Galena Park North Shore 10, Duncanville 7

December 20, 2025

Class 6A Division I State Championship

AT&T Stadium, Arlington

For the sixth time in eight seasons North Shore and Duncanville met up in the state title game in the state’s largest classification. Once again, the two powers of record in Texas High School Football took figurative tire irons to each other and for 48 minutes played one of the most physical football games you’ll ever see.

The first half ended at 0-0, but on the game’s opening drive it looked like Duncanville might be poised to take an early lead. The Panthers got to the North Shore 14-yard line after a 30-yard run from Ayson Theus, but DB Tony Guillory picked off Duncanville QB J’Coryon Rivers two plays later to end the early Duncanville threat.

The two teams exchanged punts and on North Shore’s second drive the Mustangs picked up a pair of first downs, but the drive stalled at midfield and the Mustangs would punt.

After another exchange of punts, Duncanville went on a solid drive midway through the second quarter as a 42-yard pass from Rivers to Yancey put the Panthers into North Shore territory. The drive stalled at the Mustangs 19-yard line on a 4th-and-4 when Yancey was stopped short of the line to gain; the second Duncanville red zone possession of the first half that came away empty.

North Shore moved into Duncanville territory on the next drive, getting to the Duncanville 39-yard line, but North Shore elected to rely on their defense and play field position as they punted on 4th-and-8, pinning Duncanville on the three-yard line with 3:46 left in the half.

Duncanville picked up three first downs, but they could only get out to their own 37-yard line before punting with nine seconds left in the half. North Shore took a knee and we went to the locker room scoreless.

The second half opened with four straight three-and-out’s as each defense refused to yield, but on North Shore’s third drive of the second half, the Mustangs had a break through when QB Kaleb Maryland connected with WR Jaylen Bocard for a beautiful 44-yard touchdown pass to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead with 4:12 left in the third quarter.

Duncanville went on a 3-and-out on the next drive. With momentum squarely on the North Shore side, the Mustangs went on a methodical drive with some tough running from Maryland and RB Hezekiah Johnson to move into Duncanville territory. The drive stalled out at the Duncanville 10-yard line, but the Mustangs got points on a Daniel Cruz 27-yard field goal would make it 10-0 with 9:56 left in the game.

Duncanville finally got the offense going on an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive courtesy of WR Trenton Yancey, who was lined up at wildcat on 3rd-and-1. But instead of running the ball he found TE Zach Turner for a 32-yard touchdown to put the Panthers on the board making it 10-7 North Shore with 5:36 left in the game.

North Shore picked up two first downs on the next drive, but the Mustangs were unable to milk the clock and they punted back to Duncanville with just under three minutes left.

Duncanville started on their own 30 yard-line with two timeouts and the two minute timeout remaining. The Panthers picked up a quick first down and then Rivers connected with Turner for a huge 15-yard gain into North Shore territory. The two connected for a 13-yard gain moments later on a 3rd-and-10 to the North Shore 32.

Seconds later, facing a 4th-and-3 after a key dropped pass on 2nd and 4, the Panthers elected to go for it with 42 seconds left instead of attempting a game-tying field goal from 42-yards out. Rivers' pass to RB Leon Wood was incomplete. North Shore took one knee and celebrated bringing another state title back to the eastside of Houston, giving head coach Willie Gaston vindication after the Mustangs fell in the state title game to Duncanville in Gaston’s first season in 2023.