North Shore unified in win over Cy-Falls

 
North Shore answers in the second half with two touchdowns

A team that has had its back against the wall since the season opened has unified itself with consistency.
North Shore scored two second-half touchdowns and held Cy-Falls scoreless in the second half to win, 28-21 in the 6A Division I Region III playoffs on Friday night at NRG Stadium.
The Mustangs (10-3) will meet the winner of the Dickinson/Lamar game next week in the 6A Division I Region III Finals at a time and site to be determined.
A Mustang defensive unit full of fire entered the third quarter and kept the Eagles scoreless the remainder of the game. Outside linebacker Noah Campbell, middle linebacker Andrew Hyicinth and defensive lineman Brittan Larkin had stops for loss yardage and of very short gains to force the Eagles into punting situations.
“We knew it was going to be a slugfest,” Cy-Falls coach Kirk Eaton “We made some big plays in the second half, but we needed some more to match that first half.”
Starting quarterback Macicah Long attempted to play with a preexisting injury, but later left the game in pain. That’s when North Shore turned to its traditional power ground-game, to wear down the Eagles.
Backup quarter Bryant Badie took over for Long late in the second quarter. He accounted for 63 air-yards on 4-of-9 passing and had nine carries for 58 yards.
Mustang Running back Carl Guillory had 16 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns. While tailbacks Tyler Boudreaux and Eltroy Potts combined for 100 yards on 15 carries.
Unity would be one way to describe the Mustangs after opening the season 1-3 with three losses stemming from the hands of high ranking teams. Manvel 43-40, Westfield 31-28 and Euless Trinity 42-32.
North Shore opened the third quarter with a 55-yard game-tying drive where Boudreaux carried the ball three times before Badie threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Eric Monroe with 8:29 left in the third quarter.
“They played us more in the second half,” says coach Eaton. “I think that’s why we’re on the wrong side by seven points.”
Later, North Shore’s Guillory scored on a 14-yard touchdown run to close all scoring with 9:39 left in the fourth quarter.
In the first half, Cy-Falls (10-3) drove 67 yards in nine plays to grab a 7-0 lead when running back Desmond Hite charged in from two-yards out and Robert Barbee’s extra point kick.
Vaughns led the Eagles in rushing with 144 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Hite added 113 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown.
North Shore even the score using a short field after a 21-yard punt at the Eagles 43 yard line. A key 33-yard pass from Long to sophomore receiver Ralph Davis down at the Cy-Falls 11 was helpful. Then Boudreaux bounced up the middle of the field and rambled to the end zone which capped the final 11 yards. That tied the score at seven following the extra point kick.
In the second quarter, Cy-Falls benefited from back-to-back big plays. Running back Vaughns scored on a 91-yard misdirection play.
Free Safety Jarren Pollard followed Vaughns big play with one of his own by picking off Long’s pass and returning it 67-yards for a touchdown to increase the Eagles lead 21-7 after the extra point kick.
Instead of facing a two-touchdown deficit entering the third quarter, Guillory’s 45-yard touchdown run trimmed Cy-Falls lead to seven with 3:38 left in the second quarter. It all came together like a puzzle as North Shore continued to chip away.
“At halftime we told our kids we’ve been here before,” coach Kay explained. “We know how to react. We know what we’re cable of and we came out here the last 24 minutes and did that.”
Worn down for most of the second half, led to Cy-Falls lack of energy, which it could not afford and stay with North Shore and its bruising running game.
“I think we might have worn them down a little, but they were wearing us down to,” coach Kay said. “That’s the way a regional semifinal should be. Their 10-2 for a reason. They have a great program and they’re a physical football team.”