Mustangs stampede Westlake’s trick play
In a matter of moments, the Mustangs went from the chopping blocks to new life, laughter, and celebration.
Even before Westlake’s trick-play fail when running back, Noah Hodes took a handoff going right, while Ehlinger was running left, anticipating the pass. But the spirited reacting Mustangs defense tackled Hodes before he could get the pass off.
Meanwhile, Junior defensive lineman K’Lavon Chaisson blocked a field goal attempt with eight seconds left and quarterback Maciah Long scored on a one-yard run, as North Shore ended a 28-year state appearance drought, by knocking off Austin Westlake, 21-14 for the Class 6A Division I State Title at NRG Stadium on Saturday night.
“They got penetration and the kick never got materialized,” says Westlake coach Todd Dodge. “We didn’t want to take anything away from the kick. “We felt like we were right there inside the 20-yard line. Unfortunately, we took too much time. We were still within range to kick the field goal. But it was obviously blocked.”
The win ended a 28-year absence in the title game. In 2003, North Shore defeated The Woodlands 23-7 for the 5A Division I Crown.
North Shore’s defense pulled off the biggest stop of the season by dropping senior running back Hodes to the turf on fourth down and goal from the five in overtime. The trick play was set up for Hodes to pass the ball to quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who was running the opposite way of the play.
“We saw them run a trick play,” North Shore’s coach Jon Kay explained. “Coach Cross mentioned it from that formation, so we were kind of expected that. I was going to burn a timeout if we had so the motion we were looking for. Obviously, Coach Dodge has been doing this a long time.”
“Its a two-point play we’ve had all year long,” Westlake’s coach Todd Dodge said. “Obviously, it wasn’t in a two-point situation. It’s one that we’ve been working on all year long for that particular time and that particular part of the field. We would have like it more towards the middle of the field towards the left hash.”
Several times Ehlinger’s ability to scramble out of the grasp of Mustang defenders kept the Chaps alive.
“We tried to do what we’ve done all year,” North Shore’s defensive coordinator Gary Cross said. “Get pressure on the quarterback. It may not always result in a sack, but as long as we’re getting pressure on the quarterback it can effect the throw.”
Before that, emotions rose as Long carried the ball three times on a five-play drive, on the first possession of overtime and scored on a one-yard sneak to give the Mustangs a 21-14 lead for keeps.
Without that early season adversity I don’t know if we have the grit in us to finish a game like this,” says coach Kay.
In shocking fashion, the stadium came to stand still for a few seconds before Mustang players realized it had the game won. Then came the celebration.
But the rollercoaster thrill ride began with 2:04 left in regulation. With the scored tied at 14, Ehlinger guided the Chaps down the field by connecting with three different receivers. Including a third down and 14 conversion pass to junior receiver Andrew Boykin, who followed it with a 14-yard grab at the North Shore 37.
Ehlinger then connected with receiver Kylen Granson at the 10-yard line before he spiked the ball with 16 seconds left to preserve time.
This gave the Chaps time to set up for a field goal attempt which was ultimately blocked by Chaisson with eight seconds left.
North Shore’s offense rushed on to the field as Long took the final snap of regulation and took a knee as time expired.
At times, Westlake forced the Mustangs out of its comfort zone. Instead of its traditional power running game, the passing game air complimented its ground attack.
After a quiet first quarter, quarterback Ehlinger guided the Chaps to the North Shore 22 where Kyle Granson took a handoff around the right side to the end zone to give the Chaps a 7-0 lead after Ryan Rees extra point kick.
Facing a fourth and four from the 38-yard line, Long fired a bullet to receiver Tramaine Robbins at the Westlake 25. Two more completions put the Mustangs on the one-yard line where Long bulled his way in the for the touchdown with four seconds left in the second quarter. That tied the scored at seven.
Though the running room was limited, North Shore’s defense settled down and found its rhythm midways through the second quarter.
Junior defensive back Eron Jones stopped Ehlinger in the backfield and defensive MVP sophomore linebacker Noah Campbell sacked Ehlinger at the seven-yard line to force a fourth and twenty which resulted in a turnover on downs after the Chaps fail to convert.
“The athleticism that those guys have,” Chaps quarterback Sam Ehlinger explained. ” There defensive lineman are fast and there strong. It’s the best defensive line we’ve seen all year. For the most part, we kept up with what we needed to do. But they were just slanting and bringing a bunch of stuff. They were bringing lots of linebackers. There a very athletic team and out athletic us.”
Westlake’s defense was equally impressive as defensive back Matt Gibson dropped junior receiver Patrick Davis for a yard loss at the 38 and sophomore defensive lineman Sam Duffy followed that by taking Long down in the backfield for a four-yard loss to forced a Mustangs punt.
Later, a turn of events watched Ehlinger fumble the ball at the North Shore’s five as linebacker Andrew Hyacinth scooped the ball up and ran 95 yards to the end zone with a host of blockers in front of him. The wasted Westlake drive chewed up 76 yards with the help of Ehlinger’s rushing, before losing the handle on the ball.
Not long after, defensive back Stephen Rioux blocked a North Shore punt and sophomore cornerback Matthews Sams grabbed up the loose ball and behind a body of blockers, race 40 yards to the end zone to knot the score at 14 following Ryan Rees’ extra point kick.
The game had its thrills and spills and both teams had its fair share of opportunities, but North Shore made the most of its breaks to pull out an exciting finish.