ARLINGTON, Texas – The first play from scrimmage on Monday for Douglass (Oklahoma City) resulted in a fumbled handoff that
DeSoto (Texas) recovered. Fortunately for Douglass, that wasn't an indication that mistakes would cost it a victory at the Kirk Herbstreit National Kickoff Classic.
But unfortunately for Douglass, mistakes weren't the problem in its 63-0 loss to DeSoto at Cowboys Stadium in the Kirk Herbstreit National Kickoff Classic. The problem was that DeSoto, No. 25 in MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 rankings, was so big, fast and physically dominant that Douglass was little more than a speed bump on the Eagles' drag strip.
"We were shocked," said DeSoto linebacker
Alex Lyons, who is orally committed to Kansas State. "We knew we would come out with a win, but we didn't think it would be like this."
Few people would've guessed it would be so lopsided. Douglass (0-1) was the Oklahoma 4A state champion last season and entered the game with a 12-game winning streak, but the mismatch was obvious from the start. Douglass, with an enrollment of 543, couldn't compete with the quality and quantity of athletes at DeSoto (2-0), which has an enrollment of 2,750.
This also might be the best team ever for DeSoto, which is loaded with big-time recruits such as Lyons, defensive end
Michael Richardson (Texas A&M commit) and cornerbacks
Bryson Echols (Texas) and
Jalen Mills (LSU).
Those stars are part of a defense that has allowed only three points in two games. And on Labor Day, the defense didn't seem to labor much as it held Douglass to 49 total yards – less than a yard per play. DeSoto forced nine punts, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.
"The expectations for our defense are very high," DeSoto coach Claude Mathis said. "Our defense has got to keep us in ballgames, and that's what they're doing right now."
There was nothing that could keep Douglass in the game, especially as DeSoto's offense ripped off big plays.
Raheem Wilson threw touchdown passes to
Ridge Jones (40 yards),
Devin Rushing (27 yards) and
Dontre Wilson (33 yards), and five DeSoto touchdowns were scored on plays of more than 25 yards. Another touchdown came on an 81-yard kickoff return by
Zack White.
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