When a matchup is hyped up all season, and we finally get to it, you just hope it lives up to that hype, and this did not disappoint, as the North Shore Mustangs (7-0, 4-0) took on the Atascocita Eagles (7-0, 4-0), in a battle of two state-favorites in 6A-D1. In what has turned into one of the biggest rivalries in the state the past few years, it has been completely one-sided. North Shore had won the last eight matchups, and has knocked Atascocita out of the playoffs the past three years. Atascocita was looking to finally get over that hurdle and state themselves as the number one team in Houston, while North Shore was looking to continue their reign of dominance, with eyes on a state title game for the sixth time in seven years.
One thing we did not know going into it was that Tory Blaylock was dealing with an injury. He went through warmups, but it was evident that he was dealing with some type of discomfort, which kept him out almost all game, until the 4th quarter, where he ended up having only two carries.
It was a sold out crowd of over 12,000 people and they definitely got their money’s worth Friday night.
Game Recap
Atascocita would be the ones to strike first. After both teams exchanged punts on their opening drives, the Eagles used a nine-play drive to get deep into North Shore territory, but eventually had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Parker Cushing, taking a 3-0 lead with 3:34 left in the opening quarter. Following that field goal, six out of the final seven drives of the first half would end with a touchdown.
On the ensuing North Shore drive, Kaleb Barnes took off for a 56-yard run to get the Mustangs to the Atascocita 14-yard line. Following a holding penalty that moved them back to the 24-yard line, Barnes took the snap, ran left and found daylight for a 24-yard touchdown run. The PAT hit the upright, so with 32 seconds left in the first, it was 6-3 North Shore.
Atascocita started their next possession with good field position, as Kyran Pate returned the kickoff to their own 48-yard line. Six plays later, the Eagles found the endzone, as Cardae Mack kept it himself for a 14-yard touchdown run. Atascocita’s PAT would also be no good, so with 11:44 left in the half, it was 9-6 Atascocita.
On the next North Shore drive, a 28-yard run by D’Andre Hardeman Jr set up the Mustangs in Eagle territory. Five plays later, Barnes found a hole in the middle of the line, and ran it into the endzone from 3-yards out for a North Shore touchdown, giving the Mustangs a 13-9 lead with 7:03 left in the half.
Atascocita would respond again. Two 15-yard penalties moved the ball all the way up to their own 47-yard line, and four plays later, Mack found an opening again, exploding for a 24-yard touchdown run. Following a North Shore punt on their next drive, the Eagles only needed four plays to get into the endzone again, as Mack found CJ Toney over the middle, after leaking out of the backfield, for a 21-yard touchdown. With 2:16 left in the half, Atascocita led 23-13.
The Mustangs needed a score before halftime and they would get it. They used a 12-play drive to get all the way down to the Atascocita one-yard line, where Hardeman powered it in for the touchdown. At the half, Atascocita led 23-20.
North Shore opened the second half with the ball and stormed down the field, using 12 plays to get down to the Atascocita 12-yard line. On the 13th play of the drive, the pitch on the option was fumbled and recovered by Atascocita’s Hector Argueta, to put a stop to the Mustang drive and shift the momentum back to the Eagles.
After an Atascocita turnover-on-downs and three straight punts, Atascocita got the ball with 2:34 left in the game at their own 18-yard line, with North Shore having two timeouts remaining. Atascocita was able to get one first down, but eventually had to punt.
Following a very short punt, the Mustangs were set up at the Atascocita 42-yard line with 56 seconds remaining and no timeouts. On the second play of the drive, Barnes heaved up a prayer to Cameron Smith in between two defenders, the ball was tipped, Smith was thrown to the ground, the ball was deflected again, and somehow while laying on the ground, Smith came up with the catch at the Atascocita five-yard line. Barnes and the offense stormed up to the line and spiked the football with 12 seconds remaining. On the next play, Barnes took the snap, looked right and found Quanell Farrakhan Jr in the endzone for the touchdown with six seconds left, giving North Shore their first lead of the game at 27-23. The clock would run out on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Mustangs the dramatic win.
North Shore continues their reign over Atascocita with a dramatic come-from-behind victory, in an instant classic.
North Shore Stats
QB Kaleb Bailey (JR): 12/19, 121 yds, TD, 16 carries, 130 yds, 2 TDs
RB D’Andre Hardeman Jr (SR) (Rice Commit): 20 carries, 83 yds, TD, fum, 2 recs, -6 yds
WR Deion Deblanc (SR): 4 recs, 44 yds, 3 carries, 30 yds
WR Cameron Smith (SR): 2 recs, 43 yds
WR Dorian Barnes (JR): 3 recs, 37 yds
WR Quanell Farrakhan Jr (SR) (Colorado Commit): 2 recs, 17 yds, TD
DL Cedric Henderson (SR): Sack, TFL
DL Xavier Water (JR): Sack
LB Charles Ross (SR) (LSU Commit): Sack
DB Morris Taylor (SR): TFL
Atascocita Stats
QB Cardae Mack (JR): 5/17, 81 yds, TD, 26 carries, 164 yds, 2 TDs
RB Tory Blaylock (SR) (Oklahoma Commit): 2 carries, 6 yds
WR CJ Toney (JR): 2 recs, 48 yds, TD, 8 carries, 61 yds
WR Kyran Pate (SR): 3 recs, 33 yds, 0/1
DL Hector Argueta (SO): FR, TFL
DL Chris Minor (SR): TFL
DB Brandon Washington (SR): TFL, PBU
DB Ta’von Bolden Jr (SO): TFL
Next Week
North Shore will look to continue their winning ways, as they face off with CE King (4-4, 2-3), as a battle with Summer Creek is looming in week 11, while Atascocita will look to bounce back, as they take on Channelview (1-7, 1-4).
Frank Jenkins captured these photos:
