This has become a routine for the South Oak Cliff High School Golden Bears.
For the fifth consecutive December, SOC returned to AT&T Stadium for the UIL Class 5A Division II State Championship game, but this time, the ending felt different. As the clock expired Saturday afternoon, coaches and players stood frozen in disbelief, tears streaming down their faces as the crowd roared in unison:
“S-O-C! Who they rootin’ for?!”
South Oak Cliff was back on top.
After a two-year title drought, the Golden Bears reclaimed the throne, defeating the Dr. Thomas E. Randle High School Lions 35-19 to capture the 2025 UIL Class 5A Division II State Championship and cap another historic season.
The victory marked SOC’s fifth straight appearance in a state championship game, placing the Golden Bears among an elite group of just eight programs in Texas high school football history to reach that milestone.
“It was a lot more focus this year playing Randle,” said Kyle Ward, defensive coordinator. “When you lose big games in the playoffs that finish your season, it puts things into perspective, and you go back to the drawing board to figure it out.”
South Oak Cliff did exactly that.
After falling short the past two seasons, the Golden Bears leaned into discipline and execution, and the result was a complete team effort against a familiar opponent on the sport’s biggest stage.
“At the end of the day, it was just playing South Oak Cliff football and handling business,” Ward said.
Senior linebacker Jamarion P., a cornerstone of the Golden Bears’ defense, said the belief in another championship run truly crystallized during the postseason.
“It really hit when we played Port Neches-Groves that we could go for another state run,” he said. “The offense had to get their footing in the first half, and the defense was making a lot of stops to keep us in the game. After that, we knew as a team we had a good chance at making it.”
For Jamarion, the moment carried even deeper meaning.
“It means a lot to be a part of this program like SOC,” he said. “It’s a special blessing that every year I’ve been in high school I’ve had the opportunity to be part of a state championship team. We’ve put in the work to do it, and I have to give our coaches all the credit for putting us in the best position to make history.”
Head coach Jason Todd called the championship a meaningful moment in his career, not just because of the trophy but because of what it represents for the South Oak Cliff community.
“I think this is the greatest story because no one ever said this could happen here,” Todd said. “And we say you can do it right here in South Oak Cliff, Texas.”
As confetti fell and players embraced on the field, the celebration carried a deeper sense of purpose. This season was dedicated to South Oak Cliff High School’s beloved registrar, Carla Hill, who passed away just before the Golden Bears began their playoff run.
Hill served the SOC community for more than 20 years, and her impact was felt far beyond the classroom. Her presence was missed throughout the season, but her spirit was with the team every step of the way.
On the game’s biggest stage, the Golden Bears delivered a championship worthy of her legacy and added yet another unforgettable chapter to the Golden Bear story.
Dallas ISD will kick off the new year by celebrating the Golden Bears’ historic win with a special event on Saturday, Jan. 10, at South Oak Cliff High School.
