Alabama QB Keelon Russell makes bold prediction for Duncanville vs Allen showdown

High school football in Texas is officially back and no game in the Lone Star State is bigger than Duncanville's road trip to Allen on Friday night, Aug. 28.

Duncanville, the No. 16 team in the latest USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings, ended Allen's 2025 season with a dominant 31-9 victory in last year's semifinal matchup between the two programs.

Former Duncanville star and current Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell doesn't see this year's meeting being any different.

"When you put that rivalry together, I don't think it's really a rivalry to be honest," Russell said in an interview with MaxPreps. "Duncanville's gonna win by 50 if they can. It's just about if we're going to put our twos in the first quarter or second quarter to be honest.

“Allen's Allen. Kyler Murray's not there so I don't think there's no benefits to the school. No hate to Allen. I love Allen and y'all have a great stadium, but that's about all."

In just three meetings between the school, Duncanville leads the series 2-1, winning last season by 22 and the 2018 Class 6A Division I semifinal 44-35. Allen won the first game back in 2016, beating the Panthers 42-23 in the state quarterfinals.

Russell never had the opportunity to play against Allen but had one of the most prolific careers of any Texas high school quarterback in recent memory.

A three-year starter, Duncanville went 42-2 with Russell under center, winning state championships in 2022 and 2023. As a senior he passed for 4,177 yards and 55 touchdowns with only four interceptions, earning Gatorade National Player of the Year honors.

For his career, Russell threw for 10,037 yards and 115 touchdowns with only 16 interceptions.

This year's matchup between the schools will feature one of the nation's fastest-rising sophomore quarterbacks in Allen's Ty Snell. The 6-foot-3, 191-pounder is ranked as the No. 30 player in the No. 2 quarterback in the 2029 class according to 247Sports and split time under center last year throwing for 1,030 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Senior Maximus Denson will get the start at quarterback for the Panthers this year. He also split time at quarterback last season, passing for 1,157 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Fans who can't make it out to Allen this evening can watch the game here. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.

Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama QB Keelon Russell makes bold prediction for Duncanville vs Allen showdown