MESQUITE- Normally when district play gets rolling its senior leadership that makes the difference in the close games. However, for the DeSoto Eagles (2-4, 1-0) it was the play of sophomore QB Ryan Polite and junior RB Marcus Murphy that stepped up to the plate in an exciting 32-27 win over the North Mesquite Stallions (3-3, 0-1) in the District 11-5A opener at Memorial Stadium.
DeSoto jumped out to a 19-7 halftime lead as the Eagles defense was stellar holding the Stallions to 57 total yards and just two first downs. On the game's opening drive Murphy scored the first of his two touchdowns from two yards out to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. After an exchange of fumbles NMHS tied the game up as Marquis Green scored on a one yard run. DeSoto early in the second quarter surged ahead 13-7 as Darius Terrell hauled in a ten yard touchdown pass from Polite on a perfectly executed slant route. NMHS appeared on the ropes and right before the half they allowed a DHS to jump out to a two score lead as Ryan Polite scored from two yards out to take a 19-7 lead as the two point try failed.
The second half would prove to be a back and forth affair as North Mesquite would close the gap quickly scoring on their second possession of the half as Green scored his second touchdown of the game on a two yard run to cut the gap to 19-14. The North Mesquite defensewould keep the DeSoto offense under wraps for most of the third but late in the third DeSoto started to make headway moving the ball deep in the Stallions territory as the quarter ended.
Murphy who finished with 203 total yards scored his second touchdown of the game on a four yard run early in the fourth to extend the lead to 26-14. North Mesquite would get the passing game going on their ensuing drive as QB Charleston Johnson hooked up with Ricki Herod for an 18 yard touchdown pass to once again cut the deficit to five. North Mesquite would force a DeSoto punt and the Stallions would once again go on the march and with less than three minutes remaining in the game, Green notched his third score of the game on a two yard run as NMHS took their first lead of the game at 27-26. Green would finish with 145 total yards.
That score would set the stage for Polite's two minute drill as the Eagles after a good kickoff return were set up in good shape. Polite on a third and 13 play hooked up with Murphy on the sidelines for a 28 yard pass play and on the very next play he rolled left looking for a receiver but when he found no one open he burst up the seam into open space for a 33 yard touchdown run with 1:45 left to put the Eagles up 32-27. North Mesquite would make one last push but DeSoto held the Stallions on downs at the DHS 33 yard line and the Eagles would take a knee to end the game.