Third quarter a charm for Skyline in 51-26 win over DeSoto

05:36 PM CST on Saturday, November 22, 2008

CARROLLTON - Skyline broke open a close game with a devastating third quarter as it defeated DeSoto, 51-26, in a Class 5A Division I Region II area playoff game Saturday at Standridge Stadium.

Skyline (11-1) scored 24 points in the third quarter and victimized DeSoto (6-6) with several deep touchdown passes as it advanced to a regional quarterfinal game against Houston Cypress Woods from District 15-5A.

Javia Hall gave Skyline a lift when he came in at quarterback to start the third quarter, hitting James White with a 38-yard touchdown pass to give Skyline a 31-19 lead.

After a Skyline field goal, one of three for Jose Serrano, DeSoto came back with an acrobatic end-zone catch by Aaron Hayter to close the gap to 34-26.

DeSoto repeatedly dropped Skyline for losses on running plays but gave up big plays for touchdowns in the passing game. Penalties, several for personal fouls, also hampered DeSoto.

Skyline took an early 14-0 lead, but DeSoto's offense began to dominate, getting the Eagles back in the game.

DeSoto running back Marcus Murphy ran for 67 yards in the first half and was particularly effective in the passing game, catching six passes for 85 yards in the half, including a 12-yard touchdown reception on a screen from Ryan Polite. Murphy, a junior, finished the game with 107 receiving yards on eight catches.

Skyline built a 21-7 lead, scoring twice in two minutes midway through the second quarter. Michael Davis caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Chris Frazier after DeSoto's defender fell down, and Frazier scored on a 2-yard run.

DeSoto rallied as Polite scored on a dive and Murphy caught his touchdown pass. Trailing 21-13 after a missed extra point, DeSoto got a big lift with 3:53 remaining in the first half when Martez Shabazz intercepted a Skyline pass.

From the Skyline 42, DeSoto took eight plays to score and cut its deficit to two points, 21-19.

Polite completed two passes to David Porter before hitting Josh Wesley near the corner of the end zone. Wesley made a leaping catch over a Skyline defender, stayed in bounds and tip-toed into the end zone.

A pass attempt for two points failed, leaving DeSoto behind by two with 30 seconds left.

That was just enough time for Skyline to strike back. A pass interference call put Skyline at the DeSoto 40. A 20-yard pass from Frazier to Davis followed, and on the next play Serrano kicked a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left to extend Skyline's lead to 24-19 at the half.

Skyline 51
DeSoto 26


Score by quarters

Skyline 7 17 24 3 - 51
DeSoto 0 19 ; 7 0 - 26

Scoring summary

SKY- Joe Powell 38 pass from Chris Frazier. Jose Serrano kick.
SKY - Frazier 2 run. Serrano kick.
DES - Ryan Polite 1 run. Bryson Echols kick.
SKY - Michael Davis 43 pass from Frazier. Serrano kick.
DES - Marcus Murphy 12 pass from Polite. Kick failed.
DES - Josh Wesley 18 pass from Polite. Pass failed.
SKY - Serrano 37 field goal.
SKY - James White 38 pass from Javia Hall. Serrano kick.
SKY - Serrano 25 field goal.
DES - Aaron Hayter 9 pass from Polite. Echols kick.
SKY - Davis 49 pass from Hall. Serrano kick.
SKY - White 57 pass from Hall. Serrano kick.
SKY - Serrano 23 field goal.

TEAM STATS

SKY
First downs 20
Rushes-Yards 28-116
Passing yards: 289
Passing: 8-14-1
Punts-Avg. 1-29
Penalties: 4-40
Fumbles-lost: 0-0

DES
First downs 23
Rushing-yards: 31-141
Passing yards: 262
Passing: 24-33-0
Punts-Avg. 4-24
Penalties: 6-60
Fumbles-lost: 2-0

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING
Skyline: James White 8-42; Chris Frazier 12-28; Javia Hall 5-25; Jonathan Rivers 3-21. DeSoto: Marcus Murphy 11-104; Ryan Polite 15-29; Courtney Webb 5-8.

PASSING
Skyline: Frazier 5-8-1-145; Hall 3-6-0-144. DeSoto: Polite 24-33-0-262.

RECEIVING
Skyline: Michael Davis 5-156; James Hall 2-95; Joe Pow ell 1-38. DeSoto: Murphy 8-107; Josh Wesley 5-56; David Porter 6-51; Aaron Hayter 3-27; Darius Terrell 2-21.