DeSoto downs DJ Lagway, Willis: 'They thought he could beat us by himself, and that was not happening'

Bailey's steady hand, Eagles' multi-pronged rush attack propel Eagles to Texas (UIL) 6A Division II regional semifinal win

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - It was Darius "DJ" Bailey's five total touchdowns, not Willis 5-star Florida commit DJ Lagway, that stole the show on Friday night in the Texas high school regional semifinals in the Alamodome.

Bailey led nationally ranked DeSoto (12-0) to 603 total yards of offense en route to a 65-31 thrashing of Willis (12-1), sending the Eagles to the Class 6A Division II regional final — one step closer to a back-to-back state championship. DeSoto will face the Tomball-Cedar Hill winner.

Texas high school football playoff scores: UIL regional semifinal live updates (11/25/2023)

Deondrae "Tiger" Riden and Marvin Duffey combined for more than 260 rushing yards.

Three of the future Sam Houston Bearkat's four touchdown passes went to receiver Antonio Pride Jr. And on three scoring throws, Bailey made pre-snap play-call audibles.

"DJ called three touchdowns, he checked us out of three plays, we knew, and we were good with that," DeSoto head coach Claude Mathis said. "We talked to him about the check, we knew what the check was going to be, and he did it. I trust that quarterback right there to do that. He is a veteran."

"All week we worked their coverages that they were going to be in for man beaters and that preparation came in clutch and they worked," Pride Jr said. "DJ made some really great checks for touchdowns tonight. When you have a great connection with your quarterback, it makes things a lot easier, bless out to DJ because he is a big part of our offense."

Despite the best efforts through the first half by Lagway and his Wildkats, DeSoto showed the rest of the Lone Star State how bad they want that second consecutive state championship. 

DeSoto defeats Willis: Live Texas high school football playoff recap

Not without an early scare from Willis.

After DeSoto's Angel Diaz converted a 25-yard field goal on the opening drive, Lagway took a QB power run through the Eagle defense and raced 68 yards on the Wildkats' first play from scrimmage.

"We did not execute the first play of the game," Mathis said. "After that we did start to execute, and we did make some adjustments in the game and at halftime."

Marvin Duffey broke loose for a 12-yard rushing touchdown as DeSoto quickly regained the lead. He finished with 137 yards on the ground and a score. 

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"All we heard was, (DJ Lagway, DJ Lagway). They were not giving any respect to our defense, acting like he was the whole team. They thought he could beat us by himself, and that was not happening."

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All night, DeSoto's offense attacked. Eventually, that wore down the Wildkats' defense.

"Our gameplan was to come out here, play physical, get the ball to our guys and let's win," said Eagle junior running back Tiger Riden, who ran for 131 yards in the contest. "The offensive line works every single day, it means a lot to them."

With the offense in cruise control in their tempo game, the Eagles extended the 10-7 first quarter lead by scoring 21 points in the second quarter and took a 31-17 lead into the halftime break. 

The Wildkats threw everything it had at the top-ranked Eagles. Lagway, the nation's No. 2 rated QB prospect, finished with 444 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns for his final high school game.

Willis tied the game at 17 apiece when Lagway found wide receiver Jalen Mickens for a 61-yard dart as Mickens raced home for the touchdown. 

After halftime, Bailey tossed three of his four touchdown passes — two to Pride and the final to freshman wide receiver Ethan "Boobie" Feaster running across the end zone for a 20-yard dot for six points

The Eagles put the clamps on any Wildkat comeback efforts, tallying six sacks in the game led by senior linebacker Jamari Laye's three. and two from senior defensive end Keylan Abrams.

DeSoto receiver Antonio Pride Jr. caught three of DJ Bailey's four TD passes in a lopsided regional semifinal win over Willis on Friday night at the Alamodome.  :: Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

"It meant a lot for us to come out and play with this sense of urgency, forcing a lot of pressure on (Lagway)," Laye said. "All we heard was, (DJ Lagway, DJ Lagway). They were not giving any respect to our defense, acting like he was the whole team. They thought he could beat us by himself, and that was not happening."

Mathis and his Eagles will continue to look at the playoffs one week at a time, but can not seem to peak ahead and repeat as state champions.  

"The win was great [tonight] as we are trying to go back-to-back and win another state championship," Laye said. "It means a lot at the possibility of pulling off the task. We have been in the summer, grinding, blood, sweat, and tears. We just want to continue to build a name for ourselves."

DeSoto had five different running backs score rushing touchdowns showing their depth at the position (Duffey, Riden, Bailey and seniors Akeem Rahsaan and Jaden Trawick).

"We are taking it one game at a time, but sometimes you can not help but look ahead at the state championship and going back-to-back," Mathis said. "We keep our kids focused because they want it and I want it. It is just one of those things that it just not done at this level. Hopefully, we can make that happen."

-- Ryan Childers | @sblivetx

All photos by Daniel Grant (@danielcapturedit).

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PHOTO GALLERY

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

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