South Oak Cliff High School is headed back to the UIL state championship for the fifth straight season, making the Golden Bears one of only eight schools in Texas UIL history to accomplish this rare feat.
But for SOC, the milestone is only part of the story.
This year, they face The Lions, the same opponent that denied them a win last season, and the Golden Bears are determined to write a different ending.
“When it’s five in a row, you don’t really think about how long it’s been,” said Todd, head coach. “It just feels like part of the routine. But you definitely want to end it in a different way than it has ended the last couple of years.”
For SOC, simply reaching the state championship is no longer the goal.
“This time because we don’t just want to get here,” Todd said. “We want to win it this year.”
Defensive Coordinator Kyle Ward said he has seen a noticeable shift in the team’s mentality since last season.
“They’re a lot more focused,” he said. “When you lose a big playoff game, and that ends your season, you go back to the drawing board. Even in earlier games this season, they celebrated, but they stayed focused on the end goal. Their behavior shows they understand every win is just a step in the process.”
But more than anything, Todd said he’s most proud that his team once again made it this far.
“A lot of people don’t get a redo in life,” he said. “The fact that these kids stayed dedicated and went through hell to get to this point shows what commitment looks like.”
For Ward, the focus this week comes down to identity.
“At the end of the day, it is just playing South Oak Cliff football and handling business,” he said.
And for this team, the mission is clear.
“We want to finish what we started,” Todd said. “It’s time.”
South Oak Cliff will take on Richmond Randle in the Texas 5A Division II State Championship at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at AT&T Stadium.
