Eagles and Longhorns smash heads as they begin the anticipated battle.

When it comes to redeeming themselves, they are not the ones to expect weakness from. A long lasted rivalry against the Cedar Hill Longhorns was won over by the fighting Eagles with a dominating score of 45-13.

Their last match up was in the fall of 2009 of which the arch rivals won 44-41 live on ESPN. It was thought that since the Longhorns trailed until the final quarter, that this game will be a repeat. Wrong. The Eagles maintained the lead throughout the entire game with leading scorers Devin Rushing, Ridge Jones, Bryson Echols and junior Dontre Wilson.

Starting off with an interception by __ Mike Davis at the 48 yard line and Longhorn illegal substitution at the 36 yard line, the Eagles ran for a 23 yard touchdown followed by the extra point made by Echols.

Cedar Hill’s Rafer scored a 67 yard scoring drive pass from QB Anderson. With only 25 seconds left in the first quarter, Wilson scored a touchdown after his powerful sack on Longhorn’s Gonzales.

The second half was packed with fierce Eagle defense by seniors Keenan Richards and Taylor Young who tackled Longhorns out of bounds and made sure their score remained only 13.

A sold out game was nothing short of what was expected from the football team. Tough practice without complaining according to Head Coach Mathis is what the boys use on the field.

“The key component this season is team,” said Mathis.

Being put to the test for the second time this season, the Eagles proved to be the feared team previously beating Oklahoma state champions Douglass Trojans 63-0 at the Kirk Herbstreit Classic at Cowboys Stadium and Leander 43-3 in the first week.

They begin 3-0 on their ride towards the state championship, which is the goal this season. If a win against the Stony Point Tigers who were the only regular

season loss and the final loss in the playoffs during the 2010-2011 season, then the fighting Eagles will for sure be in the running as an opponent at state.

Veni, Vidi, Vici. They came, they saw, they conquered. Leander proved to be no match once again for the fighting Eagles who won the first game of the season with a 43-3 deficit.

Senior Devin Rushing ran for 97 yards landing triple times in the end zone, winning the first touchdown within the first 2 minutes of the wipeout De Soto victory.  With a all winning 1-point kick made by Bryson Echols, the Eagles forced the state ranked #80 Leander Tigers to trail all game. When the forth quarter hit, the Tigers scored a 3-point field goal to break their no scoring record for the season.

De Soto  scored their first victory against Leander for the second consecutive year with a major win and ready to win the net at the Kirk Herbstreit Classic at Cowboys Stadium against out of state Oklahoma City Douglass Trojans.

Quarterback Raheem Wilson and the Fighting Eagle Defense

Twelve girls were signed off to big universities to continue their peruse in basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Amber Willford and Jasmine Johnson both signed with Eastern New Mexico. Chazaye Wright, Nikiya Harris, Brianna Stifford, Chelsea Gardner, Jordan Jones, Bryce Owens, Brandi JOhnson, Summer Cole, Adrienne Lewis all signed athletic scholarships today.

More days of practice for the boys Varsity track team? It’s all worth it to senior Cameron White after advancing to state for the long jump along with Kyle Collins.

When asked what White wanted to be remembered as as far as track, he said he wants to leave as a long jumper and the first to go to state since 1999.

Medalists at the regional meet include Caleb Pryor, William Stoval, Kenneth Minkah, and Collins who are doing the 4×4 relay and junior Tony Cook for their outstanding performances.

“70 percent of our work is mentally and 30 percent is physical training,” Pryor said.

Track star Minkah made sure to leave his own tracks. He won both hurdles and broke an epic 20 year-old regional and school record for 300 hurdles.

The showdown for the State Track Meet begins May 14 through May 15 in Austin Texas.

Ellis Hobbs presents The Eagles’ Landing:
Alumni Football Game and Dance Off

Beth Trimble, director of communications
THE EAGLES’ LANDING
WHO:        DHS students, staff, parents, alumni, and community
WHAT:      Alumni Football Game, Middle School Dance Off and Benefit Auction
WHEN:      Friday, May 6 starts at 3 p.m.; game at 7 p.m.
WHERE:    DeSoto High School Eagle Stadium, 600 Eagle Drive
COST:    Entry for the Dance-Off & Alumni Game – $4 adults; $2 students/children

Philadelphia Eagle and DHS alum Ellis Hobbs presents The Eagles’ Landing including the second annual DeSoto High School Football Alumni Game and benefit silent auction on Friday, May 6 at the Eagle Stadium. A new event added this year will be the first ever middle school Dance-Off with the three DeSoto middle schools’ top entries competing for the grand prize! Spectator entry for both the Dance-Off and Alumni Game is just $4 for adults and $2 for students. Participant entry for alumni football players is available through the athletics office. Dance off contestants can sign up at their middle school. Proceeds from all events and activities will benefit the DeSoto Eagle Olympics for special needs students across the district and the Corey Borner Trust Fund, the DHS football player paralyzed in 2009.

The activities will start at 3 p.m. with an amazing 2011 Lamborghini, courtesy of Dallas Lamborghini, available for photos. Pictures of guests outside the car will be just $5 or take the wheel in the drivers’ seat for $10.

Then join us in the stadium starting at 4:30 p.m. to see which middle school will be crowned the Dance-Off Champions. Each of the three DeSoto middle schools – East, West and McCowan – will hold preliminary rounds at their school prior to the event to select their top two entries to compete for the Dance-Off Champions title. (Entries can be an individual or group of dancers. Entry forms are at the three middle schools.)
The district wide third place finishers will receive new Air Jordans, second place will get Apple laptops and the grand prize winners will receive XBox or PlayStation3 gaming systems!

Anytime during the events, join us on the south stadium concourse for a silent auction! Autographed items and sports memorabilia from Hobbs and his friends across the NFL plus the collegiate scene and numerous awesome local items will be available for auction! The auction will close about 8:30 p.m. and the winners announced at halftime of the alumni game!

Finally, the big event, the DHS Alumni Football Game, will start about 7 p.m.! DHS alumni players will battle each other in the second annual DHS Eagle Alumni Football Game! Last year included NFL players (see below), college stars and many DeSoto High School players ready to take the field one more time! Remember the players from the past? Many are coming back and want to win the title for the alum!

The district will also honor NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champion and DHS alum Sydney Carter, a guard for the Texas A&M Aggies and this year’s Dick Butkus award winner for outstanding linebacker, alum Von Miller who just graduated from Texas A&M and will by the event have gone through the NFL draft.

At the 2010 DHS Alumni Game – from left: Casey Printers, BC Lions (CFL); Michael Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars; Patrick Crayton, Dallas Cowboys; Ellis Hobbs, Philadelphia Eagles; Mark Simmons, Houston Texans; Patrick Williams, Green Bay Packers; Byron Hanspard, Atlanta Falcons (retired).

Corey Borner smiles with Patrick Crayton and Patrick Williams during the 2010 alumni game!

Come out and enjoy the festivities. Know a player? Have them signup on the athletics site at www.desotoisd.org to join the team!