Photos from Das Mitchell below
DeSoto’s response to early-season doubt was emphatic, relentless, and unmistakable on the sport’s biggest stage.
The DeSoto Eagles capped a turbulent but resilient season with a dominant 55-27 victory over C.E. King Panthers in the UIL Class 6A Division II state championship at AT&T Stadium, securing the program’s fourth state title and third under head coach Claude Mathis.
From the opening quarter, DeSoto made it clear the night would be played on its terms. The Eagles exploded to a 27-0 lead behind a fast, physical offensive attack and game-changing plays on special teams and defense. By the end of the first quarter, DeSoto had seized full control, forcing C.E. King into chase mode far earlier than expected.
Quarterback Legend Howell delivered one of the most efficient performances of championship weekend. The junior finished 19-of-25 for 280 yards and four touchdowns, consistently finding matchups he liked and punishing them. His command of the offense allowed DeSoto to strike quickly and often, turning short fields into immediate points.
Running back SaRod Baker set the tone early, blasting through the Panthers’ front for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Baker surpassed 3,000 rushing yards on the season and continued a postseason run that ranks among the most productive in Texas high school football history. Even when DeSoto shifted to a more balanced approach, Baker’s early damage had already reshaped the game.
The Eagles’ passing game was just as devastating. USC signee Ethan “Boobie” Feaster torched the secondary for 10 catches, 167 yards, and two touchdowns, repeatedly stretching the field and opening space underneath. Howell spread the ball efficiently, keeping C.E. King off balance for all four quarters.
Defense and special teams turned dominance into separation. A blocked punt returned for a touchdown ignited the sideline early, while senior defensive back Damarion Ross delivered the game’s defining moment late in the first half, intercepting a pass and racing 94 yards for a touchdown. That pick-six punctuated a 48-point first half and effectively ended any hope of a sustained comeback.
C.E. King, to its credit, continued to compete. Dillon Mitchell electrified the crowd with a 79-yard kickoff return touchdown, and Rice signee Dionne Sims battled throughout the night, finishing with 102 rushing yards and two total scores. The Panthers’ offense showed flashes of the explosiveness that carried them to their first state championship appearance.
Still, DeSoto’s depth, speed, and execution were overwhelming. The Eagles piled up 444 total yards and averaged more than seven yards per play, controlling all three phases and never allowing momentum to fully swing.
For DeSoto, the win closed the loop on a season that began with adversity and ended with authority. For C.E. King, the loss does little to diminish a breakthrough year that reset expectations.
On this night, though, it belonged to DeSoto — a program that absorbed early blows, answered every question, and finished the season exactly where champions belong.
