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DeSoto Eagles Win Title – Undisputed Best Team in Texas
The DeSoto Eagles entered the 6A Division 2 Championship as the defending champs, the #1 team in Texas, and one of the top-ranked teams in the nation. DeSoto has been our #1 ranked team all year. It was their third time in the state title game, and they were looking for their third state title. A win would cement DeSoto as the undisputed best team in Texas as they beat the 6A Division 1 Champion Duncanville Panthers in week 8 this year, 49-35. For the Summer Creek Bulldogs, it is their first time in the state title game. The Bulldogs came in 14-1, with their one loss being a 31-21 loss in week 6 to North Shore.
DeSoto scored quickly on their first drive with a 54-yard touchdown run from Marvin Duffey. They faked the point after and scored 2 on a DJ Bailey to Jamari Laye to go up 8-0 less than a minute into the game. On the second Summer Creek play, Desoto intercepted Summer Creek QB Black Thomas on a tipped pass. 2 plays later, DeSoto scored on a 14-yard Deondrae Riden run up the middle to push the lead to 15 less than two minutes into the game.
The Eagles forced a Summer Creek punt, and a few plays later, they scored again on a 26-yard TD pass from DJ Bailey to Daylon Singleton to go up 22-0 with 6:18 to go in the first quarter. On the next Bulldogs drive, they lost 5 yards on the drive and had to punt back to DeSoto again with 4:47 to go in the quarter and DeSoto at the 46-yard line. On the next play, DeSoto scored again on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Bailey to Daylon Singleton to go up 29-0 with 4:40 to go in the first.
Summer Creek had to once again punt right back to Desoto with 1:25 to go in the quarter. On the first play, Bailey threw a backward pass, and it was dropped and Summer Creek recovered at the 6-yard line. The Bulldogs scored on the next play on a Lloyd Avant run. DeSoto returned the kickoff back to the 49-yard line, and had the ball with great field position with 0:59 to go in the first quarter. 3 plays later, Bailey hit Singleton for the third time on a 52-yard strike to grow the lead to 36-7 to end the first quarter.
Summer Creek was not able to get anything going on offense to start the second quarter and punted back to DeSoto. DeSoto again drove down the field, this time mixing in more running, but Summer Creek made a defensive stand on third down and forced an Angel Diaz 33-yard field goal attempt. Diaz made the kick to push the lead to 39-7 with 7:34 to go in the first half.
The Bulldogs were finally able to get something going on offense on their next drive. Thomas had a few positive runs, helping the Bulldogs get past midfield. They then faced a 4th and 1 from the Eagles 39-yard line, and they converted. However, the DeSoto Eagles defense stepped up, and sacked Thomas for a big loss on third down, and Summer Creek was backed up 4th and 20 and had to punt with 3:41 to go in the first half.
On the next DeSoto series, Daylon Singleton went down with an ankle injury near the Summer Creek sideline. The Summer Creek training and coaching staff was quick to come to offer him help. He was helped up, and helped halfway off the field. He jogged a bit near the sideline, but was out for the rest of the game. A few plays later, DJ Bailey finished off the Eagle’s drive with a rushing touchdown to push the league to 46-7. It was the 4th touchdown of the half for Bailey.
Second Half
Summer Creek got the ball to start the second half, but they went 3 and out and were forced to punt. Aundre Wisner blocked the punt and DeSoto took over at the Bulldogs’ 14-yard line. Then, Aundre Wisner blocked the Summer Creek punt. A couple of play later, Jaden Trawick scored on an 8-yard run to push the lead to 53-7 with 9:33 to go in the third quarter.
Both teams traded quick defensive stops, with Summer Creek stopping DeSoto on a 4th and 2. But when DeSoto got the ball back, DJ Bailey threw his 4th touchdown pass, on 3rd and 21, this time to freshman Ethan Feaster for 26 yards and a 60-7 lead with 3:49 to go in the 3rd quarter. Summer Creek was able to move the ball past midfield on their next drive, but failed to convert on a 4th and 4, giving the ball right back to the Eagles.
On the next drive, Summer Creek sacked Bailey to force a 4th and 16. DeSoto went for it, and failed to convert as the pass from Bailey was batted down by Bulldogs defensive line. Summer Creek took over at the DeSoto 32-yard line with 0:16 to go in the third quarter. Thomas then ran for a 15-yard run, the second-longest play of the game for Summer Creek to finish the third quarter.
Summer Creek moved the ball near midfield to start the 4th quarter but started to lose yards on back-to-back plays and was forced to punt. The punt was blocked, again by Aundre Wisner. DeSoto returned the blocked punt for a touchdown after a lateral during the return. The Eagles increased their lead to 67-7 with 9:50 to go in the 4th. The 67 points for DeSoto broke the all-time record for most points in an 11-man Texas high school football championship game.
DeSoto then brought in all backups, and Summer Creek was able to drive the ball down to the Desoto 30-yard line with the Bulldogs starters still in. The Bulldogs converted on a 4th down, and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by Lloyd Avant. The score was 67-14 with 4:46 to go in the game.
On the next DeSoto drive, with most of the backups in, they gave the starting running back Marvin Duffey one more carry, and he ran for 61 yards inside the 10-yard line with 2 minutes to go. The run put Duffey at 151 yards rushing for the game. On 3rd and 12, Antonio Pride caught a touchdown pass from Chad Williams to push the lead to 74 to 14 with 1:40 to go in the game.
Final Score: DeSoto 74 / Summer Creek 14
The Offensive MVP of the game was D.J. Bailey with 281 yards passing, 4 passing touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown. Bailey ends what is one of the best careers for a Texas high school quarterback, and solidified himself as a true Texas HS Football Legend!
The Defensive MVP went to junior defensive end Keylan Abrams.
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