North Shore rallies to secure a thrilling victory over Atascocita

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

PASADENA, TEXAS (December 2, 2023) In a heart-pounding showdown at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the North Shore Mustangs staged a remarkable comeback to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit and defeated the Atascocita Eagles 34-28 in the UIL Region III-6A Division I final Saturday afternoon. The win marked North Shore's eighth consecutive triumph over Atascocita and extended their overall series lead to 9-2 since 2016.

The game began with a spectacular 61-yard kickoff by North Shore's, Khamani Hudson, pinning Atascocita on its own 2-yard line. However, Atascocita swiftly turned the tables as senior quarterback Zion Brown connected with Jelani Watkins for an electrifying 98-yard touchdown pass, setting the tone for a competitive matchup. Atascocita extended its lead to 14-0 after Cardae Mack's 26-yard TD run late in the first quarter.

Despite facing adversity, North Shore found their rhythm in the second half. Kaleb Bailey, North Shore's quarterback, orchestrated a comeback, connecting with Christopher Barnes for a 55-yard TD pass, narrowing Atascocita's lead to 14-13 early in the third quarter.

North Shore's special teams then came up big, blocking Atascocita's punt and allowing Dezmon Christian to scoop up the ball for a 24-yard touchdown, giving the Mustangs their first lead at 20-14. Hudson continued to shine, this time intercepting a pass and setting up Bailey for a 2-yard TD run, extending North Shore's lead to 27-14.

Bailey's connection with Barnes for a 65-yard TD pass further solidified North Shore's dominance, securing a 34-14 lead with just over seven minutes left in the game. Atascocita, refusing to go down without a fight, staged a late rally as Brown found Cameron Glenn for two touchdown passes, but time ultimately ran out for the Eagles.

Star performances were aplenty, with Barnes securing seven receptions for an impressive 203 yards and two touchdowns for North Shore. On the opposing side, Glenn showcased his skills with seven receptions for 83 yards and two TDs for Atascocita. Christian's momentum-changing play, the 24-yard scoop-and-score in the third quarter, was a crucial highlight for North Shore.