Photos from Das Mitchell below
This game unfolded exactly as expected when two of the nation’s premier programs collide. It was controlled, physical, and unforgiving, with every yard earned and every mistake magnified under the championship spotlight. From the opening kickoff, it was clear neither side would blink, and that patience would matter as much as power.
North Shore withstood a late push from Duncanville, securing a 10-7 victory in the UIL Class 6A Division I state championship at AT&T Stadium. The win was shaped by discipline, trust, and execution in critical moments, the kind that often separate champions from runners-up when margins are razor-thin.
The first half belonged entirely to the defenses. Drives stalled, punts piled up, and field position became the real currency of the night. Both teams attacked downhill, but neither offense found room to breathe as pursuit angles closed quickly and tackling remained crisp.
North Shore delivered two first-half stops deep in its own territory, moments that quietly defined the game. One came via an interception by Tony Guillory, who read the route, broke on the ball, and erased a promising Duncanville drive. Every snap felt heavy, and points felt distant.
After nearly three quarters of stalemate, the deadlock finally broke. Kaleb Maryland found Jaylen Bocard streaking downfield for a 44-yard touchdown that landed like a thunderclap in a game starved for offense. The strike flipped momentum and injected life into a tense stadium.
Bocard finished with 79 receiving yards and earned Offensive MVP honors, emerging as the difference-maker when opportunity finally appeared. For an offense navigating pressure all night, the connection was equal parts trust, timing, and belief in preparation.
A methodical fourth-quarter drive ended with a Daniel Cruz field goal, pushing the lead to 10-0 and forcing Duncanville into urgency mode. The Panthers responded with creativity, pulling within three on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Trenton Yancey to Zach Turner.
Duncanville’s final possession carried real tension, reaching the North Shore 26-yard line with time slipping away. The moment demanded perfection, but an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the threat. Guillory, who posted 10 tackles, was named Defensive MVP as North Shore claimed its sixth state championship and delivered Houston area teams a defining victory.
