THIS WEEK’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY FLASHBACK TAKES US BACK TO 2016 WHEN THE DESOTO EAGLES WON THEIR FIRST EVER STATE TITLE IN FOOTBALL. THIS CAME A SEASON AFTER THE EAGLES FINISHED 6-6, ONE OF THEIR WORST SEASONS IN YEARS, AND HEAD COACH, TODD PETERMAN, IN ESSENCE, WAS GIVEN ONE MORE SEASON TO TURN THE TEAM AROUND. DESOTO GOT A MUCH-NEEDED BOOST IN THE FORM OF SENIOR QUARTERBACK, SHAWN ROBINSON.
THE HIGHLY-TOUTED TRANSFER FROM GUYER LED THE EAGLES TO AN UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON, WINNING THEIR GAMES BY AN AVERAGE OF OVER 30 POINTS. AFTER EASY VICTORIES IN THEIR FIRST TWO PLAYOFF GAMES, DESOTO NEEDED A MIRACLE TO BEAT ABILENE IN ROUND THREE. THEY GOT IT WITH JUST OVER 2 MINUTES TO PLAY AND TRAILING BY 3, DESOTO’S DEFENSE FORCED A FUMBLE AT MIDFIELD AND RECOVERED IT. THEN, WITH 48 SECONDS LEFT, ROBINSON TOOK IT INTO THE ENDZONE TO HELP PULL OFF A THRILLING 49-45 WIN. FROM THERE, DESOTO WOULD WIN OUT, INCLUDING A 38-29 VICTORY OVER CIBOLO STEELE IN THE FINAL, MAKING HISTORY FOR DESOTO “U”.....THEIR FIRST EVER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOOTBALL.