By Travis Bremner

Staff Writer

When the Duncanville Panthers walk into Coppell High School later on today, they’ll have an aura about them, a strut in their step. A swagger that led the Panthers to the UIL 5A state championship game last season and state titles in 1991, 1997 and 2007.

Coppell is coming off a victory over Allen last Tuesday, a game in which they scored double digits in every quarter, something they will undoubtedly need to if they are to contend in this game. The Cowboys (5-2) get Taylor Goebel, Nic Johnston, Kyle Echerd and Carter Kemp back from the gridiron; they will provide plenty of size and athleticism.

 Duncanville (7-4) haven’t jumped out to a great start with first year head coach Eric McDale. The Panthers are led by Baylor-bound and star recruit Perry Jones, who is ranked as the No. 2 overall power forward in the nation on rivals.com. The last meeting between these two teams was in the 2007-08 season on Coppell’s court, Duncanville won 75-43.

This is the first of three games for the Cowboys against the state’s elite programs, Coppell has to travel to Cedar Hill and DeSoto in January, both schools won 5A state championships last season.