Evans’ 5 TDs help Mustangs stay perfect
North Shore running back Zach Evans didn’t play a lot in second halves this season, so he didn’t ring up a ton of yards or touchdowns, and that could cost him when the all-state selections are made.
He was all the Mustangs needed to make the state semifinals.
The junior crossed the goal line a season-high five times and supplied all of North Shore’s touchdowns in a 38-21 win over Cy-Fair on Saturday at NRG Stadium in the Class 6A Division I playoffs.
“He had a great week of practice,” North Shore coach Jon Kay said.
“He was focused, he got there early (in the) morning, was watching video, so he was dialed in and it showed.
“The offense is designed for the guy who’s open, and (Saturday) it was him.”
The newly crowned Region III champion, now 14-0, will face Lake Travis (13-1) in the state semifinals at 2 p.m. Saturday at NRG Stadium.
Cy-Fair, the reigning 6A Division II champ, ended its season 11-3.
But it also earned Kay’s respect after holding his squad to its lowest point total in three months and doing just about everything right, including three long touchdown drives and the game’s only takeaway.
“I can’t say enough about that Cy-Fair football team,” Kay said. “They are so well-coached. Those kids execute, the play their tails off, and there’s no reason why they didn’t deserve to win something like this.
“They won a state championship last year, and they came in and battled.”
The only thing they couldn’t do was match North Shore’s speed and every-down explosiveness.
North Shore led 24-14 at halftime.
Its four scoring drives in the first half lasted a combined 5:21. CyFair’s two first-half scoring drives totaled 12:04.
“They’re very talented on the offensive side,” Cy-Fair coach Ed Pustejovsky said. “Well, really both sides, but they can score so quick. It’s tough, but our kids fought hard … and best wishes to North Shore.
“I hope they continue their run.”
Cy-Fair’s opening series was expertly executed.
It went 79 yards on 14 plays, keeping the ball away from North Shore for half the first quarter (5:51) before scoring on quarterback Ryan Nelub’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Marcus McKinley for a 7-0 lead.
North Shore’s answer took 2:33 — and that was its longest first-half drive.
Evans capped it with a 15-yard run, then ended his team’s next scoring drive in 14 seconds with a 28-yard run.
But after Shadrach Banks fumbled at the goal line on North Shore’s third series, the Bobcats drove 98 yards on 13 plays, held the ball for 6:13, and scored on Nelub’s 2-yard pass to Jack Witmer.
That tied it 14-14 with 3:44 left in the first half.
So the Mustangs went right back to Banks for a 45-yard completion, setting up Evans’ third touchdown on a 25-yard run.
“It’s the maturity level they started to create through the course of the season,” Kay said. “We’re still relatively young at the skill positions, but when you play this many games together (you grow up).
“I love the consistency in the way they practice, and it shows in the games.”
Kay was happy to see his team have a clock-consuming drive in the third.
North Shore went up 31-14 on a 10-yard screen pass from Dematrius Davis to Evans, forced a Cy-Fair punt, then put together a 14-play, 80-yard drive that drained 6:11 off the clock, sealing the win.
Evans supplied the TD on an 18yard run for a 38-14 edge after three.
“Our offense’s ability to keep the ball in the third quarter was the key,” Kay said.
Evans finished with 17 carries for 139 yards and four TDs and three receptions for 39 yards and another score. Davis had 112 yards on nine carries, and 267 yards and one TD on 17-of-22 passing.
North Shore finished with 545 yards and 24 first downs.
Nelub led Cy-Fair with 142 yards and three TDs on 12-of-21 passing, finding three different receivers for scores.
“We’ve still got a ways to go,” Kay said. “We didn’t set our sights on winning a regional championship.
“We set our sights on being the best possible football team we can be.”