The DeSoto Eagles, a powerhouse program in Texas high school football, just took an absolutely brutal 50-6 beating from Allen on Friday night, and it came just days after their previous loss made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. This isn’t just another bad game, it’s a full-blown crisis hitting a team that used to be the gold standard.
From Champions to Crushed
For years, DeSoto has been one of the crown jewels of the Dallas area. We’re talking three titles in four years, including last season’s 6A Division II triumph, and an alumni list packed with college and NFL talent. So, to see them get absolutely clobbered, and suffer a second straight shocking loss, it’s gotta sting. Even their team captains lined up for the customary handshake this time around, but it made zero difference on the field. Allen, with their own legends like Kyler Murray, didn’t just win, they turned it into a total laugher. Mike Leslie, calling the game for WFAA, was left wondering if the “PR nightmare” from the previous week was taking its toll. And get this: his comments happened *right* before Allen ripped off a kick return for a touchdown to make it 42-0. “This is not their normal by any means,” Leslie said, “And you just wonder if the last six days are taking their toll.” Social media commenters are already going wild, digging into everything about the program after this latest flop.
More Than Just On-Field Woes
Before this 50-6 debacle, DeSoto flew all the way to Florida and lost 38-14 to St. Thomas Aquinas. That’s the game where they skipped the pre-game handshake, sparking a firestorm. DeSoto head coach Claude Mathis had to apologize to the St. Thomas Aquinas coach and athletic director on Monday, then he dropped a formal apology on social media. The statement, “DeSoto Football has addressed the incident that occurred at the St. Thomas Aquinas football game. We view this as an opportunity for our young men to learn and grow from their mistakes,” it said. It continued, “We would like to formally apologize to the St. Thomas Aquinas community, coaching staff, and football team for what occurred. We take full responsibility for the conduct of our players and are committed to ensuring our student-athletes uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that our program and community expect.” But wait, there’s more. The Dallas Morning News highlighted back in August how the school has been dealing with shrinking enrollment and budget cuts, so much so that they were scrambling for athletic trainers because there wasn’t a certified one on staff before the season. Allen, on the other hand, just knocked out back-to-back defending state champions in Duncanville and DeSoto. They look primed for a run toward another state crown, their first since Murray was rewriting the record books.
So, where does a team with DeSoto’s pedigree go from here? Two straight shocking losses, a national PR nightmare, and serious questions about their program’s foundation. It’s a gut check, big time. You gotta wonder how long it takes for a program that’s been a “jewel” to polish itself back up after something this ugly.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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