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Behind 3 TDs from SaRod Baker, DeSoto Picks Up Much-Needed Win Against Duncanville: Texas High School Football

Eagles get a blocked PAT to preserve win as they bounce back from an 0-2 start
Buck Ringgold|
DeSoto running back SaRod Baker
DeSoto running back SaRod Baker | Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning News

One of the best modern-day rivalries in Texas high school football is getting a new look.

And in an attempt to jump-start its season, one team also unveiled a new option, with stellar results.

DeSoto moved standout tailback SaRod Baker to quarterback entering Saturday's game against Duncanville and the move paid off. Baker accounted for 208 yards of total offense and all three touchdowns as the Eagles picked up their first win of the season, beating the Panthers, 21-20, in a game played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Baker, a Texas Tech commit, completed 7-of-13 passes for 86 yards, though he also threw three interceptions. But he was still able to get things done on the ground, rushing for 122 yards on 21 carries and three TDs.

However, the game wasn't decided until late, after Duncanville scored a touchdown to pull within one on a short drive set up on a high snap during a DeSoto punt attempt. The Panthers needed to kick the PAT to tie things up, but DeSoto broke through to block the kick. DeSoto got the ball back, and Baker carried for a first down, allowing the Eagles to run out the clock.

DeSoto also got a boost from Wyatt Davis, the primary running back with Baker's move to quarterback. Davis rushed for 131 yards on 18 carries.

Duncanville finished the game with 213 yards of total offense.

Along with the move to the Cotton Bowl, the DeSoto-Duncanville game is now a non-district one, with the Eagles having dropped down to 5A Division I after generally battling the Panthers annually for the title in 11-6A, known as the “District of Doom.”

The Panthers (1-2) were ranked No. 5 in the latest High School On SI Texas Top 25 rankings. Despite an 0-2 start, DeSoto is ranked No. 11.

With DeSoto's win, the all-time series is now tied at 18-18. Duncanville had won seven of the previous eight games against the Eagles, including 48-28 last season.

Follow High School On SI correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Dallas.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

DeSOTO 21, DUNCANVILLE 20 FINAL

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POSTGAME

- That will do it, as DeSoto gets off the mat and picks up its first win after an 0-2 start. Incredible performance from SaRod Baker, who was moved to quarterback, and he scores all three Eagle touchdowns.

FOURTH QUARTER

- Looks like DeSoto is going to do it, as SaRod Baker moves forward for a first down and Duncanville can't stop the clock. Baker was moved to quarterback before the game and he scored three rushing TDs.

- Duncanville calls its last time out. DeSoto faces a second-and-long near midfield with 2:09 left.

- TOUCHDOWN DUNCANVILLE. OH MY GRACIOUS, WHAT A CHAIN OF EVENTS WE ARE HAVING. Panthers score when a ball is fumbled into the end zone, but Chris Jackson Jr. pounces on it FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. BUT, THE PAT IS BLOCKED. INCREDIBLE. (DeSoto, 21-20 | 4:08, 4th)

- Oh no, a bad snap on a DeSoto punt attempt, and Duncanville is going to take over inside the Eagles' 10. Huge opportunity for the Panthers here.

- DeSoto forces a punt, and the Eagles take over at their own 10 with less than eight minutes remaining.

- Duncanville converts on a fourth down and has the ball inside the DeSoto 40.

- Duncanville's defense is on point right now, and the Panthers force DeSoto to punt a minute into the fourth.

- We are now in the final quarter. It's still anyone's ballgame.

THIRD QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN DUNCANVILLE. Panthers right back in this game, as Maximus The Great Denson hooks up with Jairus Ingram, who takes it in from 29 yards out. (DeSoto, 21-14 | :47, 3rd)

- INTERCEPTION DUNCANVILLE. Panthers come up huge again, as Jeremy Clayton II jumps the route to snag it, and the Panthers are inside the DeSoto 30 with less than a minute to go in the third.

- Duncanville drive stalls and the Panthers will punt. DeSoto takes over with nearly two minutes to go in the period.

- Duncanville taking advantage of the interception; Panthers get past midfield.

- INTERCEPTION DUNCANVILLE. Panthers with the big break that they needed, as Malik Hudson picks off a pass to stop a potential DeSoto scoring drive with less than five minutes left in the period.

- Wyatt Davis and SaRod Baker are carving up the Duncanville defense with big-gain running plays. DeSoto already in scoring position again, inside the Panthers' 30.

- Duncanville faces a fourth-and-short inside the DeSoto 20 and they can't convert again. Panthers are 0-for-3 on fourth-down conversions.

- The second half is now under way.

HALFTIME

- SaRod Baker has nearly as many rushing yards as Duncanville has had for its entire offense. Baker has rushed for 86 yards and three TDs, while the Panthers have 90 yards total. Eagles also have 221 total yards of offense.

SECOND QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN DeSOTO. It's a hat trick for SaRod Baker, who scores his third TD of the day on an 8-yard run with nine seconds left until halftime. It caps a 12-play, 64-yard drive for the Eagles. (DeSoto, 21-7 | :09, 3rd)

- DeSoto's defense comes up with a fourth-down sack, and the Eagles take over with the ball and with the lead late in the half.

- Duncanville answering back, driving into DeSoto territory as we near the two-minute time out.

- TOUCHDOWN DeSOTO. Eagles cap a 5-play, 77-yard drive with a 1-yard TD from SaRod Baker, his second of the day. DeSoto back in front. (DeSoto, 14-7 | 3:13, 2nd)

- Wyatt Davis breaks off a huge 65-yard run and DeSoto has a first-and-goal.

- DeSoto stops Duncanville on a fourth down near the Eagles' 20. Eagles will take over.

- Duncanville driving near the DeSoto 30 at the midway point of the period.

- INTERCEPTION DUNCANVILLE. Panthers punted the ball away but quickly get it back as Chance Finley picks off a pass a minute into the quarter. Ball near midfield.

- The second quarter is under way at the Cotton Bowl, as Duncanville still has the ball.

FIRST QUARTER

- Duncanville's defense forces a punt on the ensuing series, and the Panthers have the ball near the end of the period.

- TOUCHDOWN DUNCANVILLE. Panthers even things up as Brayden Arnold lines up in the Wildcat, takes the snap and darts in from 11 yards out. PAT is good. (7-7 | 3:49, 1st)

- Duncanville is driving after DeSoto muffs a punt; Panthers have the ball near the DeSoto 20 with about four minutes to go in the quarter.

- TOUCHDOWN DeSOTO. Eagles field the opening kickoff and march 75 yards in 11 plays. Tailback SaRod Baker caps it with a 24-yard dash into the end zone, and the PAT is good. (DeSoto, 7-0 | 9:13, 1st)

- DeSoto will receive the opening kickoff, and we are under way in Dallas.

PREGAME

- Live from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, it’s the resumption of a legendary rivalry as the Panthers of Duncanville take on the Eagles of DeSoto.

ABOUT DUNCANVILLE

The Panthers, who played in last season’s 6A DI title game, come in at 1-1. They lost 26-7 to Allen in the season opener on Aug. 28, but bounced back last week with a 34-7 win against Cedar Hill.

One player to watch is quarterback Maximus The Great Denson, who threw for 350 yards and seven TDs in the win against DeSoto last year.

ABOUT DeSOTO

The Eagles are 0-2 - which is what they were last season before turning things around, winning 13 of their next 14 ballgames en route to the 6A DII state championship.

DeSoto, though, really needs to get back on track on both sides of the ball. The Eagles have allowed 88 points in losses to St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) and Allen, and in the defeat to Allen, they passed for just 28 yards.

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Buck Ringgold
BUCK RINGGOLD

Buck Ringgold is a veteran high school sportswriter with extensive experience covering sports in Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. He is a longtime contributor to High School On SI.

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