No. 3 DeSoto reaches Texas 6A-2 finals with win over Klein Collins

Video: 2016 DeSoto football highlights
Top plays from DeSoto heading into its 6A-II semifinal game with Klein Collins.

The roller coaster ride that has been the football season for DeSoto (Texas) has arrived in the state finals.

The Eagles, ranked third in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, used some big plays from their defense to roll to 42-31 comeback victory over Klein Collins (Spring) on Saturday afternoon.

DeSoto, which has pulled out numerous games this season with late rallies, will now play in the Texas 6A-II championship against the winner between Steele and Cinco Ranch. See play-by-play from that game here.

The Eagles (15-0) are after their first state crown. Klein Collins finished 13-2.

DeSoto didn't need any crazy heroics from national Player of the Year finalist Shawn Robinson, but instead relied on a couple of huge defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull this one out. The Eagles trailed 28-14 at halftime.

This one was a see-saw affair from the start.

See all the scoring and play-by-play here

Klein Collins jumped to a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter on touchdown runs of 4 and 17 yards by Bryson Powers.

DeSoto tied it on short TD runs by Kelan Walker and Richie Washington, before Klein Collins took control on a 4-yard TD run by Brett Bridges, who then caught a 6-yard TD pass from Jaylon Johnson.

That gave Klein Collins a 28-14 halftime lead.

Robinson closed the gap to 28-21 midway through the third quarter, but a 22-yard field goal from Jonathon Bucio gave Klein Collins a 10-point cushion, 31-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

But the fourth, like many all season for DeSoto, was owned by the Eagles.

Washington scored his second touchdown on a 5-yard run before the defense took charge. First, Ashton Brooks returned a fumble 42 yards for a score with 7:46 remaining and on Klein Collins' very next possession and play, Isaiah Stewart picked up a fumble, and returned it the exact same distance for another score.

Just like that DeSoto had a 42-31 cushion en route to a huge semifinal victory.

This wasn't the first time DeSoto entered the state semifinals undefeated. The Eagles were also semifinalists with perfect 14-0 records in 2012 and 2013 but could not break through. Meanwhile, this was the farthest Klein Collins (13-2) has ever advanced in the postseason and its first 13-win season. The Tigers had won 12 consecutive games since a double-overtime loss to 2015 national champion Katy in Week 2.

Without question, the individual player with the highest profile heading into the game was DeSoto senior quarterback Robinson. And with good reason. The four-star TCU recruit entered the game with a mind-blowing 4,626 total yards and 49 touchdowns this season. Robinson had gone over 400 total yards in each of DeSoto's last three games.

Robinson had pedestrian numbers by his standards, according to the Dallas Morning News. He threw for just 133 yards and no touchdowns and rushed for 114 and one score. DeSoto held just a 352-332 edge in yards, but it forced five turnovers to just two by Klein Collins.

Klein Collins' most versatile offensive player heading into the game was senior quarterback/receiver Powers. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder had accounted for more than 1,500 total yards and scored touchdowns passing, rushing and receiving this season.