South Oak Cliff High School secured its fifth consecutive trip to the UIL state football championship, joining an elite group of just eight Texas schools to achieve this feat.
The Golden Bears face Richmond Randle on Saturday at AT&T Stadium. This rare accomplishment places SOC among Texas high school football royalty. But the team isn’t satisfied with just showing up.
Last year’s loss to the same opponent still stings. The Golden Bears enter this rematch with a different mindset.
“When it’s five in a row, you don’t really think about how long it’s been,” said Clifton Todd, head coach. “It just feels like part of the routine. But you definitely want to end it in a different way than it has ended the last couple of years.”
The shift in attitude is palpable. Making the championship game no longer satisfies this squad.
“This time because we don’t just want to get here,” Todd said. “We want to win it this year.”
Defensive Coordinator Kyle Ward notices the changed approach. The team’s focus has sharpened since last season’s disappointment.
“They’re a lot more focused,” he said. “When you lose a big playoff game, and that ends your season, you go back to the drawing board. Even in earlier games this season, they celebrated, but they stayed focused on the end goal. Their behavior shows they understand every win is just a step in the process.”
SOC’s dynasty began with consecutive state titles in 2021 and 2022. Those victories ended a 60-year championship drought for Dallas ISD football.
The program has transformed into a statewide powerhouse. South Dallas takes immense pride in the team’s sustained excellence.
Todd values the journey more than the destination. His players’ dedication impresses him most.
“A lot of people don’t get a redo in life,” he said. “The fact that these kids stayed dedicated and went through hell to get to this point shows what commitment looks like.”
Ward keeps the game plan simple. Success means sticking to fundamentals.
“At the end of the day, it is just playing South Oak Cliff football and handling business,” he said.
The team’s mission crystallizes into four words from their coach.
“We want to ‘finish what we started,'” Todd said. “It’s time.”
The Texas 5A Division II State Championship kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 20, at AT&T Stadium.
