Friday Night Five: Duncanville slays rival DeSoto, 24-14

As the playoffs near, every week has high stakes action. Here are five results that really stood out. Duncanville 24, DeSoto 14 We've had this one circled since early in the season, and Duncanville's probably had it circled for a lot longer. The Panthers were impressive on the road, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and the result snapped DeSoto's 23-game winning streak. The Panthers are now in the driver's seat in District 7-6A, and will be heavily favored in their final two games, as will DeSoto. With DeSoto going to the DII playoffs, the question for Duncanville now becomes whether the Panthers are built to topple teams like Allen as they make a run to a title game. It's a tough loss for DeSoto, but the Eagles' DII title defense shouldn't be derailed. The Eagles look to have what it takes to put up a fight deep into December. The big takeaway from both teams is how impressive their defenses look. Will be tough for opponents to match in the postseason. San Angelo Central 31, Odessa Permian 20 Perhaps no game entered the week with more hype than this clash in San Angelo, but the Bobcats kept MOJO at arm's length pretty much from start to finish. Permian acquitted itself nicely, and should be a tough out for anyone it crosses paths with in the coming weeks. The interesting wrinkle for Central is that the Bobcats appear to be headed for the DII playoffs instead of DI, with schools like Mansfield and DeSoto standing in the way in Region I, instead of Allen, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Seminole 28, Sweetwater 27 (OT) We knew it would be good, and now we know a potential rematch in the playoffs will have a considerable amount of hype. Hats off to Seminole for going into the Mustang Bowl to knock off the 2016 state runner-up on its home turf. We'll absolutely take that rematch if we can get it. Hays 45, Vista Ridge 37 Hays is headed to the postseason, so congratulations to them, but the result is also significant because if Hays makes the playoffs, that pushes Westlake to DII, and makes throws the Chaps into the mix as one of the title favorites. The road would have been much tougher in DI, and while no one will roll over for Todd Dodge's team, it's a favorable draw. Burton 36, Milano 31 Milano has been a roll all season, especially since snapping Bremond's state-best winning streak. The question of who might overtake Bremond in the region is one that's still up in the air, but Burton has always been a top contender to challenge for the crown. This win just solidifies the argument. Now we'll just have to wait to see how it plays out when it's time to win or go home. Five more worth noting: Converse Judson 31, Schertz Clemens 14 The Rockets kept rolling, even without star quarterback Julon Williams. Mansfield Lake Ridge 28, Mansfield Legacy 17 Lake Ridge's firepower was too much for the normally salty Bronco defense. Wimberley 49, Geronimo Navarro 35 The Panthers were able to get their points, but unable to slow down Jordan Weeks and Co. Muleshoe 55, Friona 48 The Chieftans' dream run hits a snag, but what a shootout this turned out to be. Colleyville Heritage 51, Grapevine 28 Joe Willis' squad gets a big win, and is now the team to beat in 8-5A.