Notre Dame Recruits Dominate as DeSoto Refuses Handshake

DeSoto's captains declined to shake hands with St. Thomas Aquinas before their game, but the hosts responded with a 38-14 rout. Notre Dame commits Zayden Gamble, Julius Jones Jr., and Andre Jones played key roles, with Jones Jr. setting the school's all-time receiving yardage record. The pregame snub drew criticism from observers.

The matchup featured three Notre Dame commitments, including safety Zayden Gamble and wide receiver Julius Jones Jr. in the 2027 cycle, plus safety Andre Jones in the 2028 cycle. Both Jones brothers are sons of former Notre Dame standout Julius Jones. During the game, Julius Jones Jr. surpassed Cameron Benson to become St. Thomas Aquinas's all-time leader in receiving yardage while also scoring a touchdown.

DeSoto entered the contest ranked in the national top 20 and had claimed Texas state championships in three of the previous four seasons. The program issued a formal apology afterward, framing the incident as a learning opportunity for its players. Aquinas has a storied history, having produced Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin.