DESOTO -- Duncanville has won a lot of big games over the last two years as the football program emerged from the doldrums. But on Friday night, the Panthers officially became one of the area's elite teams.
Ending the 23-game win streak of a defending state champion will do that, and that's what Duncanville did with a 24-14 win over DeSoto.
"You have to get this kind of win to validate it," said Duncanville coach Reginald Samples. "We can beat the teams we're supposed to beat, but until you win this game, it really doesn't mean anything."
For Duncanville (8-0, 5-0 in District 7-6A), the first victory over DeSoto since 2008 felt like anything and everything, even though the Panthers have their eyes on a deep playoff run. DeSoto (7-1, 4-1) has the same playoff thoughts, even after suffering its first loss since 2015.
It's a possibility for both teams, given the popular saying that "defense wins championships." Both of the defenses were outstanding, forcing a combined 10 punts and three turnovers on downs.
Most of the game was a back-and-forth volley of defensive stops, which finally ended when Duncanville quarterback Ja'Quinden Jackson broke free for a 74-yard run that gave the Panthers,
who are No. 4 in the 6A area rankings, a first-and-goal early in the fourth quarter. Duncanville's other quarterback, Trazon Connley, threw a 7-yard pass to tight end Bryce Walker to give Duncanville a 17-7 lead.
DeSoto, No. 2 in the 6A area rankings, hadn't scored since the first quarter at that point. With their backs against the wall, the Eagles drove for a touchdown to make it 17-14 with 5:37 left.
But DeSoto offense never got another chance. Duncanville pounded the ball with Jackson and running back Keilon Elder, and the Panthers wiped out the clock and scored a clinching touchdown with six seconds left.
Despite some rough moments, Duncanville finished with 374 yards of offense. Perhaps most importantly, in such a tight, defensive game, the Panthers didn't have a turnover.
"We're about as good as we need to be," Samples said of the offense. "We looked terrible at times, but we were as good as we need to be."
And the Duncanville defense was just plain great. The Panthers held DeSoto to only 178 yards of total offense, forced six punts and recovered two fumbles. The effort was led by the Duncanville defensive front, a senior-laden group that Samples said has endured a lot of losses and heartbreak in past seasons.
On Friday, there was none of that. The Panthers' front pushed into the DeSoto backfield, pressured quarterback Courtney Douglas and stuffed runs. DeSoto finished with 64 yards rushing on 31 attempts.
"We came into the game with the mentality that we were going to win," Duncanville defensive lineman Terrence Newman said. "We've just got that mentality that nobody can stop us. We're unstoppable as a unit."
After the game, Samples told his players that they could celebrate that night, but added this:
"Remember, we've still got two more games to win."
That's just for the regular season, of course. Duncanville could win a lot more in the playoffs.
Yea Reggie was talking shyt all week and told me Desoto had nothing for them, I didn't believe him but 
Them boys gonna get mollywhopped.