By Bob Kowalski
Mansfield Record
Legacy saw first-hand why DeSoto is a defending state champion as the Broncos fell, 64-3, in their homecoming football matchup Friday night at Vernon Newson Stadium.
The Eagles (5-0, 3-0 11-6A) scored four touchdowns in the first quarter, twice on short runs, once on a punt return and once on a long pass play, to solidify their standing as the No. 3 team in Texas Football’s state Class 6A rankings. DeSoto, the 6A DII defending state champion, has won 20 consecutive games and 29 of the past 30.
Legacy (2-4, 1-2) made only two trips to midfield in the first half, including on its first drive when Kolten Brown grabbed DeSoto’s onside kick attempt at the 50-yard line. That drive stalled there, and resulted in the first of Legacy’s six first-half punts.
The start of the second half proved more fruitful for the Broncos, who took the kickoff and drove downfield behind quarterback Roman Steele and running back Kaidan Johnson.
A 22-yard run by Johnson put the Broncos in DeSoto territory. A screen pass from Steele to Johnson covered 34 yards and set up Legacy at the DeSoto 11-yard line. That led to a 22-yard field goal by Jeremiah Kieffer for Legacy’s only points of the game.
DeSoto opened the scoring two minutes into the game when Deondre Riden Jr. notched his first TD from a yard out. He tacked on a 3-yard TD run later in the first quarter.
Between those scores, DeSoto’s Antonio Pride Jr. took a punt up the sideline, then cut to the middle of the field, going 83 yards for a score and a 15-0 lead. Five other Eagles players got in the end zone before the night was over.
Earlier this week, Legacy received a victory over Dallas Skyline by forfeit because Skyline had used an ineligible player in the teams’ Sept. 22 game.
In the other gameFriday involving a Mansfield ISD team, Mansfield (5-1, 2-1 11-6A) lost to Cedar Hill, 47-14, at Longhorn Stadium.On Thursday, Lake Ridge (0-6, 0-3 11-6A) lost to Dallas Skyline, 35-20, at Newsom Stadium, and Summit (3-3, 2-1 5-5A DII) was defeated by Midlothian Heritage, 42-7, at Midlothian ISD Stadium. Timberview had a bye this week.
Next week, Mansfield (51, 2-1 11-6A) faces Duncanville at 7 p.m. Thursday at Newsom; Timberview (6-0, 4-0 5-5A DI) travels to meet Dallas Molina at 7 p.m. Thursday at Kincaide Stadium; Lake Ridge visits DeSoto at 7 p.m. Friday; Legacy plays host to Waxahachie at 7 p.m. Friday at Newsom; and Summit is at Corsicana at 7 p.m. Friday.
Mansfield, Texas, is a booming city, nestled between Fort Worth and Dallas, but with a personality all its own. The city’s 76,247 citizens enjoy an award-winning school district, vibrant economy, historic downtown, prize-winning park system and community focus spread across 37 square miles. The Mansfield Record is dedicated to reporting city and school news, community happenings, police and fire news, business, food and restaurants, parks and recreation, library, historical archives and special events. The city’s only online newspaper launched in September 2020 and will offer introductory advertising rates for the first three months at three different rates.