The 2022 Tax Act Texas Bowl pits the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Ole Miss Rebels tonight at NRG Stadium.
It also pits a pair of old teammates from one of the best high school teams in Texas High School Football history.
Texas Tech defensive lineman Tony Bradford Jr. and Ole Miss RB Zach Evans headlined the 2018 North Shore Mustangs, which won the UIL Class 6A DI State Title in one of the most historical games in Texas high school history, which ended on a last-second Hail Mary over state-power Duncanville 41-36. That team was named the National Champions by MaxPreps.
Bradford would go on to win the coveted Defensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Houston, and Evans would become a five-star recruit by all the national services.
On the way to their State title, North Shore would win three playoff games in NRG Stadium.
Now, they meet again as opponents.
“It’s exciting to watch two guys who played together in that stadium to get to compete against one another on the same turf,” North Shore coach Jon Kay said. “Both of those guys are immensely talented, and I know the community is pulling for both of them.”
Bradford has anchored the Texas Tech defensive line since his freshman season and is a team captain. Off the field, he has been even more impressive. He has earned a double major, served as a volunteer with the Texas Tech security department and is involved in countless community service organizations in Lubbock, which has earned him a position on the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He is also a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy – college football’s premier award for community service.
He will be back in Texas Tech black and red next year for his final year of eligibility.
On the other side of the ball, Zach Evans continues to build his legacy. Evans was the No. 2 RB in the country in 2019 and was the MaxPreps Junior National Player of the Year in 2018. Evans played well at TCU for two seasons before transferring to Ole Miss last year. The uber-talent is set up for a breakout senior year and could be an NFL prospect this time next year.
As tonight's game carries on, don't be surprised if there is a faint chant heard throughout the stadium that is very familiar to the city of Houston.
The North Shore mantra... "Eastside... Eastside... Eastside."