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Keelon Russell, Duncanville continue rolling in blowout win over Lancaster

This was the first time since 1973 that Duncanville and Lancaster faced each other in a district game.

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DUNCANVILLE – With the district lead on the line, Duncanville displayed its lethal passing attack, this time featuring receiver Zach Turner, to defeat Lancaster 41-7 and take sole possession of first place in 11-6A Friday night at Panther Stadium.

For the second time this season, Turner was on the receiving end of three touchdowns and finished with eight catches for 159 yards.

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“With a quarterback like Keelon Russell you have to be ready because he can do something spectacular at any moment,’’ said Turner, a 6-3, 215-pound junior.

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Russell, a senior verbally committed to Alabama, completed 21 of 31 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns, upping his season TD total to 30. He left the game early in the fourth quarter with a bruise to his non-throwing shoulder.

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The schools were meeting in a notable district game for the first time in 51 years, the last encounter taking place in 1973.

Duncanville (6-0, 4-0 in 11-6A), No. 1 in both The Dallas Morning News’ Class 6A area poll and The Associated Press’ 6A state poll and No. 4 nationally by MaxPreps, showed no signs of a letdown after last week’s 42-20 rivalry victory over DeSoto.

“Lancaster has a really good team and I was afraid of a letdown, but our guys had a great mental attitude all week,’’ said Duncanville coach Reginald Samples.

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Duncanville is taking aim at a third consecutive Class 6A Division I state title.

Lancaster (3-4, 3-1), No. 12 in the area, lost for the first time in a Class 6A district game after coming from behind in the second half for wins the previous two games.

“Duncanville plays a championship brand of football and I wish them the best in their try for a three-peat,’’ said Lancaster coach Leon Paul III. “They made us a better team tonight.’’

Senior quarterback Carter Jones, who led Lancaster to a Class 5A Division I regional final a year ago and is verbally committed to Nevada, was injured late in the third period and limped to the locker room. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 92 and rushed for 19 yards on five carries.

“He took a hard shot,’’ Paul said. “but we think he’ll be okay.’’

Lancaster’s defense slowed the Duncanville rushing attack in the first half and collapsed Russell’s protection at times but the quarterback still managed to connect on touchdown throws of 14 yards to Oregon pledge Dakorien Moore, four yards to Turner and right before halftime a 13-yard sideline fade to Trenton Yancey.

Trailing 14-0 after one quarter, Lancaster used a Braylan McDonald interception, only the second for Russell this season, to kickstart a 46-yard, six-play scoring drive ending on a two-yard run by Izayah Lee. The Tigers came up empty on a six-minute on their first possession that ended on a missed field goal.

A Lancaster defensive holding penalty on fourth down allowed Duncanville to sustain its third touchdown drive that ended on a four-yard run by JaQualon Armstong.

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Duncanville took advantage of a Landon Barnes fumble recovery to set up its final score of the first half for a 28-7 intermission lead. Nehemiah Borner had a fumble recovery for the Panthers in the second half.

Russell and Turner combined again on a 17-yard scoring pass early in the third quarter and Turner registered his third touchdown of the night, converting backup quarterback J’Coryon Rivers’ short pass into a 68-yard touchdown midway in the fourth quarter.

Lancaster holds a 15-9 lead with four ties in the series dating back to 1939.

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