A rematch of last year’s semifinal had the same result for DeSoto, coming out on top of Willis for the second straight year, ending the Wildkats unbeaten streak 55-35.
The Eagles will now compete in their fifth consecutive regional final in pursuit of a third consecutive state championship.
Willis had all the momentum to overcome the haunts of last postseason’s defeat. The team scored two successive possessions in a Jermaine Bishop Jr. score and a Jalen Mickens touchdown, respectively.
After the hot first quarter, DeSoto made necessary adjustments, relying on their powerful running against an increasingly worn-down Willis defense, putting up 42 unanswered points by the end of the half, including five straight scoring drives.
The Wildkats weren’t ready to give up, giving themselves their own scoring run of 21 straight points, highlighted by long touchdown catches by running back Terri Lawrence III and Bishop Jr.. Yet, they put up the points very quickly, taking very limited time off the clock. The fourth quarter opened with DeSoto scoring on its first drive behind Deondrae Riden Jr.’s scrambling score of the night and cruised until the end of regulation.
A week off of the Riden Jr. broke the school record for rushing yards, the Texas A&M commit followed his performance with a team-high four touchdowns.
The Eagles will next play Longview in the 6A Division II Region 2 final at McLane Stadium on Saturday at 3 p.m. Both teams come into the contest with two losses on the year.
Willis vs. DeSoto Regional Semifinal – November 30, 2024
Final Score: DeSoto 55, Willis 35
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willis | 14 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 35 |
| DeSoto | 14 | 20 | 8 | 13 | 55 |
Team Stats
| Stat | Willis | DeSoto |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 21 | 30 |
| Total Yards | 481 | 601 |
| Passing Yards | 450 | 98 |
| Completion-Attempts | 26-44 | 7-10 |
| Yards Per Pass | 10.23 | 9.8 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 1 | 0 |
| Rushing Yards | 31 | 503 |
| Rushing Attempts | 11 | 69 |
| Yards Per Rush | 2.82 | 7.29 |
| Penalties | 10-97 | 11-108 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Individual Stats
Willis: Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Emerson | 26 | 44 | 59.09 | 450 | 5 | 1 |
DeSoto: Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelden Ryan | 7 | 10 | 70 | 98 | 2 | 0 |
Willis: Rushing
| Player | Att | Yards | Yds/Att | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terri Lawrence III | 3 | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| Jack Emerson | 7 | 17 | 2.43 |
