North Crowley (Texas) ready to defend its state title

Repeating as a state champion in high school football can seem straightforward when you’re on top. However, in Texas, maintaining that position after winning it all is no guaranteed feat. Once you reach the pinnacle, you become the target and get every opponent’s best shot.

The North Crowley Panthers are embracing that target on their backs as they aim to defend their UIL Class 6A, Division I state championship. Head coach Ray Gates knows his team will have to take every week as a separate challenge this fall.

“That is my number one focus with this team,” Gates stated. ” That’s my top goal. We never put the cart before the horse. I know when it’s time, we will be there. It’s my job to let them know they may not get a chance like this ever again. Most people will tell you that the odds are against you. This group is an in-tune group.”

While the odds of repeating may seem daunting, recent history in the Lone Star State shows it’s possible with a special team. Duncanville went back-to-back in 2022-23, so did North Shore in 2018-19 and the Allen Eagles achieved a three-peat from 2012-14. For North Crowley, their last championship before 2024 was 21 years ago. Now, with a talented defense returning, Gates and his team have a chance to accomplish something no other North Crowley team has: winning consecutive championships.

“The base standard for us is DPS: District, Playoffs, State,” explained Gates. ” We ,at the very minimum, want to play in the third round because then we play on Thanksgiving week. We know after that third round, we know there’s no more turkeys. There’s an art and a mastery to playing fourteen, fifteen games a year. We have to make sure we keep our kids fresh and keep our kids focused. If we didn’t make it to the third round of the playoffs, we feel like our season is a failure.”

Defensively, Gates believes this may be the best unit he’s coached at North Crowley. The team features a skilled secondary led by Texas Tech commit Aaron Bradshaw, three-star safety Elijajuan Houston, four-star cornerback Jerry Outhouse and Colorado State commit Thomas Cook. This talent allows them to play aggressively against opposing quarterbacks.

“When it comes to the defense, we have the potential to be as good as we have ever been on defense,” Gates said. “This is the fastest defense we’ve ever had. Has the potential to be the best in Texas.”

Offensively, despite losing several key players to graduation, Gates sees potential in his current roster. Four-star lineman John Turntine, committed to Texas, is an incredible talent anchoring the front line, joined by three-star tight end Jeramie Cooper and wide receiver Damarion Mays.

“(Turntine) is a once-in-a-lifetime, generational talent on the offensive line,” Gates said. “We have Damarion Mays coming back and he was a freshman All-American. He’s grown tremendously here at North Crowley and we’re expecting some big things from him. Jeramie Cooper is a smart kid and is physical in the run game. He’s got great hands and he’s going to be a three-, four-year starter for us.”

At quarterback, Jacob Torres is a potential starter amid ongoing competition, while the running back position is bolstered by newcomer Rell Smith, who has made a strong impression at summer camps.

“Rell Smith transferred in and lit it up at a couple camps he’s been at,” Gates noted. “He’s going to turn a lot of heads.”

North Crowley’s home opener against Lancaster on Aug. 28 is quickly approaching, followed by a significant matchup against three-time state champion DeSoto.

Amid doubts from skeptics about the feasibility of winning back-to-back titles, Gates’s confidence in his team reflects the program he has built in Fort Worth.

“We’re really excited about this team,” Gates added. “We learn a lot about ourselves by playing really good competition. Last year’s team was a veteran group. This year we have a lot of talent on this team, but not as much experience.

“Our biggest approach is learning more about ourselves and that we evolve each and every single week. I think this group is ready to prove to people that they have what it takes. They’ve heard everything about what we had and what is gone. We focus on what we have in the present moment. The challenge what we have ahead of us is to recognize that we are at the level of a national contender after winning a state championship. This one could be more impressive than the one before. The question of if we can do it again winning a state title and the answer is yes we can.”