Riden Jr. Sets Records in DeSoto’s 51-17 Playoff Victory

It wasn’t looking good for DeSoto at the start of their second round contest against Wylie East. 

Then, Deondrae Riden Jr. happened. 

With his team’s chance at a three-peat in Class 6A Division II on the line, the Eagles stormed back against the Raiders, defeating the Raiders 51-17 behind the Texas A&M commit’s 299 yards and four touchdowns. 

The performance pushed the senior past two separate career records; his 4,034 career rushing yards broke Byron Hanspard’s career record (3,996) and his 4,365 all-purpose yards broke Dez White’s career record (4,012). 

With the victory, the Eagles have now won 14 straight playoff games. In the beginning of the second round, Riden’s huge performance was nearly spoiled by a feisty Wylie East squad. 

The teams previously met in last year’s Area playoff with DeSoto winning 42-20. 

The Raiders were looking to avenge that postseason loss early, drawing first blood on a 39-yard field goal to go up 3-0 with 4:43 remaining in the opening quarter. It took until the second for DeSoto to see the scoreboard, with Riden Jr. exploding for a 50-yard touchdown.

The Raiders regained the lead, with Amarean Porter taking it to the house on an 87-yard run. With 3:14 left on the clock in the first half, Riden Jr. locked in, scoring from 22 yards, including six carries for 64 yards on the drive. He followed that up with another touchdown, from six yards out, to give his team the advantage 20-10. 

DeSoto never relinquished the lead again, with Riden Jr. responsible for all three of Eagles’s first half scores, as well as scrambling for nearly 200 yards during that span. 

The second half was more of the same, with DeSoto going on a tear for 38 straight points after falling 10-6 early in the second quarter. 

Riden Jr. was the clear MVP of the game, totaling 32 carries for 299 yards and four touchdowns. 

Still, a scary moment for the Texas A&M commit occurred with eight minutes remaining. After a run, Riden Jr. stayed writhing on the ground, holding his right leg. He was able to walk off gingerly on his own accord. After getting some treatment on the leg, he was seen moving around on the sidelines. As of this writing, it’s unknown if he will miss any time.

The Eagles advance and will take on unbeaten Willis in the Regionals round at McKinney ISD Stadium. Both teams last clashed in last season’s playoff, with DeSoto coming out on top 65-31. 

Watch a full replay of the game here: https://nfhs-network.pxf.io/BnEOgW