This Saturday, South Oak Cliff will set their sights on becoming the first Dallas-Fort Worth area program from a multi-school district to win three straight state championships. Their Death Row defense and its architect, Kyle Ward, are cornerstones to their success. The current success of this 2023 defense has roots that go back in time to their leader's inspiration and players that left their blueprint long before this season and its upcoming 5A Division II State Championship game.  

Throughout the long history of football, a trend of menacing monikers and traditions has been attached to defensive units whose play earned them names that functioned as a larger-than-life brand. Notable examples include the Dallas Cowboys' Doomsday Defense that stretched over several decades from the 1960s into the early 1980s. At the college level, Nebraska has the longstanding tradition of the Huskers' Blackshirts defense, and Texas A&M had their famed Wrecking Crew Defense that provided elite play in the 1980s and 1990s.

At the high school level in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a brand of defense has spawned at Dallas ISD's South Oak Cliff High School with their Death Row defense. According to its architect, SOC's defensive coordinator Kyle Ward, one must return to its roots when seeds were initially planted to understand the recent success of Death Row and SOC Football.

Ward arrived at South Oak Cliff before the 2015 season after stints at the college level at Texas A&M and Boise State as a graduate assistant. An Oak Cliff native and Dallas Kimball graduate, he knows the challenges of navigating the inner-city landscape. He also understands the potential that can be found in the inner-city environment. Before playing college football at Louisiana-Lafayette (now Louisiana), Ward visited his brother, Nick Ward, who was playing at Miami (FL) for Butch Davis in the late 90s. During these visits to South Florida, Ward discovered a fascination for the Miami Northwestern (Fla.) High School program in the heart of Liberty City, Miami. As an inner-city powerhouse, the Bulls' football program has won seven state championships, including a mythical national title in 2007.

The younger Ward always remembered those experiences from his formative high school years spent visiting his older brother in college. It led to him ultimately wanting to create his spin on Northwestern's program in his hometown of Dallas. This led him to team up with South Oak Cliff head coach Jason Todd, a Dallas Lincoln graduate from the heart of South Dallas with similar goals. In many ways, the goals these two have accomplished together were already destined to be written in history.

"I'm living the dream," Ward said. "Since I was 19 years old, this is what I've wanted to do. I wanted to do in Dallas what I saw at Miami Northwestern in the heart of Miami. I saw it, had my high school experience, and then I wanted to do that in Dallas ISD. I didn't care what school it was; it's not like I just wanted to do that at Kimball. I wanted to do it in Dallas because I know the perception and hurdles. I felt like it could be done."

The name "Death Row" first became a known commodity during the 2018 season when the 1999 graduate of SOC, Horace Bradshaw V, started coining it in the stands at games along with his other cheers. As a longtime supporter of the school with several generations of Golden Bears football players in his family, it was only fitting that his fingerprints be on the newfound nickname for the South Oak Cliff defense.

The 2018 defense included a group of prospects that would serve as an example for the 2021 and 2022 state championship units that came later down the line. Key names from the inaugural Death Row group in 2018 included Steven Parker, Jonathan "Jon-Jon" Davis, Jimmy Wyrick, and Derrion Clark. All four served as catalysts for the growth of the Death Row brand five years later.

Steven Parker is the epitome of what football can do for a kid. Transforming someone on and off the field into a well-rounded individual that most did not envision or believe could make it to college. Parker initially played his college football at Kansas before transferring to Incarnate Word. During his time in San Antonio, Parker has become one of the top defensive linemen in the country at the FCS level.

"People who knew him when he was younger never thought he would have a college degree. Parker is the poster boy for how football can save a kid in our neighborhoods," Ward said.

Jon-Jon Davis was a hard-hitting safety who took his talents west to Texas Tech, where he still resides after his playing days. Since finishing his career as a Red Raider, Davis has joined Joey McGuire's staff as a student assistant coach with a bright future ahead.

Jimmy Wyrick served as the cerebral defensive back who could play multiple positions in the secondary due to his high IQ. He also comes from football lineage, with his father being a former Minnesota Golden Gopher and a cup of coffee in the NFL with the Lions and Dolphins. The younger Wyrick is still in the midst of his playing career at Stanford.

"Jon Davis and Jimmy were the brains," Ward said. "They were opposites. Jon Davis is the definition of an Oak Cliff kid, but they're both brain kids. Culture and grind kids who are thinkers willing to push younger guys."

"They're coaches, no question. If Jimmy wants to coach, he's going to be a hell of a coach. Jon Davis is already coaching college."

Derrion Clark used his talents and accomplishments to attend the University of Arizona. His high school career included 320 total tackles, with 71 being tackles for loss and 39 sacks. After two years in Tucson, Clark found himself at Kilgore Junior College and an off-the-beaten-path move to the Southwest Kansas Storm, a professional indoor football team based in Dodge City, Kansas.

"Clark and Parker were the catalysts for style of play," Ward said. "At the same time, they were the kids who could handle the adjustments and be coaches on the field from a front perspective."

When the dust settles, kids are still kids, but the 2018 nucleus helped form what later became the defensive units to make history in 2021 and 2022. Their impact and leadership were far beyond their years. They were the names that paved the way.

Death Row in 2021 had many names that football fans would continue to familiarize themselves with throughout the next two seasons. However, a trio of seniors served as essential pivot points in the eyes of Ward: Kyron Chambers, Jordan Mayes and Novian "Bucket" Webb.

Mayes and Webb were not the flashy five-star prospects that most recruiting fans become enamored with while reading online message boards. However, these two did bring vocal leadership and multiplicity to the defense.

Mayes took after Steven Parker and Derrion Clark with being able to get his teammates lined up according to the play call. He was the definition of a solid high school linebacker who played most of his senior year with an injured shoulder. His career after SOC took him to Division II UT-Permian Basin in Odessa.

Webb was a defensive lineman who showed ability with a diverse skillset playing along the interior and exterior of the line. Defensive linemen of his short stature proved to be lethal against running-based teams like Liberty Hill, whom the Golden Bears defeated in the state championship. He now plays for Bethel College in Kansas at the NAIA level.

Chambers had always been a wild card. As he matured, he learned to play multiple positions within the secondary. Chambers could not only play man-defense but also zone. He could even blitz and fit in the box due to his muscular build. Much of his multiplicity can be attributed to the mentorship he received from Jimmy Wyrick.

"Kyron Chambers' emergence in the playoffs had a lot to do with his relationship and mentorship from Jimmy Wyrick," Ward said. "A lot of it was the culture of being able to play multiple positions. Kids were OK with it. Kyron didn't take moving to nickel as a slight because Jimmy had played every (secondary) position the year before."

Chambers is currently at SMU after a season at TCU when the Horned Frogs appeared in the 2022 national championship game.

The 2022 edition of Death Row returned many familiar faces from the historic championship team in 2021. The main difference being instead of the burden of having to prove themselves as champions, it was more about taking the next step as individuals for the greater good of the unit. Not only showcasing their talents but reaching their potential on a consistent basis.

Notable names returning included Malik "Manny" Muhammad (Texas), Abdul "Atre" Muhammad (SMU), Billy Walton (Texas), Jayvon Thomas (Texas A&M), Dylan Brown-Turner (Florida State), Jamarion "JC" Clark (Rice), Taylor Starling (North Texas), Keith Smith (North Texas) and David "Davo" Spruiells (Northern Arizona).

In 2021, the linebacking corps and defensive line shared leadership responsibilities, with the secondary having a group of growing names as the season progressed. This flipped in 2022, as the secondary became the names who held leadership roles with the front seven wanting to prove themselves as legitimate playmakers.

"The defensive line had played, but they weren't proven," Ward said. "Billy had a great game against Lovejoy (in 2021), but we didn't know what we had. Billy worked that next offseason to prove himself."

"Courtland Kidd was undersized and felt like he needed to prove himself. Keith (Smith) was a kid that made a bunch of big plays on the defensive line, but he made big mistakes, too. So, he had to learn."

Kidd was a lot like Webb regarding his role within Death Row: an undersized defensive lineman built like a fire hydrant wreaking havoc up front for opposing rushing attacks. Kidd was a crucial piece in both 2021 and 2022, and he recently wrapped up his first year of college football at McMurray University.

Many of these names were the same kids once mentored by the 2018 group when they were underclassmen and hopping on Zoom calls and other forms of communication during the pandemic to improve their football acumen. When the younger group became the older guys in the program, the habits of their idols started to rub off on them. This included player-led meetings that revolved around the idea of iron sharpening iron. Extra work that, over time, propelled SOC to championship runs in the state playoffs in '21 and '22.

A common trait amongst South Oak Cliff's Death Row defenses is speed, especially in the defensive backfield that Ward presides over. While other programs prefer to focus on increasing their overall team strength, the Golden Bears focus on team speed. This is rooted in a heavy offseason focus on running track, which eventually manifests into an aggressive style of play during the football season, swarming opposing offenses with relentless intention.

"I say it all the time, it's access to information," Ward said. "Luckily for us, we have some cats who have track backgrounds. We train our skill guys like track guys."

Ward, along with his fellow defensive staff, operates their side of the ball as self-functioning silos. In other words, the defensive line, linebackers, and secondary all operate on their own standing. They are coming together as a harmonious in-game unit similar to an orchestra with differing instruments and sounds that make beautiful music.

Another key aspect of the South Oak Cliff defensive staff is the background of the members who make up its roster. All the associated names have roots in the City of Dallas, Dallas ISD, or SOC itself. Michael Traylor (Kimball), Matt Hornbuckle (Colleyville Heritage) and Marcus McGrew (Carter) all make up the defensive line portion of the staff. Traylor also serves as the program's recruiting coordinator. Domenic Spencer (Skyline), who played for Jason Todd in high school, handles the linebacker room. Cranston Jones (Lincoln/West Mesquite), Deondre Dansby (South Oak Cliff) and Devin Powell (South Oak Cliff) all assist Ward with the defensive backfield. Those three names played for Ward in their prep careers.

All the culture, history and program development leads to this current-day group in 2023. The newest installment of Death Row took its lumps early in the season, but those growing pains have led to incredible improvement. It took some licks early this season against Duncanville and DeSoto (two teams making state championship appearances in class 6A on Saturday), but the 2023 Death Row defense has found its footing. Dominant efforts over offensive-led programs like Parish Episcopal, Midlothian Heritage and Lovejoy help prove that.

Must-see Death Row names that fans should watch for on Saturday in the 5A DII State Championship include 2024 LB Brandon Jones (6'1, 190), 2024 DB Kerry "Poody" Williams (5'11, 165), 2025 LB Jayden "JJ" Shelton (6'0, 200) and 2026 LB Jamarion Phillips (6'1, 220).

Linebackers coach Domenic Spencer leads the linebacker trio of Jones, Shelton and Phillips. A former DISD linebacker standout at Dallas Skyline and UCF, his tutelage has helped grow ULM commit Jones into the player he is today. Jones has been a key piece for three seasons in bringing a steady presence to the defense. Pound-for-pound, he might be the best pure football player on the entire South Oak Cliff roster.

Shelton and Phillips are the rising stars. Shelton has been a menace in stopping the run and defending the pass for two playoff runs. The DCTF four-star has offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Ohio State, USC, Washington and more. Phillips is the new kid on the block in 2023, boasting a build that allows him to fit as a linebacker and aid the defensive line. He holds an offer from SMU with more sure to follow.

Williams is a returning piece in a SOC secondary featuring many new names after the legendary 2023 class with six Division I defensive back signees, the most all-time for a DISD program. Dallas Carter in 1992, 1997 and 1998 had four, respectively, each year.

Williams is a North Texas commit. He's surrounded by 2024 DB Semaj'Dre Gasaway (5'10, 180 / Mississippi Valley State commit), 2024 DB Sultan "Buzz" El-Amin (5'10, 170), 2025 DB Tobias Gary (5'11, 180) who holds offers from North Texas and UTSA, 2025 DB Kendrick "Tink" Carter (5'9, 170) and 2026 DB Marcell Gipson Jr. (5'9, 165).

Gasaway is reliable and experienced, with two state championships under his belt. It's an absolute steal for MVSU in the SWAC. Gary and Carter are former offensive-skill guys who switched to the ball's defensive side, increasing their time on the field. Also, El-Amin has surprised coaches this season as the most reliable secondary member, similar to how Abdul Muhammed and David Spruiells became reliable figures for the previous class.

Gipson Jr. possibly has the brightest future and -- like other SOC players -- comes from a football family background. His father, Marcell Gipson Sr., and uncle Tashaun Gipson, played at Wyoming. The two former Dallas Kimball Knights have NFL experience, with Uncle Tashaun currently playing for the San Francisco 49ers. Their younger brother and fellow uncle of Marcell Jr., Teriyon Gipson, was an impressive running back at New Mexico. It's safe to say that the youngest Gipson has football in his blood.  

Lastly, two more names to note before Saturday are 2025 DL Paul Blair (6'2, 250) and 2025 DL Jordan Atkinson (6'3, 220). Blair shows diversity in his skill like other SOC defensive linemen before him to be able to play all spots up front. Atkinson is a defensive end with a D1 body that college coaches will covet. He started the year on JV.

The 2021 State Championship team felt relief after becoming the first Dallas ISD football program to win a state title since Booker T. Washington in 1958 amongst the PVIL ranks (Dallas Carter's 1988 State Championship was later stripped). Following them was the 2022 state championship team with such an embarrassment of riches that there was no excuse not to repeat. With that being said, this 2023 team is a testament to the development of the program.

If South Oak Cliff defeats Port Neches-Groves for a second-straight year to complete its three-peat quest, it will further prove what the Golden Bears staff has built with Death Row. This is not the most talented team to ever come through SOC, but it is a team that has shown tremendous progression.

The message going into Saturday is all about avoiding complacency. "Don't be satisfied with growth. Finish. Growth is expected, but we still have a job to do and an ultimate goal that requires consistency," Ward said regarding his message to Death Row this week.

This one on Saturday is for those who paved the way. The ones that set the standard. The Death Row icons who laid the foundation in 2018. It's a tip of the cap to SOC's coaches that they've achieved and developed at a high level with or without the superstar prospects.

Every mission starts with an objective. Every journey has a destination. That objective, that destination, is history. 

South Oak Cliff is a four-quarter brawl away from doing just that.