DeSoto escapes Mansfield's upset bid

By Josh Bowe

Special to the Star-Telegram

MANSFIELD -- DeSoto scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat upset-minded Mansfield 37-23 on Thursday night at Vernon Newsom Stadium.

DeSoto (10-0, 7-0 in District 7-5A) clinched a perfect regular season and secured the league championship.

Mansfield (6-4, 4-3) will face Killeen on Nov. 16 at Lumpkin Stadium in Waxahachie in the first round of the playoffs.

The Tigers took a 23-22 lead when sophomore running back Julius Lewis broke numerous tackles to score on a 30-yard run with 10:09 left in the game.

It was his second touchdown of the night.

But DeSoto stormed back. The Eagles went on a two-minute drive that culminated with a 4-yard TD run by Dontre Wilson.

Quarterback Desmon White ran for a 2-point conversion, giving DeSoto a 30-23 lead.

DeSoto put the game away when, on fourth down, White connected with Nick Orr on a 37-yard touchdown pass out of punt formation.

Mansfield trailed 16-7 at halftime, but two fumble recoveries by defensive tackle J.T. Ibe helped the Tigers take the lead.

Ibe's first recovery came shortly after a Mansfield field goal when he stripped a DeSoto receiver of the ball and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown.

He recovered a fumble on the Eagles' next possession, setting up Lewis' touchdown run, giving Mansfield the 23-22 lead.

But DeSoto stormed back for the victory.

Wilson finished with 166 yards rushing and two touchdowns and White finished with three touchdowns to lead DeSoto.

White didn't start the game, but entered in the second quarter and finished.

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