South Oak Cliff High School’s Golden Bears captured their third state championship in five years on Saturday, defeating Randle High School 35-19 at AT&T Stadium.
The victory ended a two-year title drought for the Dallas powerhouse program, marking South Oak Cliff’s fifth consecutive appearance in the UIL Class 5A Division II State Championship game. Only eight programs in Texas high school football history have achieved this milestone.
As the final seconds ticked away, coaches and players stood frozen in disbelief. Tears streamed down faces while the crowd chanted “S-O-C! Who they rootin’ for?!”
“It was a lot more focus this year playing Randle,” said defensive coordinator Kyle Ward. “When you lose big games in the playoffs that finish your season, it puts things into perspective, and you go back to the drawing board to figure it out.”
The Golden Bears’ renewed discipline and execution produced a complete team performance. Ward credited the victory to fundamentals: “At the end of the day, it was just playing South Oak Cliff football and handling business.”
Senior linebacker Jamarion P. identified a pivotal moment in the playoff run.
“It really hit when we played Port Neches-Groves that we could go for another state run,” he said. “The offense had to get their footing in the first half, and the defense was making a lot of stops to keep us in the game. After that, we knew as a team we had a good chance at making it.”
For Jamarion, the championship carried personal significance.
“It means a lot to be a part of this program like SOC,” he said. “It’s a special blessing that every year I’ve been in high school, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of a state championship team. We’ve put in the work to do it, and I have to give our coaches all the credit for putting us in the best position to make history.”
Head coach Jason Todd emphasized the broader meaning of the victory for the South Oak Cliff community.
“I think this is the greatest story because no one ever said this could happen here,” Todd said. “And we say you can do it right here in South Oak Cliff, Texas.”
The team dedicated this championship season to Carla Hill, the school’s beloved registrar, who passed away before the playoff run began. Hill served the SOC community for more than 20 years.
Dallas ISD will celebrate the Golden Bears’ historic win on January 10 at South Oak Cliff High School. The championship adds another chapter to the program’s growing dynasty.