By Avery Holton

AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT
Published: 12:20 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010

— His team leading by just a touchdown late in Friday's season-opener against Leander, DeSoto's Antoinne Jimmerson made a brash move for the state's 12th-ranked team.

With his Eagles clinging to a 35-28 lead, Jimmerson took a kickoff out of his own end zone, snapped away from a trio of early tackles and broke off a 102-yard touchdown return that deflated the Lions' late rally and helped DeSoto to a 56-35 win at A.C. Bible Stadium.

Led by 234 passing yards and four touchdowns from Ryan Polite, the Eagles overcame five turnovers and racked up 28 points over the final six minutes of play. Ricky Harper led Leander with 116 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, and Jon Henderson added a pair of receiving touchdowns.

The Lions held DeSoto's powerful offense to 123 yards in the first half, including just 18 on the ground, but gave away a pair of touchdowns on special teams that helped DeSoto open up a 20-14 lead at the half.

Harper's 13-yard run late in the fourth quarter pulled Leander to within 35-28, but Jimmerson's field-exhausting run and Bryson Echols' follow-up interception return deflated the Lions' late push. When Jon Henderson hauled in a 19-yard pass from Collin Chapman to make it 49-35, Dontre Wilson responded with a 27-yard scoring run for the Eagles.