Dontre Wilson (2) runs past the Coppell defense en route to a 204-yard rushing game in DeSoto's surprising 42-14 5A Texas playoff win in a battle of nationally ranked teams.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
High School football coach Claude Mathis has been waiting all season for his offensive unit to play a complete game.
He doesn't have to wait any longer.
Against arguably the best defense in North Texas Class 5A football, DeSoto looked positively scary — state championship scary — defeating previously-unbeaten
Coppell, 42-14, in a Division I Region I area playoff Saturday before a crowd 12,000 at $60 million Eagles Stadium.
DeSoto speedy receiver Rickey
Daniels goes after a long ball down
field.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
DeSoto (12-0), ranked No. 4 in the
Xcellent 25, accumulated 545 yards (336 rushing, 209 passing) in an awesome display of speed and execution made more impressive by the reputation of the defense it was facing.
Coppell (11-1), Xcellent's No. 17, came in allowing opponents an average of 215 yards and 8.1 points per game.
"My guys were ready to have this type of game,'' said Mathis afterward. "They haven't played the way I wanted in a while.
"We put a lot of pressure on defenses with our speed. We've got a lot of 4.4 guys. It is hard to defend us.''
DeSoto parlayed 20 points from its first 10 offensive plays and didn't even face a third down until its fourth possession.
Coppell coach Joe McBride could only shake his head.
"It's no secret they have faster guys,'' McBride said. "They have some of the nation's best players. We had to be perfect to have a chance against them. They create certain match-ups that are tough to deal with.''
DeSoto receiver Rickey Daniels
is heading to the end zone after
the fine catch.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
Running back
Dontre Wilson, an Oregon pledge, probably best demonstrated DeSoto's distinct advantage in athleticism when he turned a swing pass into a 46-yard highlight-reel touchdown midway through the second quarter that made it 28-7.
Wilson, circling to the left flat, made a one-handed catch of a high throw from
Desmond White and began a juking cross-field journey that left usually-dependable Coppell tacklers grasping at air. Wilson's 360 degree spin 15 yards from the goal line set up a final clearing block.
It was Wilson's fourth touchdown of the first half. He routinely punched in 5- and 6-yard scoring runs on the first two DeSoto possessions, then had a chance to show his sprinter speed on a 71-yard gallop later in the opening quarter.
Wilson finished with 204 rushing yards on 24 carries and got a big hug from his coach when he left the game for the final time.
"We knew a lot about Coppell's defense,'' said Wilson. "I didn't think we could score 42 points like that. But that's the kind of team we are. Sometimes, we can't be stopped.''
Wilson said he felt better about the match-up after DeSoto's second play of the game. White, thea 5-9 junior quarterback, broke a 54-yard touchdown run that was called back for a holding penalty.
Colby Mahon, Coppell quarterback
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
"I thought right then our speed was too much for them,'' said Wilson, who has 41 touchdowns for the season.
White threw for a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 120 yards and another score. His presence kept Coppell from ganging up on Wilson.
Coppell's start was, at best, nervous. The Cowboys were penalized on four of their first five snaps.
The timing of Wilson's third touchdown run was most dispiriting for Coppell, coming just two plays after the only Cowboys score of the half, a 13-yard touchdown from
Colby Mahon to
Cameron Smith on a fade that momentarily cut the deficit to 14-7.
"Once we got behind, we had to do things to try and catch up,'' McBride said. "But they never stopped trying.''
The victory was significant for DeSoto because in it came in the second round of the playoffs. Second-round defeats ended DeSoto's season in three of the last four years.
DeSoto advances to meet 11-1 Bowie (Arlington) next week in a Region I semifinal.
DeSoto defensive lineman Bryce
English loses his helmet in
pursuit of Colby Mahon.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
Playoff elimination sparked tears on the Coppell side. It has been an emotion filled-year for the Cowboys.
Tragedy struck Coppell in mid-season when one of its captains, Jacob Logan, died cliff diving into a lake during a weekend outing near midseason.
Logan was one of the most versatile players on the team, starring as a wide receiver and defensive back. But it was his leadership that McBride most admired.
The Coppell players wore Logan's No. 21 on the side of their helmets.
"This team went through a lot this season,'' said McBride, "and I appreciate every one of them.''
Texas playoff brackets 
Dontre Wilson (2) finishes off Coppell's fate for DeSoto with another touchdown run on Saturday.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
