look to shut down Argyle in their attempts to continue advancing. However, Argyle isn't looking to slow down. With the ability to set the tone, both teams will be heavy hitters in this matchup. This game is going to come down to the wire! Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Crowley ISD's stadium.