{
  "id": 4528879,
  "title": "Texas high school power gets blasted after pregame handshake snub",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/texas-high-school-power-gets-blasted-after-pregame-handshake-snub",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-31T00:04:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/texas-high-school-power-gets-000411015.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a high school football matchup, DeSoto High School from Texas faced off against St. Thomas Aquinas, a highly decorated rival. The DeSoto team, known for its four-time UIL state championships, was criticized for refusing to shake hands with the opposing team's captains before the game. This pregame gesture was seen as a display of poor character, with many critics pointing fingers at the school's leadership and administration. Despite the pregame snub, DeSoto still managed to field a team that was ranked 22nd nationally. However, St. Thomas Aquinas proved to be a dominant force, scoring two defensive touchdowns and securing a resounding 38-14 victory. This heavy defeat left DeSoto's fans and the school itself facing a barrage of ridicule on social media.",
  "summary": "Commenters on social media didn't take it easy on them, either.",
  "key_points": [
    "DeSoto High School refused to shake hands with St. Thomas Aquinas captains.",
    "St. Thomas Aquinas dominated, scoring two defensive touchdowns.",
    "DeSoto's 38-14 loss sparked social media ridicule."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The pregame handshake snub by DeSoto High School's team highlights a lapse in sportsmanship that undermines the school's reputation for excellence and provides further ammunition for critics of its leadership.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}