Claude Mathis - Led DeSoto to Back2Back State Championships! Best team ever? Fly Eagle Fly.

12/25/23 • 35 min

Claude Mathis led arguably the greatest team this State has ever seen in a perfect season! An average margin of victory of 35 points. Destroyed a gauntlet of DFW Super Powers: Beat 6AD1 Champ Duncanville by 14, Allen by 32, SOC by 40, and Big Rival Cedar Hill twice. Claude may have earned a 25-year contract extension for winning the “Battle of Beltline” by 110 points in the last 3 contests! It was a Record-Breaking Season with an historic finish, 74-14 over Summer Creek in the Title Game. That was a 6A record for most points scored, shattering Kyler Murray’s record of 63 points during Allen’s 3-Peat! The Closest game was against Southlake Carroll in the State Semifinals where the Eagles overcame 4 turnovers to persevere by 7! Claude did it with the greatest DeSoto QB ever in DJ Bailey who threw for over 7100 yards, 90 Tds, 67% Completion Rate, and Just 4 INTs in 2 State Title Runs. The Eagles had a bevy of weapons with 2, 1000 yard RBs in Marvin Duffey and Tiger Riden with a trio of WRs that made the Eagles unstoppable with Daylon Singleton, TJ Pride, and “Boobie” Feaster. It all starts with that incredible OLine with Leon Brigham and Social Media Sensation Byron Washington who stands at 6’8’’ and a whopping 380 lbs. Defense was loaded with Brandon Booker (SMU), Mario Buford (Neb), Sael Reyes, and State Title MVP “KeKe” Abrams (Purdue).

In 2008, Claude took over the program and saw something in a community nobody else did! He turned DeSoto into a perennial national power. In 2020, Claude fought for his life in a COVID hospital room that only 3% make it out of. Thanks to incredible support from his family and a relentless fight, he’s one in a million. Mathis led DeSoto to Back2Back Titles in his second stint as head coach in South Dallas. Now, he’s walking on red carpets, enjoying the parades, and polishing his rings! His Locker Room Speeches and Band Dances are legendary and “DeSoto U” is a Statewide Passion. He’s changed many lives along the way... including mine! He was the first guest on my podcast when I had no idea what I was doing... and now we make it an annual thing after all of his State Championships! So Proud to call him my good friend!

Previous Episode

Willie Gaston - The King of the Eastside! Houston Legend and Fan Favorite leads his Alma Mater!

He’s the King of the Eastside! Galena Park North Shore is one of the State’s premiere programs with a State Championship Habit and Willie Gaston is a BIG part of it. He grew-up there, coached there, and now leads his alma mater to an even higher level. Willie learned from Texan Legend Jon Kay who has too many rings for one hand. The two have been linked at the hip since childbirth...well, maybe not that long... but, it’s been ever since Willie put the pads on. Last off-season, Kay shocked the world and moved up to the college ranks at Rice and handed the keys to the State Powerhouse to his Star pupil and Gaston never looked back!

Willie G has been a part of two of the biggest Texas high school football games in History! Who could forget the shootout with Vince Young’s Madison Marlins at the Astrodome that drew tens of thousands. Gaston quarterbacked one of the State’s most potent offenses but lost to VinceSanity 61-58 in a season ending loss. In 2018, North Shore needed a prayer to beat Duncanville in the State Championship Game. The original call was the infamous Boise State Lateral play from midfield...but, Coach Kay and his lead assistant Willie Gaston could see it in their kids eyes...that play wouldn’t work! Willie said “Hail Mary” and the rest is history! The Mustangs practiced it, perfected it, and executed it which began one of the State’s greatest championship runs in the largest classification! As a first year Head Coach, the Mustangs haven’t missed a beat... footsteps from the Promised Land!

Next Episode

Alan Metzel - Coach of the Year! Gilmer favorite leads Buckeyes to 4th Title and 1st as Head Coach!

It’s remarkable what Gilmer’s Alan Metzel has done in 4 short years as Head Football Coach. He’s won 21 of 24 playoff games with 3 trips to Jerry World. The Buckeyes win their 4th State Title in 9 appearances and Metzel’s first as a Head Coach. Alan is the nicest guy you will ever meet and hails from the Jeff Traylor coaching tree that’s turning into 5 trees! The Gilmer stadium is named after Metzel’s good buddy and the two combined for 3 State Championships together building Gilmer into a State & National power! UTSA’s Traylor left the perennial power in good hands with his assistants Matt Turner and Metzel. Eventually Metzel would get his shot as Head Coach after 17 years of being an assistant in the storied program. Traylor talks so fondly of Metzel and was at AT&T Stadium for his protege’s crowning moment!

What a journey it was... the Buckeyes started 0-2 and completely changed the defense at midseason when they were 3-3. That genius move rattled off 10 straight wins and the coveted Class-4AD2 State Championship. In the quarterfinals, Gilmer finally got over the hump and upended their heated rival Carthage! In the State Championship, it pitted the top two offenses in the State that couldn't be more different. Bellville’s Slot “T” and #1 Offense in the state against a traditional offense based on speed and talent. Gilmer’s revamped defense held an offense scoring 53 ppg to just 26 points in the Title Game! Gilmer is led by endless talent and a community that supports them through adversity. Super Stars like Cadon Tennison, Will Henderson, and Brendon Webb lead the way in a season inspired by the Japanese word Kaizen...continuous improvement!