Clash of champions
In first Class 6A game, Sharks lose to Mustangs as both teams begin quest for a repeat
Denver Harris did what five-star cornerbacks do Friday at Galena Park ISD Stadium — change the game.
The North Shore junior pulled down two interceptions in the Mustangs’ 38-21 win over Shadow Creek in the highly anticipated season opener between two state champions. Shadow Creek won Class 5A Division I last year and Friday was the Sharks’ maiden voyage into 6A. North Shore is the two-time defending 6A Division I state champions.
The Mustangs are reloaded again with players like Harris, who isn’t a new name on Houston’s eastside but has an opportunity to command the spotlight in 2020. He is the fifth-ranked cornerback in the country according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Harris’ timely interceptions flipped the game in North Shore’s favor. The first came as Shadow Creek drove deep into North Shore territory and Harris had no qualms in taking it back for a 95-yard score.
It put North Shore ahead 21-14 at the break in what was otherwise a topsy-turvy affair. Harris’ didn’t take his second pick back for a score to open the second half — it did set up an 11-play, 79-yard drive, ending with Daveon Ford’s 5-yard touchdown and a 28-14 lead, though.
Last season was Harris’ first on varsity and first as a full-time cornerback.
“I just never thought about getting a pick-six,” Harris said after the first picksix of his career. “Even as a child, I never thought about that.”
Even outside of Harris, Friday was a reminder how talented both teams are.
North Shore’s Charles King had four catches for 115 yards and a 9-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the second quarter. He pulled down a one-handed 46yard catch in the first quarter that could count as the season’s first head-turning play.
Shadow Creek receiver C. J. Guidry and Harris matched up against each other. Guidry had his moments, too. The senior University of Houston commitment took a kickoff back for an 86-yard touchdown in the second quarter That kickoff return, he kind of showed that he’s got some wheels,” Shadow Creek coach Brad Butler said. “But we also made some miscues, too. So, we’ve got a lot to work on and if we can put it all together, a few weeks down the road, I think by the time district rolls around, we’ve got a chance to be pretty good.”
Shadow Creek’s speed was on display all night.
The challenge that presented is why North Shore coach Jon Kay was excited to schedule the Sharks, who lose for the first time in 33 regular-season games.
After North Shore took a 28-14 lead, Shadow Creek’s Kelvon Brown quickly separated himself from defenders for an 81-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to seven in the fourth quarter.
North Shore did enough to stave off the Sharks, though. Andres MontesZamora’s 30-yard field goal and North Shore quarterback Dematrius Davis’ 20yard touchdown in the fourth quarter put a stamp on the win.
Shadow Creek quarterback Kyron Drones, a Baylor commitment who moved gingerly after a few rough plays Friday, was 6 of 18 for 160 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Drones still rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries, though.
Davis, an Auburn commitment, was 14 of 20 for 197 yards and one touchdown with 14 carries for 78 yards and another touchdown with an interception.
“Defense, they really fought,” said Davis on the win. “They really showed me they could fight. I’ll know that for later in the season whenever I throw a pick or turn over the ball, I know that they’re going to fight for me.”