Mustang mania gets another jump-start
Supporters turn out to celebrate state, national titles, honor undefeated champs
There couldn’t have been many places in Houston more festive than Galena Park ISD Stadium on Saturday.
It seemed like everyone was decked out in red or white hoodies with the words “North Shore vs. All Y’all” across the front. The music never stopped, and neither did the cheering from those in attendance clamoring to mingle with the players and coaches from the state and national champion Mustangs football team.
Also on hand was Mayor Sylvester Turner, who proclaimed the day to be “North Shore Mustangs Day.”
All of the pageantry was highlighted by the Army National Guard national ranking trophy, which sat to the right of the UIL Class 6A Division I football state championship trophy for all to see. In December, MaxPreps named the 16-0 Mustangs the top high school football team in the country.
North Shore joins Katy as a MaxPreps national champion; the Tigers won the coveted honor in 2015.
“This is the first time we’ve gotten to celebrate it together as a team with the fans on the field, taking pictures,” senior defensive end Tony Bradford said. “It’s a blessing. It’s something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”
Actually, the Mustangs have been celebrating since Christmas, but, as Bradford noted, Saturday was the first chance to do so as a community.
North Shore’s wild 41-36 victory over Duncanville, which ended with Dematrius Davis’ touchdown pass to a leaping AJ Carter in the end zone as time expired at AT&T Stadium, was on Dec. 22, but the period between the holidays and school being back in session for the spring semester made it difficult to find a good time when everyone could come out and honor the champions.
And the celebrating isn’t quite done yet.
The second national signing day period is Wednesday and likely will serve as a last hurrah for seniors like Bradford, who is signing with Texas Tech; Jordan Revels (Texas State) and Carter (Utah State).
The team’s boot camp for underclassmen started almost immediately after the season ended. Right now, players are in the weight room, and spring practice takes place in early May.
“We talked to the guys who are returning,” North Shore coach Jon Kay said. “You’re going to see Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because one day we’re going to be talking 2019 and then we have to switch personalities and celebrate ’18 and switch go back to ’19.”
Soon, all of the focus will be on 2019.
“We have a lot coming back on offense,” Davis said. “We have a lot leaving on defense. We’ll be good, though. We have a lot of underclassmen stepping up.”