DeSoto surges from behind to stun No. 1 Southlake Carroll in controversial game — PHOTOS
No. 1-ranked Southlake Carroll led DeSoto 37-21 midway through the third quarter when the momentum flipped.
DeSoto surged from behind, taking a 51-44 lead in just over 10 minutes of play. With 2:38 to go, Carroll put itself in a good position with a blocked punt by Landon Harris that provided possession at DeSoto’s 33-yard line.
The Dragons got to the 2-yard line and missed their first three chances. Facing fourth down with 11 seconds left, quarterback Angelo Renda fell backward toward the end zone, and the line judge, also the closest official, signaled a touchdown.
But officials talked about it and reversed the call, essentially sealing a DeSoto victory.
DeSoto junior running back SaRod Baker ran out the clock with a 99-yard TD run, putting an exclamation mark on a 57-44 comeback victory in the Class 6A Division II state semifinal Friday at Newsom Stadium.
Baker, a three-star recruit, rushed for 346 yards and four TDs.
Carroll head coach Riley Dodge said officials did not provide an explanation as to why the TD call was reversed.
“I was proud of our kids,” Dodge said. “We are going to win, and we are going to lose with class. The kids laid it on the line. You couldn’t ask for anything else.”
DeSoto (12-3) will go for its third title in four seasons in the Class 6A Division II state championship against Houston King (13-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium.
Southlake Carroll (14-1) has been close to the mountaintop at several points, but ultimately, the eight-time state champion has missed the mark since its last title in 2011. The last three years have been full of close calls.
The Dragons lost to DeSoto in the state semifinals in 2023 and fell to Austin Vandegrift in the 2024 Class 6A Division II state championship. Now, they’ll add another heartbreak to the list.
“It’s like 28 to 30 weeks, we’ve been going at it,” Dodge said of the season. “Our football team puts a lot into it. Our families put a lot into it. A lot of long hours. Obviously, when you get this close you want to get to the final. So, that’s disappointing.”
DeSoto’s Legend Howell passed for 344 yards on 20-of-27 passing with three TDs. He also rushed for 49 yards and a score.
Carroll was led by Renda, a senior Pitt signee, who tallied 282 yards on 19-of-39 passing. He added 52 yards with his legs. Running back Davis Penn ran for 205 yards on 11 carries.
DeSoto surges from behind
Two timely stops on fourth down, and also three TDs and 110 yards from receiver Blake Gunter, powered the Dragons in the first half. DeSoto added TDs from Courtly’on Jackson and USC signee Ethan Feaster of 56 and 6 yards, respectively.
Carroll receiver Brody Knowles caught a 22-yard TD pass and got a foot down before he dove out of bounds, showcasing excellent body control and awareness to allow the Dragons to take a 27-14 lead into the break.
DeSoto cut the lead early in the third quarter with a 56-yard TD pass from Howell to Baker. Gunter, however, continued the excellent showing, giving Carroll a 37-21 lead with his fourth and final TD, a 3-yarder. He finished with a team-high 111 receiving yards on seven receptions.
At that point, Howell sparked the comeback. He rushed for a 28-yard TD, and Baker added a 2-point conversion to make it a one-score game.
The Dragon couldn’t respond, punting away. On the punt, the line judge tossed a flag in the end zone for a block in the back, which would’ve resulted in a safety. After discussing it, the officials picked it up and reversed the call. Dodge said officials provided no explanation as to why.
Next, DeSoto’s Jordan Stevens stepped up, intercepting a Renda pass and returning 85 yards for a TD.
Penn quickly put his team back on top on the first play of the drive, breaking away for a 59-yard TD. To finish chaotic 51 seconds of play that included three TDs, DeSoto’s Baker broke away for 23-yard rush that tied the game at 44 with 10:46 remaining.
After a Dragon punt, Baker, whom Dodge called an “unbelievable back,” regained the lead with a 1-yard scamper, and the Dragons failed to respond.
After the game, Dodge told his players, many of whom were crying, that he was so proud to be their head coach.
“They had nothing to hang their head on,” Dodge said. “ ... They battled. Felt like we did some really good stuff offensively. I don’t feel like we hurt ourselves at all — all night — besides the pick six. Didn’t execute in certain points, but they really didn’t do anything to stop us. We stopped ourselves at certain points. And our defense battled versus a really good offense.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2025 at 6:09 PM.
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