ARLINGTON, Texas -- Liberty Hill's dream season ended just short of a state championship. South Oak Cliff claimed the 5A Division 2 state football championship with a 23-14 win. The Bears broke a 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter, scoring twice while shutting out the Panthers in the second half.
South Oak Cliff is Dallas ISD's first football state champions since 1950. Dallas Carter won the state championship in 1988, but that title was stripped following an investigation that ruled Carter used ineligible players.
How to watch 2021 Texas high school football state championships
The Panthers returned to the state title game for the first time since 2018.
After an 8-2 regular season, the Panthers defeated Bastrop 57-7, Boerne-Champion 51-14, Leander Rouse 56-33, Alamo Heights 43-40, and Crosby 42-14 to make it to the 5A Division II state championship game.
Liberty Hill played inspired football with the slogan -- "Walker Tough." The Panthers' former head coach Jeff Walker passed away from cancer before the team's playoff run in 2020. Walker's brother Kent took over as head coach, leading Liberty Hill to the state semifinals in 2020 and the state title game in 2021.
Liberty Hill won state championships in 2006 and 2007.
Liberty Hill fumbled the ensuing kickoff after the South Oak Cliff touchdown, and that will seal it for the Bears.
South Oak Cliff wins its first-ever state championship. This is Dallas ISD's first UIL state championship since 1950. Dallas Carter won the state championship in 1988, but that title was stripped following an investigation that ruled Carter used ineligible players.
After the fake punt, SOC wasn't just running out the clock. The Bears strike with a Qualon Farrar rushing touchdown for a two-score lead over Liberty Hill with less than three minutes to go.
It's been a great season for Liberty Hill, but it will likely end just short of a state championship.
Liberty Hill facing a must-convert situation with less than five minutes to go in the game. The Panthers faced fourth down at its own 30-yard line. Instead of punting back to SOC, Liberty Hill attempted the fake punt. Liberty Hill appeared to convert, but a holding penalty pushed the Panthers back to 4th-and-16.
Liberty Hill went for it again with a fake punt. The pass attempt fell incomplete. SOC is in position to win its first state title.