North Shore clinched a spot in the Region III-6A final for the ninth consecutive season after dominating Cy-Fair with a 45-9 victory at NRG Stadium.
The Mustangs are set to face Atascocita in the regional championship following their powerful performance.
Coach Willie Gaston expressed pride in the team’s response to the coaching staff’s challenge to initiate the game with more intensity and adherence to their style of play. This call for urgency was met admirably by the team throughout the week, reflecting in their focused and urgent approach to drills and practices.
Cy-Fair, in their first semifinal appearance since 2018, concluded their season at 11-2.
Highlights of the game began with North Shore’s explosive start as Christopher Barnes returned the opening kickoff for a spectacular 94-yard touchdown. Despite Cy-Fair’s early red-zone appearance, a crucial stop by North Shore on 4th-and-goal from the 6-yard line led to a turnover on downs.
The Mustangs’ offense surged, highlighted by Kaleb Bailey’s impressive 58-yard TD run. Bailey then connected with Cameron Smith for a 53-yard TD pass, cementing a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.
Cy-Fair rallied, with Trey Owens delivering a 29-yard TD pass to Owen Carter, leading to a blocked extra point, reducing the deficit to 21-6 in the second quarter.
Bailey continued to shine, adding two more TD passes to his tally before halftime, widening North Shore’s lead to 35-9. Cy-Fair managed a field goal before the half, trailing 35-9.
Despite Cy-Fair’s strong effort in the second half, they fell short, turning over the ball on the 1-yard line early in the third quarter. Bailey contributed another TD pass to Deion DeBlanc as North Shore extended their lead to 42-9 by the end of the third quarter.
The game concluded with a field goal by Jonathan Soto, sealing North Shore’s comprehensive 45-9 victory.
Standout performances came from Bailey, Smith, and Owens for North Shore and Cy-Fair, respectively. Notably, North Shore’s defense stifled Cy-Fair’s offense, allowing just 208 total yards, including negative rushing yardage.
Bailey emphasized the importance of executing plays from the outset, acknowledging the team’s tendency to start slow and highlighting the success of their fast start in this game.
The scoring summary showcased North Shore’s early dominance, establishing a commanding lead in the first quarter and building on it throughout the game.
With a convincing win behind them, North Shore gears up to face Atascocita in the highly anticipated regional championship clash.
