Danny Green’s big night powers South Oak Cliff past Lancaster in battle of 5A powerhouses
Danny Green #DannyGreen
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This was a night Danny Green Jr. circled on his calendar long ago.
The senior running back played like a man possessed, rushing 29 times for 193 yards and three touchdowns to lead South Oak Cliff to a 42-21 victory over his former school, Lancaster, in a showdown of two powerhouse Class 5A programs Friday night at John Kincaide Stadium.
“It was a little revenge,’’ said Green, who transferred to South Oak Cliff before his junior season. “This one was a little personal to me. But those are still my guys over there.’’
High School Sports
Two-time defending state champion South Oak Cliff (1-1), No. 2 in The Associated Press’ Division II state ranking and No. 2 in SportsDay’s 5A area poll, dominated from the middle of the second quarter to the finish.
“The kids know what it takes to win at this level,’’ said South Oak Cliff coach Jason Todd. “Danny gets behind his pads really well and our offensive line took some ownership.’’
Lancaster (1-1), No. 2 in the state in Division I and tied for third among area 5A teams, saw its nine-year undefeated run against DISD schools end at 27 despite a big effort from senior running back Kewan Lacy. The Nebraska pledge rushed for 208 yards and all three Lancaster touchdowns.
Lancaster held South Oak Cliff without a touchdown in a 21-3 victory a season ago.
“We were coming off a tough loss to Duncanville last year and might have taken them a little lightly,’’ Todd explained. “Our team is like a boxer. We have a lot of ways we can win. We can be patient or we can come out with the big play.’’
In the third period, South Oak Cliff was patient enough to run 22 plays to only five for Lancaster.
Twice in the first half South Oak Cliff overcame a seven-point deficit to pull even, then scored 14 points in the final four minutes of the first half for a 28-14 lead at the break.
Khalill Ewell gave South Oak Cliff its first lead, bouncing off tacklers on a 20-yard touchdown run four minutes before halftime.
After holding Lancaster without a first down for the second consecutive possession, Green finished off a 37-yard scoring drive with a two-yard run 22 seconds before intermission.
Lancaster opened the scoring on the third snap of the game, a 61-yard sprint by Lacy.
William Little’s 29-yard scoring pass to Rickey Evans brought South Oak Cliff even, 7-7. Little threw for 201 yards and a pair of scores.
Lacy leaped for the final yard on fourth down to put Lancaster in front 14-7. Lacy also accounted for the only Lancaster touchdown in the second half, a tackle-breaking 49-yard run.
Little’s 9-yard scoring pass to Trey Jackson, a Texas Tech pledge, widened the South Oak Cliff lead 35-14 on its first possession of the second half. In the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, Green slithered the final 13 yards for what proved to be the final points.
Golden Bear! See photos from South Oak Cliff’s win vs. Lancaster
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