PHOTO: Brandon McAuliffe
BY BRIAN GOSSET
ARLINGTON – DeSoto scored 27 points in the first quarter on its way to its fourth state title, 55-27 over Houston King in Class 6A D2 on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in front of 31,578.
The Eagles (13-3), who began the season 0-2, won 13 of the last 14 games – in a dominant showing over the Panthers (13-3). DeSoto is 4-0 in title games, winning by an average of 30.5 points per game. The program also won in 2016, 2022 and 2023.
DeSoto defeated Humble Summer Creek two years ago, 74-14, in a game that featured the most points scored by one team in 6A champ game history and second most in 11-man UIL champ game history (Mart – 76 in 2A, 2018). The Eagles were on pace to break both records after scoring 48 in the first half against King.
Star running back SaRod Baker rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns – both in the first quarter. Baker capped off one of the greatest playoff performances of all time with 1,628 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns in six games. He ran for seven scores two rounds ago against Willis and then added three more to help DeSoto come back from a 16-point deficit to beat Southlake Carroll in the semifinals.
5-star WR and USC bound Ethan “Boobie” Feaster was voted Offensive MVP with 10 catches, 167 yards and two touchdowns. Damarion Ross was Defensive MVP with four tackles and a 94-yard interception return for a TD.
Baker scored his two touchdowns in a three-minute span in the first quarter. He punched it in from the 2 with 7:27 on the clock and then let loose from 53 yards away to give DeSoto a 14-0 lead at the 4:48 mark.
On the ensuing drive for King, Ayden Marshall blocked a Panthers’ punt attempt and Bryson Briscoe walked in a touchdown from the 3. Feaster added DeSoto’s fourth touchdown of the first quarter when he took a Legend Howell pass 65 yards to the end zone.
DeSoto scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and led 48-21 at the intermission. Howell threw a 70-yard TD pass to Courtly’on Jackson and the lead grew to 34-7 with 8:55 to go in the period. Feaster and Howell hooked up again – from 47 yards for a 41-14 margin.
King cut it to 41-21 and could have made it 41-28 late in the quarter when a pass attempt was picked by Ross and returned 94 yards for a 48-21 halftime lead.
Howell completed a 17-yard TD pass to Antron Edmundson for DeSoto’s final score – which came in the third quarter. Howell threw for four touchdowns and 280 yards.
