DeSoto upset No. 3
Southlake Carroll 57-44 in a Texas Conference 6A Division 2 state semifinal Saturday to advance to next weekend's championship game.
The showdown between the high-scoring Texas powers, which have met in six of the last nine seasons in the playoffs, lived up to the hype.
DeSoto outscored Southlake Carroll 36-7 in the final 17 minutes after trailing 37-21 with five minutes left in the third quarter.
Running back
SaRod Baker was unstoppable in the second half for DeSoto, rushing for 259 yards after going for 87 in the first half.
A week after scoring seven touchdowns in a playoff win, junior running back SaRod Baker had another big game for DeSoto. (PHOTO: Jay Hinton)
Baker finished the day with 37 carries for 346 yards and three touchdowns, which included a 99-yard touchdown to end the game. He added 66 yards receiving and another score.
In the last two games, Baker has rushed for 730 yards and 10 touchdowns.
USC singee
Ethan Feaster made some big catches in the game, one of which set up a short touchdown run by Baker. He also played defensive back, helping slow down Ohio State signee
Brock Boyd.
Southlake Carroll led 27-14 at the half. Pittsburgh signee
Angelo Renda threw for over 200 yards in the first half with four touchdowns.
Blake Gunter caught three of them for 105 yards and added a fourth in the third quarter.
DeSoto cut Southlake Carroll's lead to one score (37-29) with under three minutes left in the third quarter and tied it at 37 with 11:37 to play after
Jordan Stevens intercepted a pass and went 85 yards for a touchdown.
The Eagles took the lead for good when Baker scored from 1-yard out to give DeSoto a 51-44 lead with 6:42 left.
The DeSoto defense turned Southlake Carroll over on downs with 4:48 left and again at the end of the game on fourth and goal, which was stopped just before the goalline.
DeSoto, which has won three state titles, will attempt to secure its third title in four years.
The Eagles will play the winner of
King (Houston) vs.
Vandegrift (Austin) next Saturday at AT&T Stadium for the Conference 6A Division 2 championship.
