Duncanville Panthers – 320-343-27 overall / 12-17 in playoff games

2008 Record: 6-5 (5-1 in 6-5A) Class 5A Division I Bi-District Finalists

• Bi-District Round: Lost to Plano 42-15

Head Coach: Jeff Dicus (81-43 record overall as a head coach / 6-5 in Second season at Duncanville)

Interview with Duncanville Head Football Coach Jeff Dicus:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lettermen Returning: 26 / Lettermen Lost: 36
Starters Returning: 4 on Offense, 3 on Defense

Key Losses: Alex Adewumni (Eastern New Mexico State), Josh Harris (Wake Forest), Chayse Joubert (SMU), Larry Miller (Bemidji State), Dashaun Phillips (Tarleton State), Tony Scott (West Texas A&M)

Players to Watch: P Jesse Champion (Sr., 5′10, 165), OT Sean Clayton (Sr., 6′3, 250), QB Divan Ealy (Jr., 6′, 185), DB Estean Freeman (Sr., 5′10, 160), RB Zavian Handy (Sr., 5′6, 160), DL Tevin Moore (Sr., 5′11, 255)

CSR Outlook from Thomas D. Lee: Head Coach Jeff Dicus enters into his second season atop the Panthers program with renewed enthusiasm running rampant in Duncanville. The team finished the 2008 regular season winning six of their last seven games, which encompassed the entirety of their District 7-5A schedule. The Panthers have been hard at work over the summer as Coach Dicus has implemented a serious off-season training program across the entire Panthers’ athletic program to rave reviews from the athletes at Duncanville High School. This hard work will be key as Panther fans have to say goodbye to 36 lettermen from the 2008 team, but there are important components coming back in key positions on both sides of the ball. Last year heading into the season, the hopes and dreams of Duncanville were placed upon the shoulders of returning starting quarterback Larry Miller. After Miller went down with a season ending injury in their second game, most experts thought that the Panthers’ season was also lost. Instead, the team came together under the determination and leadership of Coach Dicus and then-Sophomore QB Divan Ealy who passed for over 1100 yards and 14 TDs. Now as a Junior, Ealy returns in 2009 with nine starts under his belt, and he will have an experienced running back to hand the ball to in Senior Zavian Handy, who rushed for over 750 yards and eight touchdowns in 2008. Defensively, opposing teams will have to find a way to block DL Tevin Moore and keep the ball away from ball-hawking DB Estean Freeman to have success. Defending champion Cedar Hill remains the favorite in the district, but look for the Longhorns to be pushed by Duncanville for the 7-5A title as they are clearly the two best teams in the district.

CSR Outlook from Mike Peasley: Year number two of the Jeff Dicus era is about to begin at Duncanville. Year one had to be deemed a success after the Panthers finished second in District 7-5A and advanced to the postseason with a 6-5 record. Duncanville will be led offensively by a pair of outstanding players. Quarterback Divan Ealy returns after starting nine games last year as a sophomore. He provides a strong throwing arm and great athleticism at the quarterback position. When he needs to hand the ball off, he’ll give it to Zavian Handy. He was the team’s workhorse last year and will once again see the bulk of the carries. Defensively, there are plenty of holes that need to be replaced. A year ago, the Panthers defensive line dominated at times, but only Tevin Moore returns. Also, Coach Dicus must find a way to replace his entire linebacking corps and secondary. If that happens and Ealy and Handy continue to produce, Duncanville should be in position for another playoff run. Cedar Hill is the team to beat in the district, but there is no reason why the Panthers cannot finish as high as second. Duncanville will be tested in their non district schedule with games against Odessa Permian at the Alamodome, at Garland and DeSoto all coming up.