DeSoto Eagles Fall to St. Thomas Aquinas 38-14 in Florida Season Opener
DeSoto, Texas
DeSoto High School entered Friday night’s matchup against St. Thomas Aquinas riding the momentum of a 2025 Texas state championship and featuring one of the nation’s top running backs, four-star Sarod Baker.
But from the opening whistle, St. Thomas Aquinas controlled the game.
The Florida powerhouse came out firing on all cylinders, building a commanding 38-0 halftime lead and putting DeSoto in an early hole the Eagles could never climb out of. St. Thomas Aquinas ultimately defeated DeSoto 38-14 in the season opener.
For an Eagles team coming off a state championship, the performance was far from what many expected.
Despite the difficult start, Baker continued to show why he is considered one of the top running backs in the country. The four-star Texas Tech commit finished the night with more than 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, providing one of the few consistent sparks for the DeSoto offense.
However, the Eagles struggled to establish any rhythm through the air.
DeSoto appeared out of sync for much of the night, particularly on offense, and the passing game struggled to consistently move the football. Against a talented St. Thomas Aquinas defense, those struggles quickly turned into a 38-point deficit.
Can DeSoto Bounce Back?
The loss certainly raises questions, but history suggests Eagles fans shouldn’t panic just yet.
DeSoto also opened the 2025 season with a blowout loss before completely turning things around and eventually capturing a Texas state championship.
That makes Friday night’s result difficult to evaluate as a true indication of what this year’s team can become.
The Eagles still have plenty of talent, including Baker, and remain one of the teams expected to contend for a deep playoff run in Texas.
However, if DeSoto wants to make another trip to AT&T Stadium in December, the passing game will need to improve dramatically.
A 38-14 loss is never the desired way to begin a season, but DeSoto has already shown that one early-season defeat does not define its season.
The Eagles will now have to regroup, correct the mistakes and prove that Friday night’s performance was an early-season setback rather than a sign of things to come.
Other Notable Texas High School Football Scores
Randle 20, South Oak Cliff 14
Allen 26, Duncanville 7
Hutto 53, Harker Heights 50
Crowley 21, Cedar Hill 14
North Crowley 26, Aledo 0
Weiss 42, Round Rock 28
Coppell 40, Hebron 10
Anna 54, Colleyville 27
Granbury 54, Cleburne 27
As the 2026 Texas high school football season continues, all eyes will remain on DeSoto to see how the defending state champions respond to another difficult season opener.
