DeSoto Explodes Early, Cruises Past Sheldon King 55-27 in State Championship Clash

ARLINGTON, Texas (TXAN 24) — DeSoto left no doubt on the biggest stage, overwhelming Sheldon King with a dominant first half en route to a 55-27 victory in a UIL state championship matchup at AT&T Stadium.

Behind a high-powered passing attack and relentless offensive tempo, DeSoto built a massive early lead and never looked back, controlling the game from start to finish.

DeSoto wasted no time establishing momentum, erupting for 27 first-quarter points and following it up with 21 more in the second, overwhelming Sheldon King’s defense before halftime.

Quarterback #0 Legend Howell delivered a statement performance, completing 19 of 25 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns, consistently finding open receivers and exploiting mismatches in the secondary.

On the ground, #5 Sarod Baker added balance to the offense, rushing for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, keeping Sheldon King off balance and allowing DeSoto to dictate the pace.

By halftime, DeSoto held a commanding 48-21 advantage.

Sheldon King showed resilience in the second quarter, briefly matching DeSoto score for score behind quarterback #5 Timothy Potts, who finished 11-of-25 for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Running back #3 Dionne Sims contributed 102 rushing yards and a touchdown, while #30 Darnell Bradley found the end zone on a 41-yard reception to keep Sheldon King within striking distance before the break.

Despite the effort, DeSoto’s offense proved too explosive to contain.

DeSoto added another touchdown in the third quarter to extend the lead, then shifted into clock-management mode in the fourth.

#0 Legend Howell capped the night by orchestrating a 10-play drive that chewed up 5:38 of game time, finishing with a trio of kneel-downs at the Sheldon King 31, 37, and 41-yard lines to officially seal the victory.

Stat Leaders

DeSoto

• #0 Legend Howell — 19-25, 280 yds, 4 TD (Passing)

• #5 Sarod Baker — 24 att, 125 yds, 2 TD (Rushing)

• #1 Ethan Feaster — 10 rec, 167 yds, 2 TD (Receiving)

Sheldon King

• #5 Timothy Potts — 11-25, 159 yds, 2 TD (Passing)

• #3 Dionne Sims — 14 att, 102 yds, 1 TD (Rushing)

• #30 Darnell Bradley — 3 rec, 41 yds, 1 TD (Receiving)

DeSoto’s fast start proved too much for Sheldon King to overcome. With explosive playmakers on offense and a defense that tightened up when needed, the Eagles showcased why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in Texas football.

From Howell’s efficient passing to Feaster’s big-play ability, DeSoto delivered a complete performance on the state stage.