High School

DeSoto overcomes sluggish start, routs Wylie East in Texas high school football playoffs: Live updates recap

Deondrae Riden Jr. runs for four touchdowns as DeSoto storms back from a 10-6 deficit to defeat Wylie East, 51-17

Bob Lundeberg

DeSoto's Deondrae Riden Jr.
DeSoto's Deondrae Riden Jr. / Angela Piazza/Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

DeSoto (9-2), the two-time defending Class 6A Division II state champion, continues its chase for a three-peat against Wylie East (10-1) as the Area round of the Texas high school football playoffs kicks off Thursday, November 21.

The Eagles opened the postseason last week with a 63-6 rout of Shoemaker while Wylie East edged Forney, 35-28. 

TEXAS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD | TEXAS FOOTBALL BRACKETS

Thursday’s winner advances to face Tomball or Willis next week in the Regionals round. 

Keep up with the DeSoto vs. Wylie East game with live updates, in-game analysis and big play highlights. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at McKinney ISD Stadium. 

You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

DeSoto vs. Wylie East Recap

Pregame

Wylie East defensive leaders: Nash Chapman (58 total tackles, 8.5 sacks); Damon Vinson (40 total tackles, six interceptions) 

DeSoto defensive leaders: Keylan Abrams (68 total tackles, five sacks); Marshall Kirven (40 total tackles, eight sacks)

Wylie East offensive leaders: Howard Fisher IV (2,384 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, one interception, 655 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns); Amarean Porter (56 catches, 946 yards, 11 touchdowns); Michael Henderson III (119 carries, 1,084 yards, 16 total touchdowns)

DeSoto offensive leaders: Kelden Ryan (2,146 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, three interceptions, 802 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns); Deondrae Riden Jr. (167 carries, 1,326 yards, 19 touchdowns); Myson Johnson-Cook (72 carries, 807 yards, 13 touchdowns); Daylon Singleton (52 receptions, 803 yards, nine touchdowns); Ethan Feaster (50 receptions, 702 yards, 11 touchdowns)

Weather: It's a perfect evening for football in greater Dallas. The high temperature nearly hit 70 degrees today. We should be in the upper 50s by kickoff with no rain in the forecast.

Matchup: These teams met in last year’s Area playoff with DeSoto winning 42-20. 

First quarter

Opening kickoff: Wylie East will get the ball first. Raiders have a first-and-10 from their own 28.

DeSoto sack: Keylan Abrams records his sixth sack of the season to end Wylie East’s first drive. Eagles take over at the Wylie East 39 after a 17-yard punt. 

DeSoto punt: Wylie East’s defense responds with a three-and-out of its own. The Raiders’ second possession will begin at their own 20. 

Wylie East first down: A face mask penalty on third-and-long gives the Eagles a first down.

Raiders on the move: Michael Henderson III rips off a 30-yard run up the middle to set up a first-and-10 from the DeSoto 20. 

Wylie East field goal: Michael Delaney connects on a 39-yard field goal to put the Raiders up 3-0 with 4:43 remaining in the opening quarter. 

DeSoto looks to answer: Eagles will begin at their own 20. 

Big penalty: SaRod Baker takes a short pass to the house, but the big play is called back on a holding penalty. 

Bad snaps: We’ve already had three or four snaps that Kelden Ryan couldn’t handle. The latest went for a huge loss that led to a fourth-and-44 — not a misprint. The Eagles looked like they had taken the lead on a chunk play from SaRod Baker, but the drive ends with a punt. First-and-10 Wylie East from its own 21. 

End of quarter: Wylie East 3, DeSoto 0. Bit of a stunner in McKinney.

Second quarter

Another big penalty: Howard Fisher IV with a huge first-down scramble for Wylie East, but the play is called back on a penalty. The Raiders are forced to punt and DeSoto takes over at midfield. 

Touchdown DeSoto: Deondrae Riden Jr. gets the Eagles on the board with a 50-yard touchdown burst. The Texas A&M commit showed plenty of speed on the run. PAT no good. DeSoto 6, Wylie East 3. 

Wylie East punt: Roscoe Billings with a big third-down tackle on a screen pass. Wylie East again forced to punt, and DeSoto takes over at its own 38. 

DeSoto punt: Brysan Muller makes a nice third-down stop of his own for Wylie East. Raiders will have it first-and-10 at their own 19. 

Abrams making an impact: Keylan Abrams just recorded his third tackle for loss. The three-star TCU commit has been everywhere tonight. 

Touchdown Raiders: On third-and-13, Amarean Porter gets behind the defense for an 87-yard touchdown. Wylie East is here to play! Raiders 10, DeSoto 6, 6:13 remaining in the half.

Touchdown Eagles: Really good answer by DeSoto, which rode Riden Jr. and Myson Johnson-Cook straight down the field. Riden Jr. broke multiple tackles on his 22-yard touchdown run. DeSoto 13, Wylie East 10, 3:14 remaining in the quarter. 

Riden Jr.: He had six carries for 64 yards on the drive. Riden Jr. is a four-star Texas A&M commit. 

DeSoto interception: Ryan Pelly picks off his third pass of the season to set DeSoto up with excellent field position at the Wylie East 21. 

Touchdown Eagles: Riden Jr. scores again — this time from six yards out — to make it 20-10 DeSoto. The talented senior tailback has all three of DeSoto’s touchdowns. 

Riden Jr. update: 15 carries, 166 yards, three touchdowns. He is sensational. 

Wylie East punt: Raiders go three-and-out and punt it back to DeSoto with 1:13 remaining in the half. Eagles take over at their own 35 with two timeouts in their pocket. 

DeSoto threatening: Daylon Singleton hauls in a 27-yard gain to the Wylie East 8. Only 11 seconds remain in the half. 

Eagles field goal: DeSoto 23, Wylie East 10. 25-yard field goal by Damian Gomez is good with two seconds remaining in the half. 

Halftime: DeSoto 23, Wylie East 10. DeSoto gets the ball to start the second half. 

Halftime updates

Riden Jr. stats: The Texas A&M commit unofficially had 18 carries for 182 yards and three touchdowns in the opening half.

DeSoto rally: Eagles trailed 10-6 early in the second quarter but ended the half on a 17-0 run. 

Third quarter

Restarting the action: DeSoto, leading 23-10, will begin the second half with the ball. We are close to resuming play in McKinney. 

Restarting the action: Well, at least I thought we were close to restarting. I think the last Super Bowl had a shorter halftime.

Eagles ball: DeSoto begins the second half with the ball on its own 23. 

The Riden Jr. show: The senior goes over the 200-yard mark early in the third quarter. 

Touchdown DeSoto: Myson Johnson-Cook burrows into the end zone from four yards out to put the Eagles in front 30-10. Ethan Feaster had a big catch to set up the short TD run. 

Near INT: Jordan Stevens almost comes up with DeSoto’s second interception of the day. 

Wylie East punt: Ryan Pelly drops Wylie East quarterback Howard Fisher IV for a loss on third down. Eagles, leading 30-10, take over at their own 38. 

Touchdown DeSoto: Quarterback Kelden Ryan runs in a 14-yard touchdown to make it a 37-10 game with 2:55 remaining in the quarter. Eagles have ripped off 31 straight points since falling behind 10-6 early in the second quarter. 

DeSoto INT: After dropping a pick on the last drive, Jordan Stevens makes a great play on the ball for his first interception of the day. DeSoto is dominating in all phases, up 37-10 late third quarter. 

End of quarter: DeSoto 37, Wylie East 10. Eagles have a first-and-10 at the Wylie East 12.

Fourth quarter

Touchdown DeSoto: Riden Jr.’s fourth touchdown of the day — this time a 12-yard run — makes it a 44-10 game on the first play of the fourth quarter. Riden Jr. is a complete back. 

Another TFL: Keylan Abrams records his fourth tackle for loss. He has been a factor since the opening drive for DeSoto. 

Touchdown Wylie East: Michael Henderson III runs in a one-yard touchdown to make it a 44-17 game, 8:16 remaining. 

Riden Jr. injury: Oh man, Deondrae Riden Jr. goes down holding his right leg. I’m surprised he was still in the game with DeSoto up 44-17 midway through the fourth quarter. Let’s hope the Texas A&M commit is OK. He was able to walk off gingerly.

Riden Jr. update: After receiving some treatment on his leg, Riden Jr. is moving around on the sideline. That is very good news for DeSoto. 

Touchdown DeSoto: Ethan Feaster catches a 27-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Legend Howell to make it a 51-17 game. 

Final score: DeSoto 51, Wylie East 17. The Eagles (10-2) will play Tomball (10-1) or Willis (11-0) next week in the Regionals round. Wylie East ends the season at 10-2 overall.

Player of the game: Deondrae Riden Jr. finishes with 32 carries for 299 yards and four touchdowns.

Other Texas high school football news

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Texas high school quarterback Ziondre Williams still flying under the recruiting radar

Vote: Who should be Texas Offensive High School Football Player of the Week? (11/17/2024)

Vote: Who should be Texas Defensive High School Football Player of the Week? (11/17/2024)

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Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports

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