DeSoto Falls 38-14 to St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida

For the second straight season, DeSoto opened with a lopsided out-of-state loss. Just like last year, though, the result should not change the bigger picture.

The defending Class 6A Division II state champion Eagles fell 38-14 to St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. The Florida powerhouse jumped ahead immediately when Pittsburgh commit Tyler Reid broke a 57-yard touchdown run.

From there, the mistakes piled up. Ohio State commit Jaden Carey returned an interception for a touchdown, St. Thomas Aquinas added another rushing score, and Notre Dame commit Zayden Gamble returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. Julius Jones Jr. added another score before halftime, sending DeSoto to the locker room trailing 38-0.

The Eagles responded after the break. Texas Tech commit SaRod Baker scored on a short touchdown run and added the two-point conversion. Backup quarterback Patrick Harris Jr. later connected with Kendrick McCoy for DeSoto’s second score.

It was an ugly opener, but DeSoto has been here before. Last season, the Eagles were blasted 70-28 by Creekside in Georgia, then won 13 of their next 15 games and captured another state championship.

The schedule stays brutal with Allen and Duncanville up next. After that stretch, however, DeSoto should be a double-digit favorite in nearly every remaining game.

More importantly, the Eagles remain the very heavy favorite to win the Class 5A Division I state championship. One rough night in Florida does little to change that.