MaxPreps Top 10 high school football Games of the Week: Martin at DeSoto

Video: (5) DeSoto vs. Arlington Martin - high school football preview
MaxPreps breaks down this titanic Texas matchup.

Martin (Arlington, Texas) at DeSoto (Texas)

Why it's big: DeSoto remains a fixture in the national polls despite falling short of winning a state championship in recent years. The Eagles open the season ranked fifth in the Xcellent 25 -- higher than any other Texas team – and aim to stay on top throughout their first year with Todd Peterman as head coach. The ingredients certainly seem to be there for their first championship run: 11 starters are back from a high-powered 10-2 team, including Ohio State-committed quarterback Tristen Wallace.

Last week, Martin signaled that it too should be mentioned when chatting up serious state championship contenders. The Warriors edged three-time defending titlist Allen (25-23) in a preseason scrimmage. Sophomore running back Juma Otoviano exploded onto the scene in his first varsity action, running for 117 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Names to watch: DeSoto has seven Class of 2016 players committed to FBS colleges so far. Along with Wallace, the biggest names are receiver Dee Anderson (LSU) and defensive back A.J. Green (Oklahoma State).



Martin's top returning player is running back Nick Smith. The uncommitted 5-foot-10, 182-pounder ran for 1,828 yards – including 683 yards in three playoff games -- and 35 touchdowns as a junior.