6A

Team Preview: DeSoto Eagles

by
Adam Ogburn
July 29

DeSoto Eagles

Head Coach: Claude Mathis (5th Season in second stint at school; 12th overall)

Last Season: 14-2; 6-1 in district (Won 6A Division II State Championship)

DeSoto Key Players and Storylines

DeSoto came close to getting to the state championship in head coach Claude Mathis’ first stint at the school. Twice the Eagles finished 14-1, losing in the state semifinals.

But last year, the Eagles finally broke through and earned Mathis his first state championship as a head coach. It was DeSoto’s second state championship in school history.

Mathis said his expectations will remain just as high this year. He wants to win another state championship.

Six starters returning on each side of the ball are tasked with making that goal a reality.

It will start in the backfield offensively where quarterback Darius Bailey (3,871 passing yards and 45 touchdowns) and junior running back Deondrae Riden (1,339 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns) both return.

But in Mathis’ eyes, the strength of this DeSoto team will both literally and figuratively be in the trenches. That’s where the Eagles boast Houston commit Ronnell McLain on the offensive line and Marshall Kirven (56 tackles, 20 TFLs) and Jason Douglas (33 tackles, 12 TFLs) on the defensive line. And that’s not to mention Purdue commit edge Keylan Abrams (74 tackles, 15.5 TFLs).

Behind them, the Eagles are in good shape at linebacker as well as Stanford commit Brandon Booker (137 tackles), their leading tackler from last season, returns. They also have Nebraska commit cornerback Mario Buford to help lead the secondary.

With so many returning players and several players slated to play at the next level, Mathis said he expects plenty of veteran leadership out of his squad this year. With that maturity and experience, he believes they’ll be ready for the big games when they come their way again this fall.