No. 22 Jasmine Howard (12) attempting a layup despite Clements' guard.
Olivia Raymond
Olivia Raymond
No. 15 Gabby Owens (12) keeping guard before Clements' makes their play.
Jayven Anderson, North Shore
The attention to detail coach Jon Kay and his staff pride themselves on make the Mustangs “The Brand” in Texas high school football – winning four of the last seven State Titles and seven straight Region III Final appearances.
The ‘Stangs are 13-0 going into their game with Atascocita (11-2), who they beat 16-13 earlier in the regular season for the District 21-6A title.
Despite what their record indicates, the Mustangs have been through some adversity. Starting QB Kaleb Bailey has been out for the season since the CE King game (Week 5) with a knee injury. Enter WR and UTSA commit David Amador who took over the reins of the offense for a while. Evan Jackson has also filled in at QB recently, allowing Amador to return to his WR spot.
“At this time of year, everyone is ground to a nub in Class 6A football,” Coach Jon Kay said. “We are just trying to keep 11 healthy players out there.”
Jackson will likely run the offense against Atascocita.
“He has a tremendous football IQ,” Kay said. “He is one of our best defensive backs and now has moved to the offensive side of the ball. He’s also our punter and is a great return man.”
Whoever plays QB will have a dynamic duo in the backfield.
“Our OC Willie Gaston has done a great job managing our backs Rashaad Johnson and D’Andre Hardeman,” Kay said. “They are critical and he has been load-managing them for weeks. We see a lot of teams who have great backs but after 200 carriers, they aren’t the same player. Our guys are just hitting their stride and have fresh legs.”
Defensively, it’s been a team effort at every level.
“Our defensive line has carried us,” he said. “Cortney Brooks, Nicholas Goins, Jaylon Joseph and Elijah Fields are extremely underrated up front. Javon Coles (LB) has been lights out along with Marlon Germany. The secondary has also played really well creating turnovers.”
All that being said, all eyes will be on Randall Reed Stadium in New Caney this Friday Night at 7 pm, as North Shore lines up against their local nemesis Atascocita.
“It just one of those vicious and highly-respected rivalries,” he said. “We both know what each other brings to the table and at the end of the game… good football has been played. It will be a war that will go down to the final whistle. That’s the football you want to see this time of year.”
FB Christian's standout WR Bryan Domino
Bradley Collier (VYPE)
The Eagles -- led by coach and former NFL lineman Jordan Black -- are eager to immortalize their year as they are set to compete in the TAPPS Division II State Championship for the first time in school history.
When he’s not dunking a basketball to the delight of his athletes, Black is directing one of the finest rosters FBCA has seen since its establishment in 1987 -- back when the school was known as Sugar Creek Baptist Church School.
Following a 3-4 start, FBCA flipped the script by ending the regular season with three consecutive victories to earn a playoff. Thanks to their explosive offense, the Eagles went on a postseason tear knocking off Hyde Park (69-0), Regents (27-24) and Second Baptist School (41-14) to punch their ticket to the TAPPS Final.
The success of this team can be attributed to the connection between standout WR Bryan Domino and QB Brady Dever. Originally, Domino went to Foster High School before transferring to FBCA before his junior year.
“We [Dever and I] have been close since the sixth grade,” said Domino. “We’ve just always had that bond. In my junior year when I came over here, we just put in the time and work throughout the whole year and summer. That’s when it [the QB-WR connection] really hit us.”
FBCA QB Brady DeverBradley Collier (VYPE)
Dever has enjoyed an exceptional senior season with 24 touchdown passes -- 11 of which have gone to the speedy wide-out Domino. Domino has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards this season, which has led to him getting numerous offers to play in college.
“Ever since I came here [FBCA], I feel like my football IQ and catching ability has improved,” Domino said. “I’ve known that we had the ability to win. We didn’t make it that far last year, but this year we’ve just grown as players. This team has a whole new energy to it.”
It all comes down to Friday's game at noon at Waco ISD Stadium as the Eagles face All Saints.
“We just need to play the same as we did against Second Baptist,” said Domino. “We’ve got to pay attention to details and just execute. If we win, it will change the whole environment here. We’ve always had doubters and it will alter the mentality of the program. We won’t need that chip on our shoulders anymore. Just bring it on.”
The faces of FBC Eagle FootballBradley Collier (VYPE)
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