Last weekend, the surging North Crowley Panthers withstood the Summer Creek Bulldogs 41-20 to improve to 3-0 in early season pre-district play. With the win, the Panthers seem prepared to assert their dominance in the newly formed “District of Doom” which features regular season matchups with Duncanville, Waxahachie, Lake Ridge, and Crowley. Summer Creek came to town ready to upset the Panthers and during certain moments of the game, it fans at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium were put on upset watch.
That was until the Panthers’ ground game re-emerged. Gy’Rell Smith has been the runaway back this season, but Kiante Ingram has quietly remained the bruising back he was known to be last year. Ingram seemed to wear down and tire defenses for Smith to break big runs on. Against Summer Creek, Ingram found his stride and the end zone, notching three scores. The Panthers’ relentless rushing attack included another score by Gy’Rell smith who made his way into the end zone from beyond the red zone. The two-headed monster in North Crowley’s backfield is a formidable tandem reminiscent of USC’s Reggie Bush and Lendale White.
In the air, Jacob Torres connected with Damarion Mays for two scores but when needed, Pryce Demerson moved the chains and kept the momentum moving toward the end zone. Demerson made the play of the night, making a move normally seen on the basketball court to get around a defender. Demerson’s highlight moment brought the Panthers to the red zone and was capped by Mays’ second touchdown of the night.
Summer Creek breached North Crowley’s “no-fly” zone for big plays Arizona State commit Elijajuan Houston‘s pick in the end zone shut down air traffic for the night. North Crowley has its fair share of things to clean up as the season progresses. If they want to return to AT&T Stadium in December, they’ll need to limit their penalties, sure up their kicking game, close the middle of the field in the passing game, diversify their play calling to get their receivers separation at the line of scrimmage and stop their defensive backs from getting beat down the field on post and streak routes. Antonio Smith continues to wreak havoc on the defensive front with linebackers Avery Dotson and Brock Lacy coming along in the second phase of the defense.
Summer Creek matched North Crowley’s speed and physicality, but their overall team effort was just not enough for one of the hottest teams in Texas high school football right now. The Panthers head to Duncanville this Friday to face a determined Duncanville team looking to get a big win. No win this season would be bigger than an upset at home against North Crowley. Coach Reginald Samples’ Panthers came up short of tying Desoto when their extra point was blocked. The gut wrenching loss in the inaugural Roland Parrish Classic at the Cotton Bowl deepened worries about Duncanville’s season.
Their season started off with a 50-6 drubbing against Allen. Their only win this season was a decisive victory against Cedar Hill who is playing this season without their best defensive player. The Panthers showed heart battling back against the Eagles. They held the Eagles scoreless in the second half and were poised to tie the game before the PAT was blocked. Duncanville comes into this week’s matchup with North Crowley with no room for error. Coach Demarcus Harris will have his team ready to face the team sitting at the top of the hill. If they want to knock them off, they’ll need to be flawless. Duncanville has mettle and a championship pedigree. With a schedule loaded with prize fights, teams from this district could hobble into the playoffs, with not much left.
Awaiting them somewhere in a bracket to be named is Allen who wants to re-assert its dominance over North Crowley. Allen avenged its 2025 UIL Football Playoffs semi-final loss to Duncanville with a 44 point whooping. It goes without saying that they’re ready getting ready for whatever North Crowley throws their way.
The team win was celebrated as another step in the right direction in their quest to win their district, progress through playoffs and compete for a state championship. This season began with rematches of postseason matchups and cross classification rivalries. The excitement for high school football is as high as its ever been. As North Crowley rolls on through the season, nearly every game is a marquee matchup as the eyes of Texas high school football fans are on them.
