DeSoto downs C.E. King 55-27 to capture UIL 6A title

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By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 20, 2025) In the UIL Class 6A Division II state championship game on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the DeSoto Eagles beat the C.E. King Panthers 55-27 to win the state title.

DeSoto started strong and played great on both offense and defense. Right from the first quarter, the Eagles took control of the game. SaRod Baker scored the first touchdown on a short run. He added another long touchdown later, helping DeSoto build a big early lead.

DeSoto’s Legend Howell was the star on offense. He threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns. Ethan Feaster caught many passes and scored two touchdowns himself.

The Eagles also made big plays on defense. Damarion Ross intercepted a pass and ran it back 94 yards for a touchdown. That score helped put DeSoto even farther ahead before halftime.

Even though C.E. King scored some touchdowns in the second half, DeSoto stayed in control and never let the lead slip. King had a great season, and just getting to the state title game was a big accomplishment for the Panthers.

North Shore wins tough defensive game, downs Duncanville 10-7 for 6A-1 title

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 20, 2025) North Shore High School won a hard-fought game over Duncanville 10-7 to become UIL Class 6A Division 1 state champions. The game was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in front of 39,436 fans.

The first half was a defensive battle. Neither team could score and the game stayed 0-0 at halftime. North Shore finally broke the tie early in the second half. Quarterback Kaleb Maryland threw a long 44-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Bocard (shown right). That made it 7-0.

Later in the fourth quarter, Daniel Cruz kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-0. Duncanville did not give up. With about six minutes left, Trenton Yancey threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Zach Turner. That cut the lead to 10-7 and brought Duncanville close.

Duncanville moved the ball late in the game, but North Shore’s defense made the big stop when it mattered. With less than a minute left, North Shore stopped Duncanville on fourth down to seal the win.

This was the sixth time North Shore and Duncanville met in the state title game since 2018. North Shore now leads the rivalry with four wins in those six matchups.

South Oak Cliff tops Richmond Randle for UIL 5A Division II state title

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 20, 2025)  The South Oak Cliff Bears won the UIL Class 5A Division II state football championship, beating the Richmond Randle Lions 35-19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday. South Oak Cliff finished the season 15-1 and brought home its third state title in school history.

From the start, the Bears played strong offense and defense. South Oak Cliff’s defense made life tough for Randle’s offense all game. Randle did not score an offensive touchdown until late in the fourth quarter. Their star running back, Landen Williams-Callis, finished with 121 rushing yards and one touchdown. He also scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.

The big star for South Oak Cliff was Mikail Trotter. Trotter ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns, and all of his scoring runs were longer than 30 yards. He helped the Bears get ahead early and kept them in control.

Quarterback Jayden Williams was sharp, completing 12 of 13 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. That efficient play made it hard for Randle’s defense to slow down South Oak Cliff’s offense.

Even though Randle fought hard, South Oak Cliff’s strong play all day made the difference. Randle showed effort and talent, but the Bears made the plays needed to win a state championship

North Shore downs Dickinson 46-29

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS  (December 6, 2025) The North Shore Mustangs knocked off the Dickinson Gators 46–29 in the quarterfinals of the UIL Class 6A Division I playoffs on Friday night at TDECU Stadium.

From the start, North Shore’s offense showed they had too much firepower. Quarterback Kaleb Maryland threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jaylen Bocard (shown above) early in the first quarter to put the Mustangs up 7–0.

In the second quarter, North Shore kept rolling. Maryland hit wide-out Aubery Johnson on a 53-yard strike and later ran in a 26-yard touchdown himself, stretching the lead. Dickinson responded right before halftime when senior quarterback Lorenzo Aguirre found Ja’Marion Payne in the end zone; bringing the score to 20–10 at the break.

In the second half, North Shore turned up the pressure again. They scored two touchdowns in the third quarter; one by Maryland on the ground and another on a pass to receiver La’Damian Defreeze — widening their lead to 34–10. Dickinson tried to rally after recovering a fumble, with Washington hauling in a touchdown catch.

In the fourth quarter, North Shore added a field goal and another rushing score to make it 44–23. Dickinson scored once more before time expired, but the Mustangs sealed the win when a blocked extra point was returned for two points.

With the win, North Shore advances to the regional semifinals where they will face the Lake Travis Cavaliers on Saturday, December 13 at Aldine's Thorne Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

La Porte Bulldogs roll past Pasadena Eagles, 63-14

Photo and story by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LA PORTE,TEXAS (November 7, 2025)  On Friday night, the La Porte Bulldogs downed the Pasadena Eagles at home, putting up a dominant score of 63-14.

Right from the start, La Porte came out strong. The Bulldogs had control of the game with big plays on offense and solid teamwork on defense. Pasadena, struggling this season, just couldn’t keep pace. La Porte’s record now improves to 9-1 on the year.

One of La Porte’s stars, Joshua Wells, threw for 138 yards and four touchdowns, a career high. Receiver Peyton Smith added 115 yards and two scores. The Bulldogs made the most of their chances and did not let Pasadena back in. The Eagles finish their season at 1-9. 

The Bulldogs will find out their opponent in the first round of the playoffs this weekend.

North Shore overwhelms Atascocita

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 24, 2025) Friday night, on their home field, the North Shore Mustangs rolled past the Atascocita Eagles with a 47-28 win. 

North Shore came out strong and never looked back. After Atascocita struck first with a 45-yard touchdown run by Cardae Mack, Atascocita led 7-0. But North Shore answered fast with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Kaleb Maryland to Jaylen Bocard, tying the game at 7.

In the second quarter, North Shore’s offense and defense really took over. They added three more touchdowns and Atascocita struggled to keep up. At halftime, the score was 27-7 in favor of North Shore

In the third quarter, Atascocita tried to claw back. Mack again connected, this time a 66- and 79-yard pass for touchdowns,  to pull Atascocita closer. But North Shore answered with a big 75-yard pass from Maryland to Bocard and kept its lead.

In the fourth quarter, North Shore sealed the deal with a rushing touchdown by Kaden Brandley to go up 47-21. Atascocita added one last score to make it 47-28, but it was too late.

North Shore improves to 7-1 on the season and remains perfect at home, while Atascocita falls to 4-4. 

La Porte Bulldogs roll over Porter Spartans 67-21

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LA PORTE, TEXAS (October 17, 2025) The La Porte Bulldogs dominated on Friday, on "First Responders Night," cruising to a 67-21 win over the Porter Spartans in a game that was essentially decided by halftime.

From the opening kick-off, La Porte showed they meant business. They built a hefty lead of 33-7 by halftime and never let up. Offensively and defensively, the Bulldogs kept the pressure on and made plays when it mattered.

Junior running back Sean Simon was a standout performer. He rushed for 227 yards and scored one touchdown, averaging 11.9 yards per carry.  His big runs turned into big momentum for La Porte and made the Spartans’ defense scramble. On the receiving end, sophomore wide receiver Payton Smith hauled in 110 yards and found the end zone twice.

This win puts La Porte at 6-1 on the season, riding a four-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are putting together a really impressive stretch, averaging 57.3 points across those wins.

Meanwhile, Porter falls to 4-3, and this result highlights some of the uphill battles they’ll face the rest of the season. The Spartans will need to regroup quickly if they want to bounce back.

Looking ahead, La Porte will face off against the Crosby Cougars at 7:00 p.m. this coming Friday. Porter is set to host the Friendswood Mustangs at the same time.

In short; La Porte’s balanced attack, a strong ground game, sharp passing plays, and solid defense, overwhelmed Porter. The Bulldogs are clearly clicking right now, and if they keep this up, they’ll be a tough team to beat. Porter has some work ahead if they want to close the gap.

C.E. King tops Summer Creek 42-28

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 9, 2025)  The C.E. King Panthers broke their losing streak against Summer Creek in a big way Thursday night, earning a 42-28 win over the Bulldogs. The victory marked King’s fourth straight win and improved their record to 5-1 on the season.

King jumped out early and kept the pressure on, building a 42-21 lead by the end of the third quarter. Summer Creek tried to rally in the 4th quarter, but couldn’t close the gap.

Running back Dionne Sims led the Panthers’ offense with a huge performance on the ground, rushing for 168 yards and a touchdown while averaging nearly nine yards per carry. Quarterback Timothy Potts also had a strong night, completing more than 80 percent of his passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

For Summer Creek, it was their first loss of the season after opening 5-0. Quarterback Noah Spinks threw for 386 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Benny Easter Jr. caught 17 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. Braylin Causey also added two TDs for the Bulldogs.

The win keeps King rolling, as the Panthers have averaged an impressive 60 points per game during their four-game streak. They will look to keep that momentum going when they face Humble at home on October 17.

Summer Creek will try to bounce back when they host Goose Creek Memorial the next day. 

North Shore crushes Kingwood 71–7 in big district win

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 3, 2025) On Friday night, North Shore hosted Kingwood and dealt a heavy blow: the Mustangs won 71–7 in what turned into a lopsided district contest. 

North Shore started fast. In the first quarter, they scored two long passing touchdowns, including a 61-yard strike to Jaylen Bocard (No. 5 shown above right), to take an early lead. They added another touchdown and extra point before the period ended. 

In the second quarter, North Shore kept piling it on. Aubery Johnson hauled in a 43-yard pass for six points. They also got a pick-6 interception return.  Two-point conversions helped them stretch the lead even more. At halftime, North Shore led 35–0.

After the break, North Shore’s offense did not slow down. In the third quarter, they hit Kingwood with another big passing touchdown, followed by a ground score, plus a successful two-point pass. That gave them a comfortable margin going into the final quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, more points came. One highlight was a special teams play: a snap went over the punter's head, and North Shore turned that into a score. They added a 31-yard rushing touchdown, and capped it with a 35-yard rushing score by Isai Navarro.  Kingwood did avoid a shutout late, when Xzavier Montes ran in a touchdown.

This win brings North Shore’s record to 4–1 overall and 2–0 in district play. Kingwood falls to 3–2 and 1–1 in district with the loss. 

C.E. King downs Atascocita 70-55

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 26, 2025) On Friday night, the C.E. King Panthers downed the Atascocita Eagles in a dazzling shootout, 70-55, at Sheldon ISD Stadium. 

The game was fast, wild, and full of big plays. In the end, King’s offense was just too much for Atascocita to contain. King scored in all four quarters: 14 in the first, 21 in the second, 14 in the third, and 21 in the final quarter. Atascocita answered with points of its own; 14, 14, 13, and 14 across the quarters. 

One star of the night for the Panthers was Dionne Sims, who rushed for 435 yards on 32 carries, with an average of 13.6 yards per carry.  He also scored five rushing touchdowns.  Another key King player, Timothy Potts, completing nine of 13 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 49 yards on the ground. 

Even though King won, Atascocita kept fighting in the final minutes. Their quarterback Cardae Mack threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Arriaga, then connected again for a two-point conversion to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough. 

King’s defense also made plays. They recorded five sacks and forced a turnover. In total, King piled up 674 yards of offense, 582 rushing, 92 passing, while Atascocita couldn’t match the pace.

Deer Park wins 37-36 in thrilling battle over Barbers Hill

Photo by Robert H Kelly, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

MONT BELVIEU, TEXAS (September 18, 2025)  In a game full of twists and big plays, Deer Park escaped with a 37-36 victory over Barbers Hill on Friday night in Mt. Belvieu. It was a wild matchup that went back and forth until the very end. 

Both teams came out ready to play. Barbers Hill and Deer Park traded blows, with neither side able to pull away early. As the first half ended, the game was still very much up for grabs. s. They made several key plays that helped them take a lead. Barbers Hill kept fighting, though, matching every big moment with their own big plays.

The fourth quarter was intense. Barbers Hill had a chance to win it, but Deer Park made a crucial play late that swung the game in their favor. The final score was 37-36 as the clock ran out. Barbers Hill nearly pulled off the comeback, but they came up just short. 

La Porte downs Deer Park 35-31 in first game in their new football stadium

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LA PORTE, TEXAS (August 29, 2025) Deer Park jumped out to an early lead, but could not overcome the La Porte 21-point second quarter, as the Bulldogs downed their long-time rival by the score of 35-31 in front of a sellout crowd at La Porte Bulldog Stadium.

The $56-million stadium, which was completed this past spring, gave the Bulldogs their first win in their new home and their first win of the 2025 season.

Deer Park scored first at the 8:29 mark of the first quarter with a 71-yard pass to sophomore John Arthur French, scoring the first touchdown of the 2025 season for the Deer. They increased their lead with 3:45 left in the quarter when junior running back Trace Yates scampered in for the TD. Just prior to the end of the first quarter, senior Jose Garcia Mutate booted a 46-yard field to put the score at 17-0 after 12 minutes of play.

La Porte responded at the 11:45 mark in the second quarter with a 20-yard run by sophomore running back Sean Simon for the Bulldogs first score of the game. With the kicking conversion, La Porte cut the Deer lead to 10 points (7-17). Three and one-half minutes later (8:16-2nd quarter), Simon added a second TD for the Bulldogs with a 64-yard run. After the extra point, La Porte only trailed the Deer by three points (14-17). The Bulldogs kept their offensive push when senior Ashton Ruffin caught a Aiden Saenz pass for another TD for La Porte with 5:50 remaining the the first half. That score, along with the kicking conversion, allowed the Bulldogs to take the lead 21-17.

To not be fazed by the second quarter offensive juggernaut of the Bulldogs, the Deer responded 88 seconds into the third quarter, with an 84-yard pass run to enable Deer Park to regain the lead 24-21 at the half. 

La Porte scored a rushing TD early in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a 28-24 lead. Deer Park regained the lead with seconds to go in the quarter, giving them a 31-28 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the game.

The Bulldogs punched in a rushing touchdown with less than four minutes remaining in the game to take back the lead 35-31. After kicking off to the Deer, they (Deer Park) matched down the field trying to take back the lead. In their final push with a first-and-ten from the Bulldog 10-yard line, the Deer received a 10-yard penalty for offensive holding, pushing them back to the La Porte 20-yard line. Four unsuccessful attempts to score enabled the Bulldogs to regain possession; allowing them to kneel and end the game with the win.

This year's contest was the 65th edition of the La Porte vs. Deer Park rivalry, dating back to 1946. The Deer has won the pass four years (2021-2024), with the Bulldogs win tonight kept La Porte with a slight edge in the overall history of the game.

South Oak Cliff shakes off North Shore comeback attempt in season opener for both teams

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

DALLAS, TEXAS (August 29, 2025) Friday night, Dallas South Oak Cliff faced off against Galena Park North Shore in a thrilling season opener. These two teams have a history of going deep into the state playoffs, so many fans were excited to see what would happen. After a very intense battle, North Shore fell to the Golden Bears by the score of 41-31.

After a slow start, South Oak Cliff led 7–0 after the first quarter. But things really picked up in the next three quarters. The teams poured on a combined 72 points showing this game was anything but boring.

Both teams had new starting quarterbacks  to begin the season. North Shore’s QB, Kaleb Maryland, starred by passing for 302 yards and three touchdowns, plus running for 170 yards and two more scores. He almost rallied North Shore from down by 21, helping them close the gap to just four points late in the game.

South Oak Cliff leaned on their strong running game. They rushed for a massive 378 yards, averaging over 10 yards per run. Mikail Trotter (shown above) ran for 194 yards and Levon Morton added 153 more, both crossing the 100‑yard mark easily.

North Shore showed grit too. They started the season with just a handful of returning starters and many were new faces. Still, in the second half, they played much better. They even pulled within four points in the fourth quarter after trailing big earlier.

But South Oak Cliff sealed the win with a powerful 50‑yard touchdown run by Trotter right after recovering an onside kick. That play put the game out of reach and brought a 41‑31 victory for the Golden Bears.

North Crowley captures state title with 50-21 win over Westlake

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 21, 2024) The North Crowley Panthers won their first state football title by downing the Westlake Chaparrals 50-21 to capture the UIL Class 6A Division I championship

at AT&T Stadium.

The Panthers started strong, scoring a touchdown early in the first quarter. Quarterback Chris Jimerson connected with wide receiver Quentin Gibson for a 75-yard touchdown pass, putting North Crowley ahead 7-0. Westlake responded later in the quarter with a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. However, North Crowley regained the lead before the end of the first quarter, finishing the period up 14-7.

In the second quarter, the Panthers' defense held Westlake scoreless while their offense added another 14 points, bringing the halftime score to 28-7 in favor of North Crowley. The third quarter saw both teams scoring, but North Crowley extended their lead by adding 15 points compared to Westlake's 7, making it 43-14. In the final quarter, each team scored a touchdown, resulting in a final score of 50-21.

This victory highlights North Crowley's strong performance on both offense and defense, showcasing their readiness as they advance further into the playoffs. The Panthers' ability to execute big plays, like the 75-yard touchdown pass, and their defensive efforts to limit Westlake's scoring opportunities were key factors in their win.

Vandegrift wins first state football championship with 24-17 victory over Southlake Carroll

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

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 21, 2024) The Vandegrift Vipers made history Saturday, winning their first-ever football state championship by defeating Southlake Carroll 24-17 in the UIL Class 6A Division II title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The Vipers, now 15-1, played as a team all season, and Saturday was no different. Head coach Drew Sanders, who has led the program since its start 14 years ago, praised the team’s unity.

“These guys aren’t flashy, but they love each other,” Sanders said. “Every challenge they faced this year, they just said yes.”

Southlake Carroll (15-1) took an early lead with a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Angelo Renda to Brody Knowles. But Vandegrift answered quickly. Junior quarterback Miles Teodecki launched an 84-yard touchdown pass to George Farley to tie the game. Teodecki, named the game’s offensive MVP, completed 14 of 17 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior running back Brendan Fournier took over from there, scoring two touchdowns before halftime. He ran in a 2-yard score and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Teodecki with just 14 seconds left in the second quarter. Fournier rushed for 160 yards on 28 carries and added 27 receiving yards.

The Vipers’ defense shut down Southlake Carroll’s running game, allowing just 53 rushing yards on 17 carries. Senior linebacker Scott Buchanan earned defensive MVP honors with seven tackles, a fumble recovery, and two pass breakups.

Despite a fourth-quarter rally by the Dragons, Vandegrift held strong. Adam Scott led the team with nine tackles and a forced fumble, while Matthew Draeken and Jack Huerkamp each grabbed key interceptions.

“This means so much to us and all the players who came before us,” said Scott. “We got it done, but we’re standing on the work they started.”

The Vipers’ only loss this season came early against Cedar Park in Week 2, but they finished strong to claim the school’s first state football championship.

For the Dragons, Renda threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns but also had two interceptions. Receiver Brock Boyd stood out with 13 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown.

Smithson Valley wins Texas 5A Division 1 state championship

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 21, 2024) Smithson Valley made history on Saturday, beating Highland Park 32-20 in the Texas 5A Division 1 state championship at AT&T Stadium. Junior kicker Trent Amaya was the star of the game, tying a UIL state record by making four field goals.

Amaya showed his skills early, nailing field goals from 27 and 35 yards in the first quarter. He followed up with a 24-yarder in the second quarter and a 30-yarder in the third. While he missed a fifth attempt in the final quarter, his contributions kept the Rangers ahead throughout the game.

Quarterback Cade Spradling was another key player for Smithson Valley. He rushed for 147 yards and scored two touchdowns. In the second quarter, he connected with Brody Day on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Then, with just 3:39 left in the fourth quarter, Spradling ran for a 4-yard touchdown to seal the victory.

Running back Brad Sowersby also had a strong performance, leading the game with 152 rushing yards on 22 carries. On defense, Julian Colunga made a big play, returning an interception 23 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

For Highland Park, quarterback Buck Randall had an impressive game, throwing for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Benton Owens for a 73-yard touchdown and Cannon Bozman for a 49-yard score. But it wasn’t enough to overcome Smithson Valley's balanced attack.

The win capped off a great season for Smithson Valley, finishing with a 14-2 record and bringing home the state title.

Westlake dominates North Shore to advance to state finals

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (December 14, 2024)   In a highly anticipated matchup, the Westlake Chaparrals defeated the North Shore Mustangs 28-10 in the Texas high school football semifinals on Saturday. With over 5,000 fans in attendance, the game showcased intense action from the first kickoff to the final whistle.

North Shore started strong, putting the first points on the board with a 25-yard field goal by Daniel Cruz Sanchez midway through the first quarter. But Westlake quickly responded. Elijah Clark broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful extra point from Nolan Bartley, giving Westlake a 7-3 lead.

Westlake took control late in the first quarter. Rees Wise connected with Evan Kolander for a 31-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 14-3. Their dominance continued into the second quarter as Wise found another receiver in the end zone, pushing the score to 21-3.

North Shore tried to rally late in the first half. Quarterback Kaleb Bailey threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Quanell Farrahkan Jr., narrowing the gap to 21-10 before halftime.

Westlake's defense shut down North Shore in the second half, forcing turnovers and keeping their offense in check. Wise added his third touchdown pass of the game early in the third quarter, a 19-yard strike to Grady Bartlett, putting the game out of reach at 28-10.

Despite moments of promise, North Shore struggled to match Westlake’s consistency. Defensive standouts like Elliott Schaper delivered key sacks, and Westlake's offense capitalized on nearly every opportunity.

The Chaparrals now advance to the Texas state championship, aiming to cap their season with a title. For North Shore, it’s a tough end to a strong season. 

Kilgore downs La Vernia in rainy matchup to advance to state finals

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

NEW CANEY, TEXAS (December 13, 2024) Kilgore High School came out on top with a commanding 38-13 victory over La Vernia in a rainy showdown on Friday night. Despite slippery conditions, Kilgore's offense and defense worked together for an impressive win.

The first quarter started slow, with both teams feeling out the wet field. However, Kilgore quickly found their groove. A fumble recovery on La Vernia’s 8-yard line set up Eddie Jimenez’s 22-yard field goal, putting Kilgore up 3-0. Minutes later, Keion Sanders ran in a 29-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 10-0 by the end of the quarter.

Kilgore’s dominance continued in the second quarter. Quarterback Kayson Brooks connected with Miles Applegate for a 30-yard touchdown pass, making it 17-0. La Vernia finally answered just before halftime with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, narrowing the score to 17-7.

In the second half, Kilgore didn’t let up. Isaiah Watters scored twice on the ground, while Brooks delivered another deep touchdown pass, this time to Devin Tinney for 65 yards. Kilgore’s defense stayed tough, with sacks by Applegate and Dré Sanders and a late-game interception by Jakalen Sheffield.

La Vernia added another rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, but their two-point conversion attempt failed. Kilgore capped off their night with Watters’ second touchdown and Jimenez’s flawless kicking performance, going 5-for-5 on extra points.

Shiner claims victory over Bremond in thrilling state semifinal

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

CYPRESS,  TEXAS (December 12, 2024) The Shiner Comanches kept their championship dreams alive with a commanding win over the Bremond Tigers in the UIL 2A Division 2 football semifinals on Thursday night. Shiner’s balanced offense and tough defense proved too much for Bremond, as they secured a spot in the state championship game.

Shiner's standout performance was powered by their star running back, who continued his dominant season with multiple touchdowns. The team’s offensive line paved the way for a ground game that kept Bremond's defense on their heels throughout the game. Bremond, known for its own powerful running attack, struggled to gain momentum against Shiner’s disciplined defensive front.

The Comanches showcased their trademark physical style early, jumping out to a first-half lead and never looking back. Bremond managed to close the gap briefly in the third quarter, but Shiner responded with a long touchdown drive to put the game out of reach.

For Bremond, their playoff journey ends after a stellar season marked by a 10-game winning streak heading into the semifinals. Despite the loss, standout performances from running back Terrence Scott and wide receiver Tristan Morehead kept the Tigers competitive against one of the state’s top teams.

Shiner, now boasting a 12-game win streak, advances to face the winner of the other semifinal matchup in the state championship. With their powerful run game and championship pedigree, the Comanches look poised for another title run.

North Shore overcomes Katy in playoff thriller

North Shore will face Atascocita in the Region III final on Dec. 7. 
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Story by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 29, 2024) The North Shore Mustangs proved their strength in a 42-28 victory over the Katy Tigers during the Class 6A Division I Region III semifinals at NRG Stadium. While the game wasn’t perfect for North Shore, their resilience and star power made the difference.

The Mustangs (13-0) faced challenges, including penalties and turnovers, but quarterback Kaleb Bailey’s 300 passing yards and five touchdowns fueled the win. Wide receiver Quanell X Farrakhan Jr. electrified the game with big punt returns and a 51-yard touchdown catch before halftime. Running back D’Andre Hardeman Jr. added over 100 rushing yards, while cornerback Devin Sanchez led the defense, forcing two key turnovers.

North Shore’s 80th playoff win secured their 10th straight regional championship appearance. 

Next, North Shore will face Atascocita on Dec. 7 at Thorne Stadium in a battle of district rivals. The Mustangs have dominated this matchup, winning the last nine meetings.