High School

DeSoto overcomes 16-point deficit to beat Southlake Carroll to reach the Class 6A Division 2 finals

SaRod Baker puts exclamation mark on the win for the Eagles with 99-yard TD at the buzzer in a 57-44 win

Cody Thorn

DeSoto's SaRod Baker (5) runs the ball during the first quarter of a playoff game on Saturday against Southlake Carroll.
DeSoto's SaRod Baker (5) runs the ball during the first quarter of a playoff game on Saturday against Southlake Carroll. / Cody Thorn

Last year, it looked like Southlake Carroll and DeSoto were on a collision course for the state semifinal game.

Instead, DeSoto got upset by Longview and the showdown at SMU never materialized.

DeSoto enters with an 11-3 mark and have scored 56 or more in 4 playoff wins. Southlake is undefeated at 14-0.

On Dec. 13, the two will clash at 2 p.m. at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield.

The winner will draw either Austin Vandegrift or Houston C.E. King in the finals next Saturday in Arlington.

What to know?

Southlake’s is well known for its offense and the numbers back it up. Heading into this game, the Dragons have more than 6,700 yards of total offense. The passing game accounts for 4,119 yards and five different receivers have more than 200 yards receiving.

DeSoto has more than 7,000 yards of offense this year, but with 4,181 yards rushing and just under 3,000 passing. 

The series

DeSoto and Carroll are 3-3 against each other dating back to 2012.

DeSoto won in 2012, 2016 and 2023 — on the way to a Class 6A Division 2 title. Southlake won in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

A win would send DeSoto to its fourth state finals and they have won in all 3 appearances.

Southlake has been to the finals 11 times and are 8-3 in those games, but lost in last year’s finals to Austin Vandegrift.

Who to know? 

This game will have several Division I signee and future Division I players. Here’s a breakdown of who may stand out on Friday night:

Southlake

RB Brooks Biggers, jr. — He’s RB2 and has 336 yards and 13 scores

WR Brock Boyd, sr. — The Ohio State signed has 83 catches for 1,387 yards and 18 touchdowns 

OL Carey Clayton, sr. — The center for the Dragons, he signed with Memphis. He’s one of the early signees for new coach Charles Huff. 

OG Tristan Dare, jr. — The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder is a 3-star recruit. He had 30 offers before picking Michigan. 

RB Davis Penn, sr. — He leads the team in rushing with 920 yards and 17 TDs

QB Angelo Renda, sr. — The Pitt signee has thrown for 3,984 yards with 41 touchdowns and 7 interceptions; He’s also run for 8 scores and 502 yards.

ATH Gavin Strange, sr. — He’s a 3-star recruit is headed to Duke. He has 44 tackles, 7 PBU, 1 interception, 97 of 98 on PATs, 4-for-4 on FG and made a 2-point conversion as well. 

OT Luke Wilson, jr. — He’s committed to Oklahoma after only one year of varsity football. Wilson, who is 6-foot-6, 290 pounds, is the son of former TCU tight end Travis Wilson.

WR Blake Gunter, jr. — He’s second in receiving in all three categories behind Boyd, with a line of 61/1,113/14.

LB Robbie Ladd, sr. — He’s leading the team in tackles with 93 and his 16 TFL are second on the team, behind Crawford Taylor’s 18. 

DeSoto

RB SaRod Baker, jr. — Arguably one of the best players in the state. He’s ran for 2,605 yards, with a 9.6 yards per carry average, with 40 TDs. He’s also 19-for-28 passing for 471 yards and 4 TDs.

WR Antron Edmundson, sr. — WR2 has a line of 31/478/9 playing opposite of Feaster.

WR Ethan Feaster, sr. — A would-be junior reclassified and is now a USC signee. He has 84 catches for 1,504 yards and 18 TDs. He’s also playing in the secondary for the Eagles. 

K Jacob Flores, sr. — He’s 2-for-2 on field goals and is 77-for-80 on PATs.

QB Legend Howell, sr. — He’s thrown for 2,272 yards and 27 TDs with only 3 INTs. 

DB Damarion Ross, sr. — He leads the team with 5 interceptions 

OL Jerbralon Stewart, sr. — He signed with New Mexico, one of 7 Texans headed there. He’s a three-year starter

Pick 'Em Challenge

Tell us who you think will win the game with High School On SI's Pick 'Em Challenge

How to watch

Watch on Victory+

No. 1 Southlake Carroll vs. DeSoto: Live score updates from Texas high school football playoffs 

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LIVE UPDATES

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

DESOTO

7

7

15

28

57

CARROLL

14

13

10

7

44

Sellout crowd is here; they will turn away people if they don't have a ticket

DeSoto will get the ball first ball first here at Mansfield.

So 2:05 kickoff thanks to it being a TV game

Feaster and Baker back for the kickoff

DeSoto punts; Southlake takes over with 8:06 left in 1st

Renda to Boyd for first down and then Luc Jacquemard gains 25 yards on a reverse. Southlake at the DeSoto 41 after 2 plays

Southlake punts; DeSoto ball with 6:54 left. Media timeout. Ball will be on the 30

TOUCHDOWN! Legend Howell to Courtly'on Jackson for 56 yards. Slant play and he just made moves and outran the defense. 4:50 left in 1st. DeSoto 7, Carroll 0

TOUCHDOWN! Renda to Blake Gunter for a 58-yard TD. 4:05 left. DeSoto 7, Carroll 7

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! DeSoto was going to punt; calls a timeout and goes for it on 4th and 8 at the 45. Pass incomplete.

58 seconds left in the 1st

Renda with a 10-yard run on a keeper on first play

TOUCHDOWN! Renda fakes like he was going to run; steps back and hits Gunter for a 44-yard TD. 15 seconds. Southlake 14, DeSoto 7

TURNOVER! DeSoto fumbles kickoffs. Southlake ball with 9 seconds left in the 1st. Ball at the 18

End of 1st: Carroll 14, DeSoto 7

2nd quarter

Turnover doesn't cost DeSoto. 39-yard FG is missed by Southlake wide left; first miss of the year for Strange. 10:47 left in 2nd

Southlake tries onside kick and DeSoto recovers. Ball at the 40-

Big run by Baker for a first down and the ball is at the Southlake 42 now.

TOUCHDOWN! Howell to Feaster with 6:26 left; we are tied at 14-14

TOUCHDOWN! Gunter with his third TD. 6-yard pass from Renda with 4:16 left. Southlake 21, DeSoto 14

Two minute timeout now

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! 1:27 left in the 2nd. Dragons' D gets the stop; Coach Mathis argues about the spot to no avail

Ball at the 4-yard line

Penn with a 65-yard run and the Dragons have flipped the field

timeout with 59 seconds left

Renda just missed Boyd with 15 seconds left.

TOUCHDOWN! Renda to Brody Knowles for 22 yards. He comes down in bounds and the Dragons score with 15 seconds left. PAT is blocked and returned to the 40-yard line.

Southlake up 27-14

End of 2nd: Southlake 27, DeSoto 14

3rd quarter

Penn with a 34-yard run and the ball is deep in DeSoto territory right away

FIELD GOAL! Strange boots 42-yard FG. 9:49 left. Carroll 30, DeSoto 14

Two plays and the Eagles answer

TOUCHDOWN! Howell to Baker for a 56-yard TD pass. 9:30 left. Carroll 30, DeSoto 21; Feaster is covered and Howell goes underneath

Southlake is gashing DeSoto on QB keeper. Eagles giving up the middle with so much pressure to try to limit the passing attack. 1st and goal for the Dragons

TOUCHDOWN! Renda to Gunter for the 4th time today; 3-yard score. Renda pump fakes and Gunter gets open. 5:10 left. Southlake 37, DeSoto 21.

Unsportsmanlike call against Baker; not ideal for DeSoto. One more and he is ejeted. 5:10 left in the 3rd. Ball at the 12-yard line.

Both of the D-1 receivers -- Boyd and Feaster -- have been getting doubled most of the game in coverage

TOUCHDOWN! Howell with a 28-yard TD run after faking a pass and runs up the middle. 2:48 left

Eagles going for 2

Baker runs it in. Southlake 37, DeSoto 29

DeSoto's D forces a 3 and out

DeSoto fumbles the return; Ross returns it out of the end zone; flags on the play

Looks like a block in the back on the return in the end zone

Ball at 26 and down a possession

Baker with a 27-yard run on the first play and the ball in Carroll territory

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Looks like a long hold between Howell and Baker on a handoff; Baker gets it and throws but it is incomplete; 49 seconds left and Dragons ball

Penn with another big run. That's his 3rd of the game that has flipped the field

End of 3rd: Carroll 37, DeSoto 9

TURNOVER AND TOUCHDOWN! Jordan Stevens wth an 86-yard Pick 6. DeSoto going for the tie. 23 seconds into the 4th

Baker hurdles his way into the end zone. Tied. 37-37. 11:37 left

Quite a swing in the past drives; Dragons defense gets a stop and turnovers on down only to give up 8 points on offese.

DeSoto goes up a pop up kick and it goes out of bounds; Dragons at own 41-yard line

TOUCHDOWN! Penn for a 59-yard TD on the first play of the drive. Knowles and Gunter with blocks on the way. Prior to the snap, Renda shifts Davis to his other side and he's gone. Southlake 44, DeSoto 37

Davis with 207 yards today; he's over 1,000 yards for the season

Big play; Baker avoids tackles on sideline, make cuts and turns it into a 42-yard run. Ball in Carroll territory

Howell to Jackson for a first down and ball at the 23-yard line

TOUCHDOWN! Baker for a 23-yard score. Quick answer by the Eagles. 10:46 left. DeSoto 44, Carroll 44

DeSoto calls timeout with 10:06 to play

Carroll punts and the Eagles have a chance to take the lead. 9:43 left

Baker with a first-down run and ball at the own 37

Baker has to come out after his helmet comes off;

Big play: Howell to Feaster and he almost scores. Ball at the 1-yard line. 7:03 to play

TOUCHDOWN! Baker runs in untouched from the 1-yard line. DeSoto 51, Carroll 44; 6:42 left

1st lead for the Eagles since 7-0 early

Baker with 241 yards on the ground today

Renda to Boyd for a first down. If you are Carroll to you try to score quickly? or run the clock and not give DeSoto the all again and try to get to OT?

Penn stopped at the line. big 3rd down for the Dragons coming up

4th and 10 for the Dragons. 4:50 left and Riley Dodge calls a timeout

This could be the ball game if DeSoto gets a stop

Claude Mathis calls a timeout after seeing how Southlake llined up

TURNOVER! Southlake goes deep and pass falls to ground. 4:48.

DeSoto calls timeout; Probably only need a couple of first downs and its officially over

4th and 2 and DeSoto going for it 2:53 left

Flag

Desoto is called offsides

Flag after the play; 4th and 7 turns into 4th and 22. another unsportsmanlike call on DeSoto

Big play! Landon Harris blocks a punt. Carroll ball at the 32-yard line. 2:38 left. what a swing

DeSoto gets a TFL on 1st play. 2nd and 13 now for Carroll 2 minutes to go

Feaster and Boyd and Boyd draws a flag. 1:51 left. First down for Southlake

Offsides by Southlake so they give back 5

Ross with a PBU with 1:50 left; 2nd and 15 comig up

Renda to Boyd; Ball at the 2-yard line. 1:37 and rolling

2nd and goal and offensive guard jumps

Southlake took 10 second runoff instead of taking a timeout. 41 seconds left

Jace Hill-Douglas with a tackle on Penn on a screen for a 2-yard loss

29 seconds left

Renda to Brock and Brock is tripped up; pass interference on DeSoto. 1st and goal at the 2. 23 seconds left

Feaster with PBU; Boyd almost had the TD

Incomplete to Knowles

3rd down coming up. 16 seconds left

Penn gets the carries and is stopped. 9 seconds left. Carroll calls timeout

4th down coming up

TOUCHDOWN Renda maybe

Refs talking. 4 seconds left

Eagles celebrating

another flag is on the field

Southlake player threw his helmet so that is maybe the second flag

Looked Renda was stopped at the goal line and. maybe got into when he rolled in; One official signal TD; but since then nothing final has been announced

Replay shows he was hit by 3 players and maybe short

DeSoto player ejected

Unsportsmanlike on Southlake and DeSoto

DeSoto ball game over

TOUCHDOWN! Baker with a 99-yard TD run. Wow . I think Southlake thought it would be a knee to end it or a scramble to kill the clock or take the safety

Final: DeSoto 57, Carroll 44

DeSoto was down by 16 and won by 13. Quite a game

Published |Modified
Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

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