DeSoto 38, Cibolo Steele 29

By Michael Wright
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Updated: December 17, 2016

DeSoto Eagles (15-0) vs. Cibolo Steele Knights (14-1)
4 p.m. Saturday, Arlington's AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium - The DeSoto Eagles won a wild one over the Knights from Cibolo Steele 38-29 in the Class 6A Division II Championship game. This was DeSoto's first championship game. Cibolo is now 1-2 in Championship games. They won the 2010 5A Division II title game.

Cibolo started off the game with a nice kickoff return to the DeSoto 48. They had to punt and DeSoto took over at their own 8. The Eagles marched down the field using a 4th & 9 conversion to get a touchdown. Eagle running back Kelan Walker took it over from the 1 yard line. DeSoto now led 7-0 with 5:34 left in the 1st quarter. Steele punted on their next possession and DeSoto got another score when their quarterback Shawn Robinson ran it in from 17 yards out. The Eagles now led 14-0. The quarter ended with the Knights moving the ball into DeSoto territory.

The drive stalled at the DeSoto 7 and Cibolo kicked a 23 yard field goal. The score was now 14-3 with 9:58 left in the half. The Eagles drove down the field but had a pass intercepted by Steele defensive back JayVeon Cardwell. The ball was fumbled on the return though and it was recovered by Eagle offensive lineman Antondre Smith. Eagle back Walker took it in for the score a few plays later. That made the score 21-3 with 6:24 remaining until half. Cibolo got back in the game and drove the ball 62 yards to get a score. They converted a 4th & 5 along the way. Quarterback Xavier Martin ran it in from 15 yards out to make the score 21-10 with 2:18 left. The Eagles started at their 15 on their next possession and were able to score again when Robinson hit K.D. Nixon from 28 yards out on the last play of the half. The Eagles led at halftime 28-10.

The halftime stats showed DeSoto with a lead in yardage with 331 yards to 119. Eagle quarterback Robinson had 127 yards rushing an 140 yards passing.

Eagles started off on a nice drive before a fumbled ball was recovered by the Knights Cardwell. The Knights got on the board with a 45 yard pass from Martin to receiver C.J. Williams. That brought the score to 28-17 with 9:10 left in the 3rd quarter. On the Eagles next possession, receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. took a short pass from Robinson, broke a tackle and tiptoed down the sideline for a 49 yard score. The Eagles now led 35-17 with 7:47 remaining in the 3rd. The Knights started on their own 33 for their next possession. On a desperation pass, Martin completed a 34 yard pass to Brenden Brady for the score. The 2 point conversion was no good bringing the score to 35-23 with a little less than 4 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. The quarter ended with the Knights driving.

The teams traded punts and when the Knights got the ball back the 2nd time, Martin had a 20 yard touchdown run. The 2 point conversion was no good. That made the score 35-29 with 8:22 left in the game. The Knights started a drive but a fumble was recovered by Eagle linebacker Caleb Ervin. The Eagles were able to kick a field goal with 2:06 left and make the score 38-29. Steele got the ball to the Eagle 5 yard line but turned the ball over on downs with 8 seconds left. The Eagles ran out the clock.

Final Stats -- Yards Cibolo - 369 DeSoto - 525
DeSoto quarterback Robinson 201 yards rushing 222 yards passing

Lone Star Gridiron

Attendance: 40,318

Players of the game:
Offensive Player of the Game - Shawn Robinson Quarterback DeSoto
Defensive Player of the Game - Isaiah Stewart Defensive Back DeSoto