North Crowley Survives Guyer in Top-25 Showdown
DENTON – The defending state champs just won’t break. North Crowley escaped C.H. Collins Athletic Complex with a nail-biting 28-27 win over Denton Guyer on Friday night, extending their winning streak to 19 games and proving once again why they’re one of the most feared teams in Texas.
This one had it all, explosive plays, fourth-down gambles, a kickoff return to the house, and a frantic final minute that left fans holding their breath.
Trading Punches Early
North Crowley wasted no time. Backup quarterback Demarcus Harris, filling in for Hayes Cloutier, struck on the second play of the game, connecting with sophomore phenom Damarion Mays for a 53-yard touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.
Guyer punched right back. Kaedyn Cobbs broke loose for a 47-yard scoring run, setting the tone for a wild first quarter.
The teams traded scores including a 1-yard Wildcat keeper by Brock Lacy before Guyer chipped in a field goal to close the quarter trailing 14-10.
Momentum Swings in the Second
The Wildcats grabbed their first lead of the night midway through the second quarter when linebacker Ryder Garcia lined up at running back and bulldozed in from 13 yards out, putting Guyer on top 17-14.
Penalties plagued North Crowley all half, and Guyer capitalized with a 35-yard field goal to stretch the lead to six heading into the break.
Game Turns on Special Teams
Just when it looked like Guyer might pull away, the Panthers flipped the game on its head. Aiden Martens took the second-half kickoff 96 yards to the house, giving Guyer a 27-14 cushion.
But North Crowley answered with a pair of gut-check drives. Jayden Shawn punched in a short run, and then G’yrell Smith capped a late third-quarter march with a 2-yard score that gave the Panthers their first lead since the opening frame 28-27 heading into the fourth.
Defense Closes the Door
The final quarter turned into a defensive slugfest. Guyer drove deep but was turned away by back-to-back sacks, then pinned North Crowley near its own goal line.
Smith delivered one more clutch run to move the chains and drain the clock. When Guyer got the ball back with under a minute to play, North Crowley’s defense held on fourth down to seal the one-point win.
Stars All Over the Field
This matchup featured next-level talent everywhere from Texas commit John Turntine III anchoring North Crowley’s offensive line to Guyer’s four-star tight end Zane Rowe, who made key plays to keep drives alive.
But the night belonged to Harris, Mays, and Smith the trio that powered North Crowley’s comeback and kept their title defense alive.
What’s Next
North Crowley (3-0) keeps its perfect record intact and looks to make it 20 straight next week. Guyer (2-1) will try to bounce back and prove it still belongs among Texas’ elite.
