The DeSoto Thunderbirds moved one game closer to clinching the District 1A crown after taking a 26-21 win over Tunica on the road last night. Dylan Cruz rushed for 321 yards and 2 touchdowns as DeSoto handed Tunica their first district loss. The Thunderbirds can earn a #1 seed with a win over Lee (AR) next Friday night in West Helena.
(Above) DeSoto tailback Dylan Cruz follows the blocking of teammate Matt Barnes (#34)
Tunica looked poised to give their home-standing crowd reason to feel confident after the Blue Devils scored on the first play from scrimmage. Senior tailback Freeman Gray went off left tackle and exploited a gap in the DeSoto defense and sprinted 79 yards to give Tunica an early advantage. Heath Goff added the PAT and the Blue Devils took a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the contest.
Tunica carried their lead over into the second quarter and looked well on their way to adding another score as the Blue Devils moved from their own 40 yard line to the DeSoto 30 behind the running of Freeman Gray. Gray then exploded for 26 yards to set the Blue Devils up at the DeSoto 4 yard line with just over nine minutes left in the half. It was there that the DeSoto defense stiffened on three consecutive plays to set up a 4th and goal attempt from the three yard line. DeSoto defensive lineman Colton Rico squashed the drive as the junior sacked Tunica quarterback Brandon Holmes at the 11 to turn the ball back over to the Thunderbirds with 7:53 left in the half.
It wasn’t until DeSoto’s fifth possession of the game that the 2nd ranked Thunderbirds found an offensive rhythm as they mounted an 11 play, 83 yard drive that was capped off by a Dylan Cruz three yard plunge with 55 seconds remaining in the half. Cruz added the PAT to knot the game up at 7-7 and give DeSoto the momentum heading into the 3rd quarter. 
(Above) DeSoto senior Dylan Cruz (#22) on a sweep left
That momentum was evident on the first possession of the second half. DeSoto set up shop at their own 32 yard line after a 17 yard kick-off return by Cruz. The senior then rambled 23 yards to the Blue Devil 45 yard line. Paden Phillips added 14 yards to advance the line of scrimmage to the Tunica 31 yard line to set up DeSoto’s second score of the night as Dylan Cruz maneuvered his way around the right side and ran 31 yards to give the Thunderbirds their first lead of the night at the 10:58 mark of the 3rd quarter. Cruz added the PAT to give DeSoto a 14-7 lead.
After DeSoto’s defense forced Tunica into a three and out the Thunderbirds marched 57 yards in six plays before fizzling out at the Tunica 10 yard line. A fake field goal by DeSoto was snuffed out on 4th and 9 as sophomore defensive back Austin Hagstrom took Blake Harper down at the 23 yard line as Tunica threatened to regain momentum.
Tunica jumped right back into the thick of things in quick fashion as Brandon Holmes nailed Caleb McCoy on a sideline route and the senior sprinted 77 yards for a touchdown at the 5:37 mark of the 3rd quarter. Tunica’s PAT attempt failed leaving the Blue Devils trailing 14-13.
Tunica’s squib kick was returned by Dillon Wiggins to the Blue Devil 39 yard line giving DeSoto a short field to work with. Two plays later Wiggins took a mis-direction play 14 yards to increase the Thunderbird lead to 20-13. 
(Above) Tunica's Austin Hagstrom (#20) pulls in a Brandon Holmes pass for a 2 pt conversion in the 4th quarter
DeSoto forced Tunica’s offense into another three and out and looked prime to run away with the game with a 7 play, 71 yard drive that culminated on Dillon Wiggins’ 5 yard run off left tackle for a touchdown with six seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. Cruz’s PAT was blocked leaving the score at 26-13 as the quarter expired.
Tunica began the final quarter without the services of tailback Freeman Gray who went out with a shin injury midway through the 3rd quarter but the Blue Devils mounted a drive that set them up at the DeSoto 6 yard line with a 3rd and one to keep the drive alive. A critical motion penalty pushed the Blue Devils back 5 yards and the drive was thwarted on the very next play as Blake Harper picked off a Brandon Holmes pass attempt at the 8 yard line aided by heavy pressure from the DeSoto defense.
Tunica showed great resolve and after forcing a DeSoto punt the Blue Devils took just five plays to strike pay-dirt as they marched 77 yards in less than two minutes to get back into the game. Brandon Holmes hit Blake Perry on a crossing route and the senior did the rest as he raced 48 yards to trim the deficit to 26-19 with 4:36 left in the game. Holmes converted the two point conversion as the junior scrambled and found Austin Hagstrom just over the goal line to pull the Blue Devils to within five points at 26-21. 
(Above) Tunica's Ali Obad (#75), Chris Manues (#55) and Blake Perry (#12) stop DeSoto's Dylan Cruz
That would be Tunica’s last possession as an onsides attempt was recovered by DeSoto. The Thunderbirds chewed up the remaining 4:36 to improve to 9-0 and 2-0 in District 1A play.
Freeman Gray picked up 163 yards and a touchdown for Tunica, who slips to 5-3 & 2-1.
Tunica will finish up the regular season on the road at Bayou next week.
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Post game interviews:
DeSoto head coach Bill Beck
DeSoto senior Dylan Cruz
