Zach Evans accounts for seven touchdowns.
Where Jon Kay was concerned, the seven-touchdown, 232-yard rushing performance North Shore sophomore Zach Evans produced Friday was almost an afterthought in the Mustangs’ 52-21 win over Clear Springs.
Foremost in the mind of the North Shore coach was why his team was clinging to a 28-21 halftime lead in a Class 6A Division I area playoff game the Mustangs seemingly dominated all afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
North Shore held a 15-3 edge in first downs while limiting the Chargers to two completions and 4 yards rushing in the opening two quarters.
Despite that decisive difference, North Shore clung to a seven-point lead at in- termission.
“We were terrible on spe- cial teams in the first half,” Kay said. “We had a kickoff schemed up that was just totally screwed up, and we kicked it to probably the best returner (Peyton Sawyer) in the city of Houston and he did what he’s been doing all year — made people pay.
“Those 21 points … we knew if we could settle down on special teams, the defense was playing well enough to win. I think our kids finally did (settle down) in the second half.”
Grinding out the win
North Shore (8-3) next meets Lamar (10-1) at 7 p.m., Friday at Rice Stadium in a regional semifinal.
Clear Springs (8-3), the District 24-6A champion, was hoping to build on an explosive first half. But North Shore’s swarming defense continued its stellar play and the Mustangs’ offense didn’t miss a beat during the final two quarters.
Evans scored on runs of 5 and 79 yards on North Shore’s first two possessions of the second half as the lead quickly swelled to 42-21 by the 4:59 mark of the third quarter.
He added a 16-yard scoring burst early in the fourth quarter.
In the first half, Clear Springs scored on Sawyer’s 80-yard kickoff return following North Shore’s first touchdown to forge a 7-7 tie. The Chargers knotted the game again, this time at 14, when quarterback Garrett Rooker connected with Michael Gillaspia on a 15-yard touchdown strike.
Clear Springs tied the game for the last time at 21 when Rooker threw a perfect pass on a fly pattern to senior wide receiver Christian Waller to complete a 63-yard scoring play 5:23 before intermission.
Dynamic offensive duo
Evans powered the Mustangs by scoring on runs of 18, 16 and 7 yards while also catching a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dematrius Davis.
If sophomore sensation Evans wasn’t plenty to handle, freshman phenom Davis was just as troublesome for Springs, completing 17 of 25 passes for 252 yards and a score. They combined for a 31-point unanswered flurry.
“I give it all to the offensive line,” Evans said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.
“We came together today. I feel like we’re progressing, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Kay was initially shocked by Evans’ numbers, but not surprised.
“He’s a great young man, he’s working hard, and I’ve seen improvement in his practice habits,” Kay said. “He has a lot of physical abilities, but he understands he needs to improve.
“He’s amped up his practice habits, and it shows in the games.”