MESQUITE — South Oak Cliff remains a resilient force in Texas high school football.
Despite encountering numerous tough adversaries aiming to oust SOC from the playoffs, the two-time state champions persevered past Black Friday, once again securing their place in contention.
A shaky start had SOC trailing Midlothian Heritage 24-14 at halftime, setting the stage for a comeback. The reigning champs rallied after the break, clinching a hard-fought 42-31 victory at Mesquite Memorial Stadium. Lovejoy, fresh from a 43-21 win against Texarkana Texas, is next in line to challenge the reigning champs in the upcoming region final.
However, that initial half proved challenging for SOC. Costly errors, including an interception and a muffed punt, allowed Heritage to convert and take an early lead. At moments, Heritage seemed poised to threaten SOC’s aspirations for a three-peat.
Amidst the halftime adversity, SOC regrouped under the guidance of their confident leader, head coach Jason Todd.
“He pinpointed our mistakes and outlined how we could improve,” shared senior running back Danny Green. “We trust his guidance…that’s how we find success by doing South Oak Cliff things.”
Green showcased this resolve with an impressive 119 yards for four touchdowns. While Green has been instrumental in SOC’s postseason offense, senior running back Khalil Ewell also contributed significantly on Friday, amassing 196 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
“It’s not the first time we’ve faced adversity,” remarked Ewell. “We fought back.”
SOC amassed 405 yards in total offense, with 315 of those on the ground. Quarterback William Little made just eight passes, completing six for 90 yards and a touchdown.
In the second half, SOC’s defense nearly silenced Heritage, conceding only one touchdown with 1:56 remaining. Heritage’s quarterback Carter Rutenbar managed 206 passing yards and two touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Stetson Sarratt stood out with three catches for 127 yards and a touchdown, though seeing limited action in the latter half.
Last year, SOC claimed a 33-27 overtime victory against Heritage in the regional semifinal before moving on to win against Melissa, Argyle, and Port Neches-Groves, securing a second consecutive Class 5A Division II state championship.
Heritage, after the 2022 UIL realignment, ascended from 4A Division I to 5A Division II. This marks their second consecutive journey to the regional semifinal in this classification, having won the District 5-5A Division II title and entered Friday’s contest undefeated.
The fervor on the sideline and the intense start to the game demonstrated Heritage’s strong desire for victory.
“They had us against the ropes,” Todd acknowledged. “I reminded them, that’s why there’s a second half.”
