Duncanville, North Shore met for third time in Texas' version of the 'Thrilla in Manila'

Courtesy of Galena Park ISD

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ARLINGTON – Texas high school football was treated to its own version of the “Thrilla in Manila” on Saturday afternoon at AT&T Stadium when Duncanville and Galena Park North Shore met for the Class 6A Division I state championship for the third time in four years. 

North Shore swept the trilogy after a 17-10 win. North Shore won the meetings in 2018 and 2019. Neither team reached the state final in 2020. 

"Watching two communites like this fight in the biggest stage (makes me proud)," North Shore head coach Jon Kay said after the game. "A lot of times, these types of games are reserved for different kinds of communities. For two working class communites go in there and put it on display, I couldn't be more proud of both programs." 

The third battle felt like a 14-round fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.  Duncanville averaged 2.97 yards a play in the first half. Galena Park was only a little better at 3.45. The two teams were tied at 7 after two quarters, and each team managed to add a field goal in the third. Close games were nothing new for the two combatants with memories of the Hail Mary pass by North Shore to claim the 2018 crown firmly in the minds of onlookers. 

The game was tied at 10 heading into the third quarter. The two teams combined for 285 yards on 78 plays for an average of 3.65 per snap. It took nine minutes into the fourth quarter before North Shore broke through on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kaleb Bailey to David Amador with 2:53 left in the game. 

"It was a slugfest, and we knew that coming in," Kay said. "Our community takes pride in grit and the ability to finish and make things (successful) when they probably shouldn't. This was in our character and I'm proud of our guys for taking a punch and throwing a punch." 

Duncanville managed 192 yards on 54 plays over four quarters. The Panthers only averaged 3.4 yards a rush and 3.56 yards a play. Duncanville scored a touchdown with 8:15 left in the second quarter. The group scored a field goal in the third quarter and was shut out in the fourth quarter. Malachi Medlock gained 114 yards on 22 carries. The rest of the team rushed for four yards combined. Duncanville entered the game averaging 50 points a game. 

North Shore’s offense wasn’t much better. The Mustangs gained 226 yards on 53 plays. The group averaged 3.0 yards a rush and 4.26 yards a play. The touchdown pass from Bailey, a freshman, was the longest play from scrimmage by North Shore. Bailey passed for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He added 54 yards as a rusher. Xavier Owens rushed for 76 yards on 19 carries. 

"Our approach is that this has never been about North Shore versus Duncanville," Kay said. "We focus on what the kids need to focus on instead of the outcome. This was about the '21 team vs. the '21 team, and we said the same thing in '18 and the same thing in '19. If we're lucky enough to play them again, we'll approach it like that again." 

 

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