DeSOTO — The presence of only two returning offensive starters was thought to be a concern for DeSoto.
But when one of the returnees is quarterback Desmon White, it is amazing how fast coach Claude Mathis’ cares disappear.
With White rushing for three touchdowns and passing for two, DeSoto looked impressive in dispatching Arlington Martin, 46-7, in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Eagle Stadium.
“Desmon is the key for us,” said Mathis. “He allows us to run all of our offense. And he gives us so much leadership for the young guys.”
White, who as a junior guided DeSoto (No. 3 in SportsDay’s Class 5A area ranking) to a 14-1 record and a spot in the state semifinals, spread his 10 completions among seven receivers and finished with 197 passing yards to go with 102 yards on the ground.
In contrast to the experience of White, sophomore Eric Walker, the closer on the school’s baseball team, was making his varsity quarterback debut for Martin, ranked No. 9.
Walker was intercepted twice and held below 100 passing yards, but did cap Martin’s only scoring drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Wilson late in the game.
“He was going against our strength,” Mathis said of a defense that returns eight starters. “Our defense played lights out. I feel confident if our offense can execute like it did tonight, our defense can back us up.”
DeSoto built a 26-0 halftime lead, beginning with White’s 59-yard touchdown connection with Oklahoma State pledge Chris Lacy.
The DeSoto quarterback squirted through an opening in the middle of Martin’s imposing defensive line and sprinted 71 yards for a 13-0 lead and added scoring runs of 32 and 7 yards.
DeSoto safety Nick Orr, a TCU commit, had two interceptions nullified by penalty in the first quarter.