A gorgeous night for football under the lights at Turner Stadium in Humble gave us a heavyweight showdown that did not disappoint. North Shore outmuscled previously undefeated Atascocita 31-21 on the shoulders of the multi-tooled QB Bryant Badie and a stingy Mustang defense.
Badie accounted for all four of North Shore’s touchdowns: two through the air and two more on the ground. He would finish the game with 272 passing yards and 107 yards rushing.
“He’s outstanding” North Shore head coach Jon Kay said of Badie. “His leadership is outstanding and we’re really proud of him.”
North Shore was the first team to find the red zone, cashing in on 15-yard personal foul penalty on top of a 10-yard pitch and catch. From there, the elusive Badie took it the rest of the way on a 2-yard scamper into the end zone for the game’s first score with 3:17 remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles were able to move the chains for the first time on their ensuing drive, but the momentum would not last long. The drive stalled after a fumble by QB Daveon Boyd that should’ve resulted in points for the North Shore defense. Instead, the Eagles were fortunate to recover their second offensive fumble and were content to punt it away safely for their third consecutive drive.
Building off recent offensive success, North Shore started the second quarter as they had ended the first: scoring another touchdown. This time it was Badie connecting with WR Eltroy Potts on a ten-yard pass.
Atascocita’s first drive of the second quarter looked destined for another punt thanks to a pair of offensive penalties totaling 15 yards, forcing a 2nd and 25 for the Eagles. Atascocita would proceed to pick up the requisite 25 yards and then some on a 48-yard bomb from Boyd to WR Griffin Hammond. RB Decarlos Demmerritte would finish the job, pounding it in from the 2-yard line for the Eagles’ first points of the game, narrowing the gap 14-7.
North Shore got the ball back and mounted an impressive drive which featured WR Patrick Davis hauling in three receptions, including one for 32 yards. The Mustangs offensive stampede was somewhat corralled, however; as the Atascocita defense mustered an impressive goaline stop. The Mustangs would settle for a 20-yard field goal from K Jonathan Rodriguez–extending their lead to 17-7 before the half.
Atascocita’s P Tristian Heaton continued getting plenty of reps in the second half as he was called upon for the Eagle’s first two possessions of the 3rd quarter. Atascocita, desperate for a big play, would eventually get it in the form of an interception from CB Justin Campbell. Campbell’s pick put the Eagles offense in business at the 29-yard line. After converting on a 4th down scramble, the clutch Boyd capitalized on the Mustangs turnover with an 18-yard touchdown pass to WR Alerick Soularie.
The Mustangs saw their lead shrink to 17-14 and answered back with a touchdown of their own. North Shore’s response was voiced once again by dual-threat Bryant Badie. Capable of throwing the ball when he needs to, Badie continued to rely on his legs on 3rd down situations and in the red zone. His second rushing touchdown of the game came on a 5 yard run to put an exclamation point on an 11 play drive, fortifying their lead 24-14.
Atascocita’s Boyd put a few impressive plays together in the second half by doing his best Bryant Badie impersonation, but it just wasn’t enough to get anything going against a stifling North Shore defense. Instead, the Eagles would turn to their own defense to spark a comeback.
They received one such glimmer of hope when North Shore RB Kerrion Hadnot fumbled with less than five minutes left in the game. DB Joshua Escobedo made the heads up play to dive on the loose ball for the Eagles, allowing them to take over at their own 40-yard line. That hope was swiftly extinguished however, as Atascocita turned the ball over on downs four plays later.
North Shore had the game well within hand late into the fourth quarter, leading Atascocita 24-14 with less than a minute left on the clock. On a fourth down play at Atascocita’s 18-yard line, North Shore head coach Jon Kay was faced with a decision. Should he play it safe and run the ball, or should he go for the kill? Kay opted for the coffin nail and with 32 seconds left in the game, North Shore padded their lead to 31-14 on a Badie 18-yard touchdown pass to WR Trevion Bandy.
“They’re crowding the line of scrimmage, they’re out of time outs” Kay said on his decision. “You’re either going to punt or throw it that part of the game. We felt like the run was not going to be there because they had 10 on the line of scrimmage, so we just threw it.”
Everyone in Turner Stadium knew that would be the final blow. Everyone except for Atascocita, of course. The Eagles refused to let insult to add to injury. Boyd dialed one up long distance to his favorite deep threat Griffin Hammond on a 40-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired. The final score 31-21 would suggest that last touchdown didn’t matter, but you know it did to all the Atascocita faithful.
North Shore improves to 5-1 and will host conference opponent Kingwood on Friday, October 14 at 7pm. Atascocita is dealt their first loss of the season, falling to 4-1, and will look to bounce back on the road against unbeaten Summer Creek on Friday, October 14 at 7pm.
