Thursday Night Lights kickoff week 5 of Texas High School Football. On September 21st, 2023, The Shadow Creek Sharks played against The Pearland Oilers. Both teams, fully rested coming off a bye week were ready to play a heated and competitive football game.
Shadow Creek is in the top 5 in all of Houston. They have been on fire these last couple of seasons, and this current season is no different. However, they were making a lot of unnecessary mistakes. Fumbles, taking sacks, and holding that majorly affected their game.
Shadow Creek’s running back #5 Tylik Burton had a huge run that put The Sharks on the 10-yard line and then allowed quarterback #1 Jacorey Watson to rush in for a touchdown. Pearland was also effectively moving the ball with running back #4 Ladamion McDowell running the ball with fantastic speed and scored Pearland’s 1st touchdown. Pearland made a stop on defense with the help of Texas Tech commit safety #3 Ashton Hampton, who switched to cornerback for this game. Ashton provided great coverage. He is one of the fastest athletes on his team and is a dominant hitter. Defensive end #90 Jaylen Stewart was disrupting and penetrating through Shadow Creek’s strong offensive line, causing tackles upfront. Pearland got the ball back with a series of plays wide receiver #15 Jordan Hernandez scored the 2nd touchdown for the Oilers.
Shadow Creek got the ball back, and on the 1st play, they took a big sack and fumble that put them at 2nd & 43. I have never seen that in football. Although it was looking bleak for The Sharks on the next play, running back #23 Justin Qualls received the handoff and rushed down the middle to the end zone for a touchdown. Shadow Creek could have scored one more time before halftime wide receiver #9 Rahim Hutchins caught the ball on the 1-yard. Unfortunately, it got called back because of holding upfront. By halftime, the score was 14-13, with Pearland leading.
Shadow Creek received the kickoff after the half but had to punt it to Pearland after a couple of plays. Pearland’s Ladamion McDowell was able to rush in for another touchdown, but Shadow Creek blocked the extra point. In the 4th quarter, Shadow Creek’s starting quarterback Jacorey Watson was out, and main runner Tylik Burton kept having helmet issues. Backup quarterback #11 Carter Stewart was playing his best to get The Sharks back in the lead, but there were 5 seconds left in the game. Carter couldn’t connect the last pass for a touchdown, and the game ended with a final score of 20-13. Pearland ended Shadow Creek’s win streak.
This game had a ton of ups and downs for Shadow Creek like I said previously, their mistakes and as well as major injuries cost them the game. I believe Shadow Creek, on paper has the better team, but the better team doesn’t always win, and Pearland had more to prove and, unlike Shadow Creek, barely had any mistakes or penalties, which ultimately won them the game.
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