REPEAT JUST AS SWEET
Last-second dramatics not needed this time as North Shore earns another state crown
ARLINGTON — Dematrius Davis stood on the field, a gold medal draped around his neck and a black ballcap that read “Texas Tested” in gold letters sat on his head.
The North Shore junior quarterback went through his second Texas test on Saturday afternoon as he and the Mustangs met up with Duncanville in the Class 6A Division I state championship at AT&T Stadium for the second straight year.
And for the second time,
Davis left the building with an A-plus.
This time around, he didn’t have to resort to late-game heroics to beat the Panthers.
In the rematch Texas high school football enthusiasts were waiting for, North Shore beat Duncanville 31-17 after piecing together a game plan that showcased a deep and dynamic offense and a stifling defense.
The rematch was the game everyone had circled this week as 24 teams met in 12 games over the course of four days in the cavernous stadium in Arlington.
After all, last season, North Shore beat Duncanville in a thriller that came down to the last second.
In that one, Davis hit receiver A.J. Carter, now at Utah State, with a 45-yard Hail Mary to win the game.
The highlight video of the play is still circulating and motivated Duncanville to get back and take care of business. For North Shore, defending its title was a top priority.
The two went through grueling seasons and made it all the way back to the coveted state championship game.
But before they met up on Saturday, each had to deal with a disappointing loss.
Duncanville quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson tore his ACL in the second quarter of the team’s semifinal win over Rockwall a week ago.
Hours before the game on Saturday, news broke that North Shore running back Zach Evans would miss the game for violating team rules.
The absence of the two stars slightly marred the shine of the rematch, but by the time both teams took the field, the intensity and hype surrounding the game all made sense.
The stands were filled to the third deck as 47,818 fans filed in for the game.
Duncanville fans held up signs of support for freshman quarterback Chris Parsons, who performed admirably on the biggest stage in high school football, going 6-of-10 for 100 yards passing.
And Roger Hagan — a senior who started his football career in Galena Park as a B-team backup quarterback in seventh grade — stepped in as a backup to Evans and rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
The two filled giant shoes and did it well enough to make the game competitive, tense and close.
By halftime, it was knotted at 17. North Shore took a lead midway through the third quarter and Duncanville looked primed to answer with a score of its own.
They marched down to the North Shore 3-yard line and had a fourth-and-1. A score — heck, a first down — on the ensuing play would have given Duncanville momentum, confidence and a tie ballgame with the fourth quarter approaching.
Running back Trysten Smith carried the ball but was stuffed for a loss by linebacker Corey Flagg.
It wasn’t a Hail Mary, but the defensive stop was a massive play that gave North Shore control for the final stretch.
With 2:33 left to play, North Shore sealed the deal when
Davis found Charles King for a 44-yard touchdown pass.
Davis, a junior, finished with 16 carries for 123 yards and a rushing touchdown and completed 6-of-12 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.
He also earned his second straight state championship and still has another year with the Mustangs.
While all eyes were on a rematch this season, they’ll be on a potential Davis three-peat next season.
“We will get back to work in January and I think we can be pretty good again,” Davis said.
Davis and his teammates know now more than ever how tough the road can be.
A repeat state championship isn’t easy — especially in a region full of talent.
North Shore coach John Kay said the process for this one started early. The Mustangs lost their first game of the season to Katy 24-21.
“It was on ESPN, people were calling us national champions, there was a lot to it,” Kay said.
“The next day, I had to ask these young men to look in the mirror and evaluate themselves. That’s hard to do. What became apparent was that they were doing it every week, win or loss. That’s what stood out to me about this group this year.”
North Shore had the talent to get back to state and the skill to win it again.
They also developed the right mentality early. Every player on the team had to be accountable and ready. The Mustangs clearly were Saturday. With Evans out, they didn’t skip a beat.
There isn’t a highlight that will be played on a loop from North Shore’s 2019 state championship. Davis won’t be stopped in public as much to discuss an amazing pass that will go down in history.
But for the Mustangs, this win will be just as sweet.
North Shore is Texas tested. The Mustangs are the champs again.