DeSoto 35, Coppell 31
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by David McNabb, special contributor
DeSOTO -- The fourth time still was a charm for DeSoto -- barely.
Needing a game-winning touchdown with four minutes left, DeSoto defeated Coppell 35-31 in a Class 6A Division I Region I bi-district game at Eagle Stadium.
The difficult part of the pattern for DeSoto (6-5) is to meet three-time defending state champion Allen (11-0) again at 9 p.m. next Friday at AT&T Stadium. Allen ousted DeSoto in the second round last year and in the state semifinals in 2012 and 2013.
Coppell put a first-round scare into DeSoto with a 21-point second-half spurt which gave Coppell a 31-28 lead with seven minutes left. DeSoto retook the lead with sophomore running back Kelan Walker scoring on a 13-yard run with 4:43 left. The drive was sparked by a 40-yard kickoff return by junior KD Nixon.
"We're not used to being 5-5," DeSoto coach Todd Peterman said. "But these kids have never quite, never complained or had any issues you might have with a 5-5 team. They have come to work every day and this is the third game we've been able to start most kids at the same position for the third straight time."
DeSoto has regained momentum after an 0-3 start against a difficult schedule and displayed its strengths against Coppell (6-5). DeSoto fought through a district with three first-round playoff winners and the fourth, two-time defending state champ Cedar Hill was ousted at perennial power Southlake Carroll.
DeSoto showed its strengths with Ohio State commit quarterback Tristan Wallace bursting free on a 31-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and rocketing a 23-yard scoring pass to Nixon, who made a tip-toeing stretching catch at the side of the end zone.
DeSoto seemed to be cruising with a 28-10 lead when DeSoto was stopped on a fourth-and-short on its own 30. Coppell, led by senior running back Brandon Rice scored three touchdowns in nine minutes.
"That turned the momentum on fourth down," said Peterman, elevated from offensive coordinator this year to replace Claude Mathis. "That is on me. We were running the ball well and thought we could get it ... We've beat Coppell in the past but they were always close games. These are different kids on both. A lot of them were on junior varsity last year. It's like getting Allen again. You just go play it."