South Oak Cliff beats Melissa: Live Texas high school football playoff updates recap

Bears built early lead, hold Cardinals off late in UIL Class 5A area round showdown

South Oak Cliff downed Melissa and in a Texas high school football area round playoff showdown in the Class 5A Division II bracket on Saturday.

The matchup pitted two of the top teams in the Lone Star State against one another in a postseason showdown, the winner of which advances to play Midlothian Heritage in the Class 5A Division II regional semifinal.

South Oak Cliff, the defending 5A Division II champions, entered the weekend No. 12 in the SBLive Texas Power 25 rankings, Melissa No. 15.

Stay with SBLive for highlights, stories and more live coverage from reporter Cody Thorn from the sidelines. The game is being streamed live on the NFHS Network (subscription required). 

The area round concludes on Saturday, regionals are Nov. 23-25, the regional semifinals quarterfinals Nov. 30-Dec. 2, setting up state championship week: semifinals and finals Dec. 7-9 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The bi-district wrapped up last Saturday — catch up on everything you missed.

Scroll down below and refresh for the latest highlights, scoring plays and more live updates:

FINAL: SOUTH OAK CLIFF 38, MELISSA 30

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FOURTH QUARTER

-- Green again, and SOC is pulling away. His seven-yard touchdown run puts the Bears up two scores with under five minutes to play. (38-23, South Oak Cliff | 4:59)

-- Karson Maynard with an acrobatic touchdown catch for a 50-yard score. The Cardinals go for two but don't get it out of the swinging gate formation. (31-23, Melissa | 9:08)

-- William Little hits Elijah Baesa for a 30-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter. (31-17, South Oak Cliff | 11:54)

THIRD QUARTER

-- The Bears are driving after a long completion on third down. Ball at the Cardinals' 30-yard line when we resume play in the fourth. South Oak Cliff 24-17. 12 minutes left

-- The Cardinals cut into the deficit on a 23-yard field goal by Jordan Vasquez. The deficit is down to a touchdown now. (24-17, South Oak Cliff | 1:43)

-- Khalil Ewell got in the end zone for the Bears on the second possession of the third from 13 yards out. (24-14, South Oak Cliff | 6:35)

SECOND QUARTER

-- Cardinals once again. Nathan Adejokun runs in for an eight-yard score and Melissa pulls within a field goal. (17-14, South Oak Cliff | 0:38)

-- Melissa shows life. Trevor Ham hits Antwain Dillon for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Is this the start of a run, or will South Oak Cliff quash momentum? (17-7, South Oak Cliff | 3:40)

-- Will the Bears run away with this? Danny Green runs in his second scoring run, this time from a yard out. (17-0, South Oak Cliff | 3:40)

-- South Oak Cliff build its lead. Diego Varela punches home a 29-yard field goal. (10-0, South Oak Cliff | 11:57)

FIRST QUARTER

-- South Oak Cliff is on the board. Danny Green scores a nine-yard run to put the Bears up a score early. (7-0, South Oak Cliff | 9:34)

-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx

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