DeSoto celebrates third football state title in four years with parade

Community comes out in full force to honor the Eagles' championship team

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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DeSoto football players danced and sang atop a makeshift float filled with balloons as music blared on a sunny Saturday afternoon. This was the community's chance to celebrate the team's Class 6A Division II state title, the third championship in four years for the Eagles.

Why it matters

DeSoto has built a football dynasty in recent years, winning four state titles in 10 seasons despite a shrinking enrollment that will drop the school from Class 6A to 5A Division I for football. The parade showcased the community's pride and support for the team's remarkable accomplishments.

The details

The parade featured a fleet of Corvettes carrying dignitaries from the school district and city, leading the way for the players who hopped off the float to walk behind the sleek sports cars. Cheerleaders, the marching band, and several three-wheel, open-air roadster Slingshots were also part of the procession as fans cheered along the route.

  • The parade took place on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • DeSoto won the Class 6A Division II state title on December 20, 2025.

The players

Ethan 'Boobie' Feaster

DeSoto's All-American wide receiver who signed with USC.

Usamah Rodgers

DeSoto ISD Superintendent.

Abe Cooper Jr.

DeSoto ISD school board member and football team chaplain.

Claude Mathis

DeSoto's head football coach, who became one of two Black head coaches in state history to win three UIL football state titles.

Michael Green Jr.

A 2006 DeSoto graduate who now works for DeSoto ISD.

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What they’re saying

“It's just a celebration for us, telling us how hard we worked. It's just a blessing, just a day for us to enjoy ourselves. I appreciate the community. The whole year they showed out every game, especially in the big games.”

— Ethan 'Boobie' Feaster, DeSoto's All-American wide receiver (dallasnews.com)

“It's awesome that in the four years I have been the superintendent, we have had three state championships. It has become a routine, but we don't take it for granted. This championship really probably meant the most, because nobody saw it coming. But our kids believed in themselves and the coaches worked hard, so this celebration is huge because our students just demonstrated a lot of tenacity and grit.”

— Usamah Rodgers, DeSoto ISD Superintendent (dallasnews.com)

“It's what we expect. It's not easy, however we will never lower our standards.”

— Abe Cooper Jr., DeSoto ISD school board member (dallasnews.com)

“Just a great moment. DeSoto is a place about tradition, so this is one of the traditions we hold near and dear.”

— Michael Green Jr., 2006 DeSoto graduate who now works for DeSoto ISD (dallasnews.com)

“They overcame so much. Everybody had counted them out. We had to dig deep. We could have easily lost control of this team, and we didn't. Our kids kept believing in us, and it came together. They had a chance to build their own legacy, and they did it.”

— Claude Mathis, DeSoto head football coach (dallasnews.com)

What’s next

DeSoto will be favored to win the state title again next season after dropping out of the UIL's top classification. The school's younger classes are also expected to continue the team's championship success.

The takeaway

DeSoto's football program has built a remarkable dynasty, winning four state titles in 10 years despite facing challenges like declining enrollment. The community's unwavering support and the team's resilience and determination have been key to this sustained excellence on the gridiron.