Video: (5) DeSoto vs. Arlington Martin - high school football preview
MaxPreps breaks down this titanic Texas matchup.Martin (Arlington, Texas) at DeSoto (Texas)Why
it's big: DeSoto remains a fixture in the national polls despite
falling short of winning a state championship in recent years. The
Eagles open the season ranked fifth in the Xcellent 25 -- higher than
any other Texas team – and aim to stay on top throughout their first
year with Todd Peterman as head coach. The ingredients certainly seem to
be there for their first championship run: 11 starters are back from a
high-powered 10-2 team, including Ohio State-committed quarterback
Tristen Wallace.
Last
week, Martin signaled that it too should be mentioned when chatting up
serious state championship contenders. The Warriors edged three-time
defending titlist Allen (25-23) in a preseason scrimmage. Sophomore
running back
Juma Otoviano
exploded onto the scene in his first varsity action, running for 117
yards and two touchdowns on just six carries,
according to the Dallas Morning News.
Names to watch: DeSoto has seven Class of 2016
players committed to FBS colleges so far. Along with Wallace, the
biggest names are receiver
Dee Anderson (LSU) and defensive back
A.J. Green (Oklahoma State).
Martin's top returning player is running back
Nick Smith.
The uncommitted 5-foot-10, 182-pounder ran for 1,828 yards – including 683
yards in three playoff games -- and 35 touchdowns as a junior.
Photos by MaxPreps photographers / Graphic by Ryan Escobar
