5-star Alabama commit makes long TD throw in high school football showdown

Duncanville (Texas) quarterback Keelon Russel finds Ayson Theus late against St. Frances Academy (Maryland)

Keelon Russell celebrates scoring a touchdown in the UIL 6A D1 state championship game last season at AT&T Stadium. / Photo: Tommy Hays

Alabama's 5-star 2025 quarterback commit made a game-changing throw on Saturday.

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Keelon Russell dropped back, dipped and dove to evade a collapsing pocket and launched a 60-yard touchdown pass to Ayson Theus in a go-ahead effort late in a nationally ranked showdown.

The touchdown put Duncanville, the nation's No. 4 team, up over No. 22 St. Frances Academy (Maryland) with 23 seconds left in the third quarter of the out-of-state matchup.

Russell, the top-rated quarterback in Texas, is a three-year starter and has helped Duncanville to consecutive 6A Division I state championships.

In the first half against St. Frances, he completed 11 of 12 passes. It was his third touchdown of the game, second TD pass. His first also went to Theus, a 5-yard reception.

As a junior, he threw for 3,483 yards and 38 touchdowns on a 72 percent completion clip. As a sophomore he threw for 22 touchdowns and 2,377 yards.

Now, the Panthers' dynamic offense is orchestrated by a Russell in developed form.

Theus, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound junior, is a three-star prospect with offers from Auburn, Nebraska, Baylor and Arizona State, among others.

He shares a receiver corps with Dakorien Moore, the nation's No. 2 wideout and an Oregon commit.

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More Texas high school football Week 3:

• DeSoto rebounds down in Corpus Christi

• Flower Mound 3-0 thanks to dramatic late drive against Lake Highlands: 5 takeaways

• A&M Consolidated holds off Pflugerville Weiss in 6A showdown

• Texas high school football team on its third coach in same week

• Top 100 Texas high school football players: PART 1 | PART 2

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