#2 Desoto vs #2 Duncanville 2026

Desotos Sarod Baker faces off against Duncanville receiver Trenton Yancey.

DeSoto and Duncanville delivered another memorable chapter in their rivalry Saturday afternoon at the Cotton Bowl, with the Eagles holding on for a 21-20 victory in the inaugural Roland Parrish Classic. DeSoto, entering the game 0-2, came out with urgency and struck first when SaRod Baker broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown run. Duncanville answered later in the first quarter, with Brayden Arnold scoring on a 12-yard run to tie the game at 7-7. DeSoto's physical rushing attack then began to take control, as Baker added two more touchdown runs before halftime to give the Eagles a 21-7 advantage. Baker finished with 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while his move into a quarterback role for the matchup helped DeSoto generate 208 total yards from Baker.

Duncanville, however, showed why it remains one of Texas' premier programs by refusing to let the game get away. The Panthers settled down after halftime and began putting pressure on DeSoto, with quarterback Maximus The Great Denson connecting with Jairus Ingram on a 29-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-14. Duncanville's defense also created opportunities, including an interception by Jeremy Clayton II that helped swing momentum toward the Panthers. The defense's ability to force turnovers and the offense's second-half response turned what had been a two-score game into a one-point battle heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter provided the game's decisive drama. Duncanville eventually reached the end zone again after a fumble rolled into the end zone and Chris Jackson Jr. recovered it for a touchdown, bringing the Panthers within 21-20. Duncanville then had a chance to tie the game with the extra point, but DeSoto's special teams came up with the biggest play of the afternoon by blocking the kick. From there, the Eagles managed the clock and secured the victory, earning their first win of the season while Duncanville fell to 1-2. DeSoto deserves credit for building the early lead and making the critical plays when the game tightened, while Duncanville deserves equal credit for battling back from a 14-point deficit and putting itself in position to win late. It was ultimately a one-point rivalry game decided by one special-teams play.

Game Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXZVcbV7sYE&pp=0gcJCf4LAYcqIYzv