North Shore holds off Atascocita in wild back-and-forth battle

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

HUMBLE TEXAS (October 25, 2024) In a game full of big plays and dramatic moments, the No. 2 North Shore Mustangs pulled off a last-minute comeback to beat the number four ranked Atascocita Eagles 27-23 on Friday evening at Turner Stadium. Fans at the packed stadium of over 5,000 people were on the edge of their seats as both teams traded leads and exciting plays. North Shore came through with a crucial touchdown in the final minute, sealing the win after a tense four quarters.

The game began with strong defensive efforts from both teams. Atascocita was the first to break through, putting three points on the board with a 30-yard field goal by Rayvon Sauls. North Shore responded quickly, however, thanks to a powerful 24-yard rushing touchdown from their quarterback, Kaleb Bailey (shown above). Unfortunately for North Shore, they missed the extra point, leaving the score at 6-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The action ramped up in the second quarter as both teams found their rhythm on offense. Atascocita’s Cardae Mack was a standout player, scoring two rushing touchdowns. His first, a 14-yard run, gave Atascocita the lead again at 9-6. Even though they missed the two-point conversion, the Eagles showed they were ready to fight.

North Shore struck back when Bailey ran in his second touchdown of the night, this time from two yards out. This put North Shore back on top at 13-9. But Atascocita answered right away with another big run by Mack, setting up a 24-yard rushing touchdown and then adding an extra point, pushing their lead to 16-13.

Atascocita wasn’t done yet. Mack showed off his passing skills, connecting with Cj Toney for a 21-yard touchdown that widened the lead to 23-13. But North Shore didn’t let up, and D’andre Hardeman Jr. powered into the end zone from 1 yard out right before halftime. This cut Atascocita’s lead to just three points, with the score sitting at 23-20.

The second half started slower, with both teams’ defenses digging in. North Shore had an early chance in the third quarter, getting into Atascocita’s red zone, but they lost the ball on a fumble. The two teams kept pushing, with Atascocita fighting to maintain their lead and North Shore looking for a breakthrough.

With just under a minute left in the game, North Shore finally found that breakthrough. They worked their way back down the field, getting into the red zone, where Quanell Farrahkan Jr. punched in a five-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point was good, and North Shore took a 27-23 lead with seconds left on the clock.

Despite some last attempts by Atascocita to regain control, North Shore held strong and finished the game on top. It was a thrilling end to a game full of hard hits, big runs, and even bigger plays. The Mustangs celebrated their hard-earned win, while Atascocita left the field with heads held high after an impressive showing.

For North Shore, this win was a big momentum boost. They came through in the clutch and proved they could handle a tight game under pressure. As for Atascocita, they showed they have the talent and grit to challenge even the toughest opponents.

In the end, North Shore’s last-minute touchdown made the difference, leaving the final score 27-23 in favor of the Mustangs.