Shadow Creek outlasts Wagner
Sharks returning to Class 5A Div. I state title game
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Wagner’s Avante Stevens had just returned a squib kick 75 yards for a touchdown to end the first half, indicative of why the Thunderbirds have been a thorn in Shadow Creek’s side for two meetings now.
Shadow Creek could have gone into the break with an 11-point lead off Kyron Drones’ 55-yard touchdown pass to CJ Guidry at the 12-second mark. Stevens’ score cut it to just a three-point advantage.
Guidry had more magic in store, though, and he didn’t mind letting some know in the locker room.
“He said he’s got to return one since they returned one,” Shadow Creek quarterback Drones said of Guidry. “He said he’s got to show them what’s good and he did.”
That confidence. That swagger. It’s not supposed to be riddled throughout a
second-year varsity program.
Shadow Creek is no ordinary second-year program. The Sharks withstood Wagner in a 45-21 win Friday at Alamo Stadium in a Class 5A Division I state semifinal rematch. The teams played at NRG Stadium last year.
Guidry opened the third quarter with an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, which catapulted Shadow Creek to 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Arguably the most impressive two-year debut for a UIL varsity program is even more impressive with consecutive state championship game appearances now. Shadow Creek (15-0) is 30-1 overall in its first two years of varsity play.
Shadow Creek will meet Saturday’s Denton Ryan and Frisco Lone Star winner at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at AT&T Stadium, where it fell to Highland Park in 2018’s state final.
Neither team had reason to feel comfortable early. The teams traded four touchdowns in the first quarter. Only a missed Wagner PAT and Eric Landaverde’s 25-yard field goal gave Shadow Creek a 17-13 advantage heading into the second frame.
Both defenses seemed to find its bearings in the second quarter. Shadow Creek bent but didn’t break against a triple option that found success early. Wagner (13-2) applied the pressure and kept those highlight moments few and far between for Shadow Creek.
That is, until Guidry’s kickoff return.
“I scored the touchdown to take us to the half and he did that,” Guidry said of Stevens. “I had to come out and do something special like that and I did.”
After Stevens’ score, Isaiah Williams’ two-point conversion pass to Jordan Patterson provided even more momentum for Wagner but Shadow Creek didn’t let it linger.
Shadow Creek senior defensive back Jorge Jones nabbed an interception on Wagner’s next drive after Guidry’s return to keep the Thunderbirds grounded.
A few drives later, Drones hit Jared Jackson for a 55yard touchdown. Chancellor Byers’ ensuing interception protected the Sharks’ 38-21 third-quarter lead. Those plays from the defensive backfield were huge for Shadow Creek against this triple option offense.
“It’s run, run, run and so if you’re not careful, you look up and you get fooled,” Shadow Creek coach Brad Butler said. “Chancellor Byers, (Kullen) Murrell and then Jaylen (Lane) and Jorge (Jones), they did a great job.”
Drones completed 11 of 22 passes for 219 yards and three scores. Shadow Creek had a big night from Jay’Veon Bell with 146 yards and a score on 19 carries.
Wagner’s LJ Butler, who was huge against Shadow Creek in last year’s semifinal with 158 rushing yards, had 75 yards on 15 carries this time.