In an insane shootout battle, the De Soto High School Football team brought home its fourth win this season against Spring Hill High School on Oct. 2.

Coming into the game, DHS was prepared to be in a dogfight. Although SHHS had a losing record of 1-3, they proved to be a tough opponent.

“They are a lot better team than their record indicated. They played four really tough teams. We knew they were good,” said DHS head football coach Brian King.

Both teams scored early in the game, with DHS senior quarterback Nate Thompson scoring in the first quarter after SHHS turned over the ball. SHHS found the endzone quickly as well, to make the score 7-7 toward the end of the first quarter.

After senior kicker Cooper Lee made a field goal from the 14 yd. line, the score stood 10-7 Wildcats going into the second quarter.

The second quarter was a battle for field position. In the last few minutes before the half, SHHS drove the ball down the field to about the 15 yard line, but the wildcats managed to hold them to a field goal.

DHS was quick to respond. On a huge kick return, sophomore Brayden Brummer fought his way through defenders to place the ball within six yards of the endzone. Despite the good field position, the SHHS defense held the cats scoreless for that drive. SHHS took possession and lofted the ball out to their receivers consecutively to earn another touchdown with 1:03 left in the second quarter.

Then, with two minutes remaining, DHS took possession of the ball. After a huge run by Thompson, the cats were in a good position for junior running back Mason Clark to punch it in to tie up the game. Going into the second half, the score stood at 17-17.

“Mason Clark pounded it in in some big time situations,” King said.

Not only did Clark score two of three DHS touchdowns, he was also injured in the process.

“[My nose] broke,” Clark said. “We ran a sprint draw on the dude and he got his hand up in my face mask, which bent it the other way.”

After SHHS recovered a fumble on the kick return, SHHS was driven back to eventually punt. After a quick turnover the wildcat defense found themselves on the field again and gave up another touchdown, making the score 24-17 Broncos.

In the fourth quarter, after a big time drive, DHS scored yet again to tie up the game at 24-24. With less than five minutes left in the half, the game could have gone either way very easily.

Upon receiving the ball, SHHS attempted to replicate their success with the long ball again, but the DHS secondary stepped up to the plate and stopped the drive at the DHS 40 yd. line.

In the final drive of the game, the DHS offense clawed their way down the field to score a clutch kick by senior Cooper Lee to win the game. Final score: 24-27.

While DHS relied on Lee to score points in tight situations, Lee gave most of the credit to his teammates for the win.

“We came out a little flat but then our defense stepped it up, and our offense was hitting them hard all game,” Lee said.

With a close win, the Wildcats are looking to keep the ball rolling into next week against Louisburg on Oct. 9.