The 2023 Texas high school football state championships will wrap up on Saturday night with another Houston vs. Dallas matchup.
DeSoto is making its third-state title game appearance. It is 2-0 in state title games having beaten Cibolo Steele in 2016 and Vandegrift last year.
Summer Creek, meanwhile, is making its state title game debut. The Bulldog football program isn’t as old as many programs are in Texas. It is only in its 14th season of existence.
Both of these teams have been tested. Summer Creek is in District 21-6A and shares a district with teams like North Shore and Atascocita. DeSoto, meanwhile, competes in District 11-6A against teams like Duncanville and Waxahachie.
Here’s what to watch for on Saturday night at 7:00 in the 6A Division II State Title Game.
DeSoto Eagles (14-0)
Head Coach: Claude Mathis (12th season (across two stints); 133-27 record)
Distance to AT&T Stadium: 25 miles
2023 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 50-10 vs. Harker Heights
Area: W 42-20 vs. Wylie East
Regional Semifinals: W 65-31 vs. Willis
Regional Final: W 59-16 vs. Cedar Hill
State Semifinals: W 45-38 vs. Southlake Carroll
Key Players and Storylines
In Desoto’s win over Vandegrift last year, it was the DJ Bailey–Deondrae Riden show. Bailey threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, while Riden added 187 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Expect an encore performance this year. Bailey has thrown or 3,073 yards and 40 touchdowns this year, while Riden rushed for 254 yards on 34 carries in the Eagles’ 45-38 win over Southlake Carroll last week.
When Riden needs a rest, the Eagles also have Marvin Duffey (1,402 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns) and the speedy Jaden Trawick (554 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) to keep the backfield fresh.
Out at receiver, SMU commit Daylon Singleton and Antonio Pride provide two high-level options for Bailey in the passing game.
Defensively, the Eagles have a strong duo at linebacker in SMU commit Brandon Booker (112 tackles, 15 TFLs) and Jamari Laye (104 tackles, 18 TFLs). Purdue commit Keylan Abrams (79 tackles and 17 TFLs) and last year’s Defensive MVP Jason Douglas (57 tackles, 14 TFLs) are two players to watch in the trenches.
And it’s not just the front seven. The Eagles also trot out Nebraska commit Mario Buford and Aundre Wisner (96 tackles and 16 TFLs) out at corner. This is a DeSoto team with talent at all three levels.
Summer Creek Bulldogs (14-1)
Head Coach: Kenny Harrison (6th season; 48-26)
Distance from AT&T Stadium: 257 miles
2023 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 48-0 vs. Pearland Memorial
Area: W 42-0 vs. Clear Creek
Regional Semifinals: W 52-15 vs. Stratford
Regional Final: W 35-31 vs. Fort Bend Hightower
State Semifinals: W 38-14 vs. Cibolo Steele
Key Players and Storylines
A week ago, Summer Creek held a Cibolo Steele team that had been averaging nearly 41 points per game to just 14 points.
That followed a season-long trend. The Bulldog defense has limited opponents to just over 12 points per game this year. They will look for another big game from that unit led by its front seven which has LSU commit Xavier Atkins (98 tackles, 18 TFLs), and defensive ends Kyran Duhon (70 total tackles, 21 TFLs) and Chad Woodfork, a four-star prospect.
Offensively, Summer Creek wants to pound the football with Tulsa commit Lloyd Avant. He rushed for 199 yards on 30 carries last week and now has over 2,000 yards on the ground on the year.
Quarterback Blake Thomas can also be a dual threat. He had 153 yards last week on 11 carries.
When Thomas turns to the air, his two favorite targets have been senior Kordell Rodgers (844 yards and 13 touchdowns) and Caleb Welch (667 receiving yards and six touchdowns).
Final Thoughts
Summer Creek has to be able to run the ball with Avant. He has been the heart and soul for this offense much of the year, and they can not afford to become one-dimensional against a DeSoto defense with talent at all three levels.
On the other sideline, with the talent it has in Bailey and Riden, DeSoto won’t be scared of a shootout like it got into last week.
The start to this game will be huge. Summer Creek must keep it close with an explosive DeSoto team early on and hope its defense and Avant make plays down the stretch if it wants to pull the upset and deny the Eagles their second-straight title.
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