DeSoto drove home its point for being a state contender, and the ball down the field repeatedly, scoring nine touchdowns to dominate John Tyler during both a game situation and controlled scrimmage Friday at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

DeSoto drilled JT 24-0 during two quarters of live action. DeSoto downed JT 5-2 during the controlled portion.

JT jumped out to a 2-1 advantage but watched helplessly as DeSoto delivered the final eights scores. DeSoto damaged JT’s stat sheet with a slew of quarterback keepers, with its backup signal-caller carrying the ball 13 times for 179 yards alone. 

The Eagles engineered 641 yards of offense compared to the Lions’ 298. Six different players produced TDs for the athletic Eagles, a program with a handful of players already committed to Division I programs.  

DeSoto chewed up 413 yards rushing and 228 passing while JT struggled finding balance with 224 yards passing and 74 rushing. DeSoto nearly doubled JT’s first down total (32-17).

The turnover battle also went to the Dallas County school, 4-1.

JT’s backups accounted for both TDs, and the bulk of the yardage output. JT gained 140 yards on its initial second-team series, finding the end zone twice during the stanza.

DeVonte Haggerty factored into both JT scores. Haggerty snuck in for a 1-yard TD. Haggerty helped JT later take a short-lived lead after throwing a 19-yard scoring strike to Devonte Black.

Haggerty, one of only two seniors starting on offense for JT, topped the Lions in rushing (10-55), receptions (3-39) and also passed for 105 yards.

Greg Ward, a junior moving from receiver, connected on 10-of-20-passes for 119 yards and picked up 34 rushing while directing JT’s first-string. Black finished with a team-high 65 yards receiving.

Traven Johnson intercepted a pass for the lone Lions turnover. JT finished with just one sack against the elusive DeSoto quarterbacks.

The ball-hawking Eagles intercepted Haggerty three times down the stretch as JT stalled shy of the end zone the remainder of the exhibition, which spanned more than three hours. The scrimmage started an hour behind schedule after showers swept through the area. 

Both teams advanced to the state quarterfinals last year — DeSoto in Class 5A and John Tyler in Class 4A. Each opens the season state-ranked — DeSoto at No. 5 in the highest classification and JT at No. 9 in t group in its class.

JT kicks off its season up Friday at Lufkin. DeSoto travels to Leander for its opener.