North Shore holds off late charge by Duncanville to win Texas High School Football Class 6A Division 1 championship

Duncanville was 26 yards away from the end zone, but an incomplete pass on 4th down ends comeback as North Shore wins 10-7

Galena Park North Shore quarterback Kaleb Maryland drops back in the pocket with pressure from Duncanville defenders in the Class 6A Division 1 championship game held Saturday, Dec. 20 in Arlington. / Cody Thorn

North Shore won title No. 6 with a 10-7 victory over Duncanville Saturday night at AT&T Stadium

Duncanville had the ball driving late, but an incomplete pass ended any chance for a comeback with 38 seconds left.

A victory formation kneeldown followed and the Mustangs are the top team in Class 6A Division 1 for the first time since 2021.

The year ended in Arlington, just across the way from where the season started for North Shore -- at Kincaid Stadium in Dallas.

The Mustangs lost that game to South Oak Cliff, 41-31.

The lessons from that game paid off throughout the season.

"Weren't playing North Shore football, if I'm completely honest with you, so that game was just a big learning experience for us," Maryland said. "To just stay true to North Shore football."

Galena Park North Shore running back Hezekiah Johnson tries to break free from a tackle by Duncanville's Kelen Tryon in the Class 6A Division 1 finals held Saturday at AT&T Stadium. / Cody Thorn

The sixth meeting in the finals between the two since 2018 was scoreless after 24 minutes. Then, North Shore struck first with a touchdown by Jaylen Bocard on a 44-yard reception from Maryland.

Maryland said he didn't even know that Bocard, who he called "Money" had even scored becuase he was knocked down.

The next drive, the Mustangs (14-2) got more points on the board. The possession started with 3:07 left in the third. Maryland had a pair of first-down passes, first to Aubrey Johnson and then to La'Damian Defreeze to close out the third.

Johnson and Hezekiah Johnson mixed in runs from the 20, but a holding call pushed North Shore back. Daniel Cruz hit a 27-yard field goal with 9:56 left to make it 10-0.

The 11-play drive took 5 minutes, 14 seconds off the clock.

Duncanville (12-2) got the board the following drive, which was its ninth of the game.

Trenton Yancey moved from wide receiver to quarterback and ran for a 2 yards on 4th and two to keep the drive alive. On 3rd-and-8 from the 50, Yancey went back out to wide receiver and hauled in a 9-yard catch from J'Coryon Rivers.

On 3rd down from the 32, Yancey went back to quarterback. He took the snap, ran to the right and then stopped. He planted and threw a touchdown strike to SMU signee Zachery Turner.

With 5:33 left, Duncanville had pulled within three.

North Shore got one first down on the next drive, but then punted. Duncanville had the ball with 2:47 left with a chance to tie or win.

Neither happened, but it definitely got close.

The 10th drive for the Panthers saw Rivers hit Turner for a 15-yard gain on 3rd and 14 to move the chains. Later on, facing a 3rd-and-10, Rivers hit Turner again for a 13-yard gain to get a first down.

That moved the ball to the 32-yard line and then Rivers gained 6 yards on a scramble.

26 yards away from teh end zone with 1:34 left on the clock.

An incomplete pass, a 1-yard run and another incomplete pass sealed the outcome.

In the postgame press conference, Duncanville coach Reginald Samples was asked if he considered the field goal attempt instead of the pass?

"We practice that field goal every day; It would have been futile," he said. "We couldn't have kicked the field goal ... actually it was a good play. If you go back and watch the film, we made a bad read, we threw it outside and we had a curl route underneath that was wide open. And that's just, that's the story of the game, where you make bad decisions, you have bad outcomes."

Tony Guillory led North Shore with 10 tackles and had a first-half interception as well. The junior was named the defensive MVP of the game.

Bocard had 6 catches for 79 yards and was named the offensive MVP.

Heading into the year, North Shore had only four starters back on offense. 

Bocard became the top target for Maryland, coming into the finals with 52 catches, 1,160 yards and 12 scores. 

But, it wasn’t clear that to many that the Mustangs were the top team in the Houston area until some questions were answered. 

“It wasn’t easy, but it motivated us to keep going and push even harder,” Bocard said. “That people doubted us and didn’t think we would get here.”

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The Class 6A Division I championship game matchup is almost a rite of passage at this point. 

For the sixth time in the last eight years, Duncanville will battle Galena Park North Shore for bragging rights to be the state champion in the UIL’s largest classification.

Duncanville enters with a 12-1 record, while North Shore is 13-2.

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The Series

Since 2018, there have been only two seasons the two didn’t play in the last game of the season: 2020 and last year.

North Shore won three in a row, but Duncanville has taken the last two meeting.

• 2018 — North Shore, 41-36

• 2019 — North Shore, 31-17

• 2021 — North Shore, 17-10

• 2022 — Duncanville, 28-21

• 2023 — Duncanville, 49-33

• 2025 — ?? 

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Title Town 

North Shore has won 5 state titles in 7 trips to the championships. 

Along with the 2018, 2019 and 2021 crowns, the Mustangs beat Austin Westlake in 2015 and The Woodlands in 2003.

North Shore has been in the semifinals the past 8 seasons. Last week, the Mustangs beat Austin Lake Travis to earn a trip back to AT&T Stadium. 

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Late Bloomers

As much success as Duncanville has had in recent years, the team didn’t reach the semifinals for the first time until 1997. The first playoff berth? That was in 1941.

There was a stretch from 1942-1960 without a playoff berth and then from 1966 to 1985 without another. 

Since then, they made the finals and won in 1998 and then had the five matchups with North Shore.

Duncanville is 3-3 in title games.

Duncanville beat Allen, 31-9, to reach this game. 

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Who to Watch

Dunanville 

QB J’Coryon Rivers, sr. — He’s undefeated since taking over as the starter for Maximus The Great Denson. Rivers has thrown for 1,297 yards and 12 TDs.

WR Trenton Yancey, jr. — 54 receptions, 780 yards, 9 TDs; 388 yards rushing and 10 TDs; Holds 38 offers

LB Jaylyn Manning, LB, sr. — Leads the team with 120 tackles and tied for lead with 2 INT

DE Landon Barnes, DE, sr. — Leads the team with 23.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 25 QB hurries; he’s headed to Ole Miss 

DB Braylon Edwards, sr. — Colorado signee after flipping from SMU; has 89 tackles and 2 INTs

TE/WR Zachery Turner, sr. — SMU signee; had 32 catches for 466 yards and 7 TDs. 

WR Ayson Theus, sr. — TCU signee; has 60 catches for 626 yards and 7 TDs

DE KJ Ford, sr. — Florida signee had 31 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks 

DL Jakohri Johnson, sr. — Arkansas State signee; had 80 tackles, 15 TFL, 5 sacks

CB Victor Lincoln, jr. — Ole Miss signee; had 3 PBU vs. Allen; 13 PBU on season 

North Shore

QB Kaleb Maryland, sr. — Signed to play at Utah State; first-year starter; thrown for 3,266 yards, 34 touchdowns; 549 yards rushing and 10 TDs

DL Za'Qwuan Nunn, sr. — 3-star signed with Louisiana Tech

RB Hezekiah Johnson, sr. — Leading rusher with 1,132 yards and 19 TDs. 

WR Aubrey Johnson, jr. — He’s second on the team in catches with 42 and yards with 720, while having six touchdowns. 

WR Jaylen Bocard, sr. — Is the top target with 52 catches, 1,160 yards and 12 TDs — the tops in all categories for the Mustangs. 

OL Isaac Aranda, sr. — Northwestern State signee; 6-foot-3, 290-pounder is a tackle

DE Jayden Curry, sr. — Northwestern State signee; ended regular season with 45 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 6 TFL

DL Xavier Waters, sr. — Louisana-Lafayette signee; 6-foot-3, 310-pound nose guard is a 3-star recruit 

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Pick 'Em Challenge

Tell us who you think will win the game with High School On SI's Pick 'Em Challenge

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Where To Watch

You can watch it for free online through the Victory+ app.

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LIVE UPDATES

With South Oak Cliff and Richmond Randle running long, this game will start at 3:20 p.m.

After wearing red helmets last week, Duncanville is wearing white ones this week.

First Quarter Updates

Duncanville lets the kickoff go into the end zone for a touchback, and the game is underway.

Duncanville senior receiver Ayson Theus runs for 30 yards to the North Shore 13 yard line — 10:13 1Q

INTERCEPTION BY NORTH SHORE! Junior defensive back Tony Guillory intercepts Duncanville quarterback Jcoryn Rivers after what seemed like a miscommunication with a Theus. He returned it to the Mustang 16 yard line — 10:14 1Q

North Shore can't capitalize after the interception. Duncanville defense end KJ Ford sacked North Shore quarterback Kaleb Maryland to force a third and long that the Mustangs did not convert. Duncanville will start a drive at midfield — 9:20 1Q

Duncanville goes three and out, and North Shore starts a drive at its 19 yard line — 7:57 1Q

Another punt after Duncanville's defense contains a Maryland scramble on third down. The Panthers drive begins at the 20 yard line — 5:13 1Q

Another punt for North Shore. 33 seconds left in the 1Q

Duncanville ball at the 20-yard line when play resumes. 0:23 1Q, but first a TV timeout

End of 1st: 0-0

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Duncanville quarterback J'Coryon Rivers throws a pass during the first quarter of the Class 6A Division 1 finals held Saturday at AT&.T Stadium. / Cody Thorn

2nd quarter

Rivers to Yancey and the ball goes from the 20 to the Galena Park North Shore 37-yard line on first play of the 2nd.

Duncanville calls a timeout with 8:58 left. Facing 4th and 4 from the 19-yard line

Turnover on downs! Yancey goes to QB and runs the ball but comes up short. 3-yard gain. North Shore ball at the 16-yard line

Penalty on first play for North Shore and the ball is backed up to the 8-yard line

Maryland to Johnson for a first down for NS for 19-yard gain

Maryland follows with a pass to Dorian Barnes for a 17-yard gain. Ball at the Duncanville 41

Holding on North Shore for 2nd time this drive. Ball pushed back after back-to-back big plays

North Shore punts and Torrance Bradford downs it at the 3-yard line. 3:46 2Q

Media timeout on the field

North Shore calls a timeout with 3:12 left. Duncanville facing a 2nd and 9 from the 4

Holding on defense and Duncanville gets a first down.

2:00 minute timeout in the 1st half

Delay of Game on Duncanville will 29 seconds left.

Another delay of game against Duncanville. Now 3rd and 16 -- was 3rd and 6

Panthers punt and GPNS takes over with 9 seconds left at the 32-yard line

End of 2nd: Duncanville 0, Galena Park North Shore 0

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3rd quarter

GPNS gets the ball first and the first play is a penalty. Now 1st and 15 only 7 seconds into second half

Maryland to Bocard for a long gain; play under review

heck of a catch even if it doesn't count. he was getting looked at by trainers after a hard fall

33 yard gain but probably won't count

Confirmed: no catch; time for another punt

Craziest incomplete pass EVER?!? 🤯🤯@NSNationFB WR @JaylenBocard nearly had one of the greatest catches of ALL TIME at #UILState.https://t.co/wKSaNdPjA2 pic.twitter.com/jTiTJ7RFyt

— Dave Campbell's — TexasFootball.com (@dctf) December 20, 2025

Duncanville ball with 10:46 left 3Q ball at the 40-yard line after a media timeout

Lynell Hunter with a pass deflection at line of scrimmage for GPNS and Duncanville will punt 9:59 3Q

GPNS ball with 9:48 left and ball is at the 19-yard line

Maryland goes deep and just misses Barnes on what would've been a big gain

Offsides on GPNS on 3rd and 8. Now 3rd and 13 from the 16-yard line. If Duncanville gets a stop they should have good field position

Incomplete pass and GPNS punting from the goal line. 8:48 3Q

Duncanville waives for fair catch at 50 but ball bounces and keeps going. Nice punt for GPNS. Ball at the 27-yard line. 8:31 3Q.

Another media timeout

Rivers to Yancey for a first down and 13-yard gain on first play

Pass interference call coming up against GPNS; Deep ball by Rivers

Nunn with a sack on Rivers; loss of 8 yards

Rivers goes deep on 3rd and 18 pass attempt to Emmanuel Ellison comes up just short

Yancey back to punt again; Ball is at the 28-yard line. GPNS ball with 6:24 left 3Q

Quickly 3rd and 7 for the Mustangs

Maryland to Bocard for a 1st down to keep the drive alive; just when I thought we were ready to continue this punting clinic

Timeout by GPNS with 5:30 left 3Q

Johnson with a pair of runs and the ball is near midfield

Offsides by Duncanville; 1st and 5 coming up for GPNS

TOUCHDOWN! Maryland to Bocard for 44 yards with 4:12 left. North Shore 7, Duncanville 0

On 3rd and 5, Rivers has to throw the ball away. Panthers set to punt again. 3:19 3Q

GPNS takes over at the 42

Maryland to Johnson for a 13-yard gain and ball is at the DVille 47. 1:33 3Q

Maryland to La'Damian Defreeze and the ball is at the 20. That is the final play of the 3rd

End of 3: North Shore 7, Duncanville 0

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4th quarter

Maryland keeps it and the ball is at the 4-yard line but a flag on the field

holding on GPNS; that has been a big issue this game; this one on a WR not a OL, so a little different

3rd and 12 from the 13 coming up

Johnson with the carrya nd he's hit hard by Gatlon Cryer

4th and 9; FG attempt coming up

FIELD GOAL! Daniel Cruz with a FG with 9:53. North Shore 10, Duncanville 0. Media timeout

Rivers to Yancey for a first down; 6:59 4th

TOUCHDOWN! Yancey to Zach Turner for 32 yards score. 5:33. North Shore 10, Duncanville 7

Yancey in at QB and faked a run and then threw it to the SMU signee

Announced attendance: 39,436

3rd and 6 coming up for North Shore

Landon Barnes with the stop for Duncanville with 2:57 left. Panthers call a timeout. A punt is coming up likley with a 4th and 9

2:59 is the new clock time

Duncanville taking over with 2:47 left after GPNS punt

Rivers to Theus for 14-yard gain and ball is at the 44-yard line

Duncanville calls a timeout with 2:18 left

Rivers to Turner for 15-yards. Ball is at the GPNS 46-yard line.

Two minute timeout with 1:58 left

Incomplete pass with 1:52 left

3rd and 10 coming up for the Panthers

Timeout by Duncanville with 1 second left on the play clock. They had 0 left. 1:52 left

Rivers to Turner and the ball is at the 32 now

Rivers runs it and he gets out of bounds. Call at the 28 yard line. 1:30 left on the clock

Incomplete pass toward Yancey. 1:27 left. 3rd and 4th coming up

A run for no gain by Theus. 1:12 and rolling.

4th and 3 coming up

This could be the ball game

Incomplete pass

Ball game

North Shore ball with 38 seconds left

Wide open reciever out in the flat

Victory formation for the Mustangs

Now, North Shore is 4-2 against Duncanville in title games

This year started with North Shore coming to Dallas South Oak Cliff in Week 1 and losing; Now, back in Dallas they win another title

FINAL: Galena Park North Shore 10, Duncanville 7

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