Photo: Andre Odums

For the third time in four years, North Shore (14-1) will play Duncanville for the right to claim its fifth state title. The Mustangs won titles in 2003, 2015, 2018, and 2019.

Freshman quarterback Kaleb Bailey had a hand in four touchdowns as the North Shore Mustangs downed the Austin Lake Travis Cavaliers, 49-21 in the Class 6A Division I Semifinals on Saturday evening at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock.

The victory also sends the Mustangs to finals for the third time in four years to face Duncanville on Saturday at 3:00 P.M. at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeated Southlake Carroll, 35-9 in its semifinal contest after meeting the Dragons for the fourth consecutive year.

Bailey proved to be a dual-threat, showing similarities of former Mustangs quarterback Dematrius Davis, now at Auburn University. The young gunslinger, who finished 8-of-11 with 122 yards, two touchdowns, added 203 rushing yards on 13 attempts and two scores.

North Shore jumped into action quickly as Bailey tossed an 83-yard touchdown pass to receiver David Amador, who caught four balls for 110 yards and two scores, to stake out a 7-0 lead after Carlos Dominguez’s kick. Still, Lake Travis would tie the score, 7-7, following Cavaliers’ quarterback Bo Edmundson’s 16-yard scoring toss to receiver Chernet Estes with 7:00 left in the first quarter.

Bailey and the Mustangs answered right after, when the young quarterback scrambled 67-yards through the Cavaliers’ defense to the end zone. North Shore led, 14-7. However, Lake Travis showed no signs of throwing in the towel as running back Derrick Johnson raced 47 yards to pay dirt, tying the game 14-14 following Hunter Rioux PAT.

Yet, the Mustangs eventually cleared the air, scoring 21 unanswered points to build a 35-14 halftime lead, including safety Jayven Anderson’s 36-yard pick-six.

Yet the Mustangs eventually cleared the air, scoring 21 unanswered points to build a 35-14 halftime lead, including safety Jayven Anderson’s 36-yard pick-six.

North Shore’s front seven controlled the line of scrimmage, filling the gaps while surrendering minimal ground yards. It’s secondary recorded a pair of interceptions while applying pressure on Edmundson, who completed 13-of-22 for 128 yards, two scores, and two interceptions.

Johnson led the Cavaliers’ ground game rushing 19 times for 113 yards, and Caleb Burton, an Ohio State commit, reeled in four balls for 56 yards.

North Shore scored two touchdowns in the second half and led 49-14 before Edmundson spotted Burton, making the final score 49-21.

The Cavaliers (12-3) struggled to keep North Shore out of the end zone as its season ended after a run of six state semifinal appearances in seven seasons.

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