It’s a Texas District 11-6A, Area II headliner this Friday as No. 5 DeSoto takes on cross-town rival Cedar Hill.
The Eagles have been rolling in 2023, with an enormous win in opposition to No. 13 Duncanville (then ranked No. 3) within the common season and spectacular finishes within the playoffs thus far in opposition to Wylie East and Willis.
The offense continues to shine, lighting up the scoreboard to the tune of almost 52 factors per sport. Quarterback and Sam Houston State commit D.J. Bailey leads the assault, with Marvin Duffey and 4-star working again Deondrae Riden dealing with the working sport whereas 4-star SMU commit Daylon Singleton (class of 2025) is a spotlight exterior.
Nevertheless, some of the important elements for DeSoto is a formidable offensive line, with 6-foot-7 Byron Washington and 6-foot-4 Ronnell McLain on the forefront.
From the opposite sideline, Cedar Hill seems to play spoiler whereas avenging the 35-13 loss throughout the common season. That sport, although marred by penalties, was nearer than the ultimate rating makes it appear.
The Longhorns bumped into a troublesome stretch in September—which may usually be the case within the aggressive Texas HS soccer panorama—the place the workforce misplaced three straight video games: Southlake Carroll, Waxahachie and Duncanville.
However the workforce has bounced again since then and heads into this sport at 8-5.
Offensively, issues are clicking, having put up 62, 59 and 28 factors within the final three weeks. Quarterback Anthony Edwards has been an amazing story in 2023, bouncing again from surgical procedure for compartment syndrome to guide the Longhorns on this playoff run, with loads of proficient weapons at his disposal — Dayshun Reese, Kymeion Turner, Cededrick Castleberry and two-way expertise Zhaiylen Scott, to call just a few.
Just like the final assembly, although, anticipate the protection to be a crucial issue.
Will it’s sufficient to flip the script on the Eagles’ 2023 run?
Highschool soccer followers across the nation who want to watch the Texas highschool soccer playoff matchup can stay stream the sport on the NFHS Community.
(USA TODAY Community)
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