HOUSTON — Atascocita cruised by North Shore Friday night in a shocking 38-17 win on the road at Galena Park ISD Stadium.
The Atascocita Eagles (5-1) have silenced most, if not all, of the critics who doubted the team’s ability to keep up with regional powerhouses after a devastating 41-0 loss to Klein Collins way back in late September.
“We’re back,” said Atascocita quarterback Jack Roe.
Roe was instrumental in the dominance the Eagles Friday night, rushing for 173 yards and tacking on three touchdowns. The Eagles offense was nearly nonexistent in the game until the second half, when Roe added two touchdowns to extend the lead.
Yet, it was close in the first half.
With 5:50 left in the first quarter, the Eagles opened things up finally on a two play, 66-yard scoring drive by Roe. After losing three yards on the opening play of the drive, Atascocita took a chance on Roe and it paid off huge. Stepping back from the snap, Roe tucked the ball and sprinted up the field on a quarterback draw, outrunning defender after defender en-route to a 66-yard score.
North Shore answered back two drives later.
The talented combo of running backs Kerrion Hadnot and Zach Evans lead the entourage of Mustangs to the end zone on a seven play, 63-yard touchdown drive. The drive was capped off by an 18-yard rushing score by sophomore running back Zach Evans. This would even out the score to 7-7 with 10:25 left in the second quarter. The game would remain close in the first half. Each team put up another touchdown just before the end of the half, keeping it tied at 14-14 going into the third quarter.
It is not known what was said in the Atascocita locker room during halftime. Whatever it was, though, inspired the Eagles to play hardnosed football.
On the second play of the second half, North Shore fumbled the handoff and Atascocita defensive end Jaylon Allen recovered the ball at North Shore 22-yard line. Atascocita capitalized off the turnover, scoring a field goal four plays later. This wouldn’t be the only turnover that Atascocita would churn points out of. Following an uneventful three and out, the Eagles opted to punt it on 4th and 2. Everything appeared to be fairly routine until a muffed punt rolled backward from within in the red-zone into the end-zone. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, Atascocita defensive back Daryion Taylor recovered the ball for six points to make it 31-14 with 2:01 left in the third quarter.
Atascocita never looked back.
The fourth quarter consisted mostly of failed trick play attempts by North Shore with none resulting in a score. The Mustangs did add on another touchdown early in the fourth, keeping things interesting. But momentum swung back to the Eagles as Roe would score once more for a 38-21 final.
“We have nothing left to prove,” said Roe.
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