ARLINGTON - Last season was the "Hail Mary."
This year, it was "The Stop."
With the game in the balance with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter, the explosive Duncanville Panthers were on the doorstep of tying the game at 24-24. Instead, the North Shore defense made "The Stop" on 4th and 1-yard from their three-yard line.
Duncanville RB Trysten Smith was tackled for a loss by North Shore's Corey Flagg and Alonzo Brown. Ball game.
The momentum flipped and the 'Stangs were able to hold Duncanville scoreless in the second half as QB Dematrius Davis and the offense wore down the Panther defense to win 31-17 for their third state title in five years.
"Our defense is used to those type of plays," senior linebacker Corey Flagg said. "We go up against Zach Evans, Dematrius Davis, John Gentry, and Roger Hagan during practice every day. We just make a play."
HIGHLIGHT: Huge defensive stand by the @NSNationFB defense as @CanesFootball signee @CoreyFlaggJr drops the boom on the ball carrier here. What a play on 4th and goal inside their own 5 to force a turnover. #txhsfb #UILState @MaxPreps @dctf @Dematrius09 @NSSH_Mustangs pic.twitter.com/yZpEiVJiE3
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) December 21, 2019
The Miami-signee was the Defensive Player of the Game.
Think about that. The defense shut out Duncanville in the second half. The Panthers were 1 for 4 on fourth downs and 4 of 10 on third downs and only tallied 253 total yards on the game. Granted their starting QB and Texas-signee was out with an ACL injury, but the Panthers are loaded with playmakers.
It was just what the doctor ordered as North Shore's defense has taken some criticism this year.
"I think some people thought North Shore forgot how to play defense this year," coach Jon Kay said. "This year, our special teams have put us in some tough spots and we've had some tough down and distances. Our coaches had a great game plan and our guys really stepped up. It was an amazing effort by those guys, holding them to zero points in the second half?"
It wasn't a 50-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the game, but it fits the community's manta -- #Eastside tough.
