ARLINGTON, TEXAS – A season ago, DeSoto didn’t even make it back to AT&T Stadium after winning state titles there the previous two seasons.
The Eagles were more than determined to make it back this time around, and now they are here with a chance to win their third state title in four seasons. To do so, DeSoto must get past Houston Sheldon King, which is making its state championship game debut, in Saturday night’s University Interscholastic League 6A Division II championship game.
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DeSoto is in the title game for the fourth time in program history, and the Eagles have won all three times they’ve previously gotten this far. In addition to the back-to-back crowns in 2022-23, the Eagles also won in their state title game debut, 2016.
Last season, DeSoto’s bid to win three straight titles was derailed by Longview in the regional finals. The Eagles then started this season 0-2 with losses to Creekside (Ga.) and North Crowley.
But they’ve rounded more into form from there, winning 12 of their next 13 contests, with the only defeat in that span to Duncanville, which played for the 6A Division I championship earlier on Saturday.
DeSoto avenged last season’s playoff defeat to Longview by beating the Lobos in the area round, 60-28. The Eagles have scored at least 56 points in all five playoff wins, including last week, when they rallied in the second half to defeat previously undefeated Southlake Carroll, 57-44.
One player that has fueled the Eagles during their postseason run has been junior running back SaRod Baker. In the five playoff wins, he has combined to rush for 1,503 yards on 135 carries with 19 TDs.
Sheldon King enters its first state championship game at 13-2. The Panthers’ lone two defeats came to Dickinson, which reached the 6A DI regional finals, and Galena Park North Shore, which played for the 6A DI title earlier on Saturday.
In the playoffs, King scored at least 50 points in its first three games. Two weeks ago, in the regional final round, the Panthers got past Humble Summer Creek, 24-21, before downing defending 6A DII state champion Austin Vandegrift, 58-41, in the semifinals last week.
Now, in the final game of the 2025 Texas high school football season, King wants to conclude things with its first title while DeSoto attempts to continue a dynastic run.
Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Arlington.
Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.
DeSOTO 14, SHELDON KING 0 1ST QTR.
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FIRST QUARTER
– TOUCHDOWN DeSOTO. SaRod Baker continues his torrid postseason run with his second TD on the night, sprinting 53 yards to the house to complete a 2-play, 58-yard drive. Baker now with 77 yards on nine carries with his two scores. (DeSoto, 14-0 | 4:48, 1st)
The baddest man in #TXHSFB.@SaRodBaker12 goes 53 yards past a pack of Panthers for his second score of the night. 🔥https://t.co/wKSaNdPjA2#UILState | @FootballDesoto pic.twitter.com/TGjo4ynimT
— Dave Campbell’s — TexasFootball.com (@dctf) December 21, 2025
– King goes three-and-out on its opening offensive series, with DeSoto’s Ja’den Randle picking up a sack. Panthers punt it back to the Eagles, who take over at their own 42 six minutes into the contest.
– TOUCHDOWN DeSOTO. Eagles march 77 yards in 12 plays on the game’s opening drive, capped by a 2-yard run by SaRod Baker. (DeSoto, 7-0 | 7:27, 1st)
DeSoto strikes first! @SaRodBaker12 trots in for a touchdown. Eagles lead C.E. King 7-0 with 7:27 left in the first quarter. @FootballDesoto pic.twitter.com/xQLvgr7bjv
— DFW Inside High School Sports (@ihss_dfw) December 21, 2025
– Incomplete pass on third down, but King is penalized for pass interference. DeSoto now with a first-and-goal at the King 2-yard line.
– SaRod Baker stopped a yard short of the first down. Fourth-and-1 for DeSoto, and Baker gets the handoff again and plows forward for the first down. Ball at the King 44.
– DeSoto converts a couple of first downs and the Eagles are nearing midfield.
– DeSoto fields the opening kickoff and the Eagles have the ball near their 25 after a short return.
PREGAME
– C.E. King wins the toss and defers to the second half. The Panthers are the home team and they’re wearing white helmets, blue jerseys and blue pants. DeSoto in green helmets, white jerseys and black pants.
– Live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, it’s the last game of the 2025 Texas high school football season as DeSoto – going for its third state title in four seasons – takes on Houston Sheldon King, which is in its first-ever title game, for the UIL 6A Division II championship.
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