Atascocita, the third-best team in 6A and a team starting to appear in some national polls, had their hands full this week with the Kingwood Mustangs.
The Eagles of Atascocita came into the game at Kingwood with a 6-o record. They’ve had impressive wins at Katy, Westlake, and Summer Creek. All Texas high school football fans have had their eye on an Atascocita vs. North Shore matchup next week for the top spot in District 23-6A. However, Kingwood, coming in at 4-2 off of an impressive win over Channelview, was looking to hand the Eagles their first loss.
Atascocita took a 14-7 first-quarter lead, but by halftime, the game was tied up at 21. Kingwood took the lead with five minutes to go in the third quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Landon Hinson. The Eagles scored again with a 90-yard Tory Blaylock kickoff return for a touchdown, but the point after was no good, keeping the Mustangs up 28-27. However, early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles scored on another long play, with Cardae Mack hitting Blaylock for a 65-yard touchdown. Atascocita converted the two-point conversion to take a 35-28 lead. But Kingwood was not done fighting.
Kingwood scored with 5 minutes to go on a Marquez Xavion Ziair Davis run to tie the game at 35. However, on the ensuing kickoff, Atascocita took their second kickoff back for a touchdown, this time a 95-yard return from Kyran Pate. The PAT was good, and the Eagles were up 42-35. With three minutes to go, Davis ran in his third touchdown, this time from 35 yards, to cut the lead to 42-41. The carry put Davis over 200 yards rushing for the game. Unfortunately for Kingwood, they could not convert on the PAT after the score and remained 1 point behind. Unable to recover the onside kick, the Eagles got the ball, picked up a first down, and ran out the clock.
The Kingwood Mustangs outplayed Atascocita for most of this game. Atascocita’s two kickoff returns for touchdowns were the difference makers in this game. The Mustangs, now 4-3, will travel to face C.E. King next week. The Mustangs are a much-improved team from last season, and this is their best team since 2018. Atascocita now moves on to their showdown with the North Shore Mustangs.
Photographer Frank Jenkins was there to capture these photos:
