ALVIN – Heading into a game, which pitted a pair of undefeated District 10-5A-DI teams against each other, there were a multitude of storylines.
The defensive unit of the Sharks would be talked about, considering they were the best in the district coming in. Friendswood beating Foster 34-32 the previous week to preserve their undefeated season was a lot of the talk heading into this showdown.
Shadow Creek wanted to make a statement.
Anchored by LSU-commit Alec Bryant, Texas-commit Xavion Alford and Kansas State-commit Ronald Tripplete to name a few, the defense did its usual job, holding the Mustangs' offense to zero points, but it was the offensive unit that made the loudest statement.
And it's time to take notice of the Sharks' offense.
Led by first-year quarterback Kyron Drones, the Sharks offense was firing on all cylinders – hitting a pair of 64-yard touchdown passes and a 34-yard touchdown run in the first quarter – to end Friendswood's campaign for an undefeated season with a 51-6 victory on Friday at Freedom Field.
"I felt during the week that we had some really good preparation days, good practices and they were able to come out here today and get off to a good start," Shadow Creek coach Brad Butler said. "I was proud of their focus because that was a good football team."
.@SCSharkFootball ups lead to 20-0 when @KyronDrones to Jahkin Middleton #txhsfb @vypehouston pic.twitter.com/33zoXUb6e3
— Joe Gleason (@joeagleason) October 19, 2019
Drones, who called this a "statement game", and the offense started off the season hot – the junior throwing 12 of his 20 touchdowns in the first three games – and have been able to maintain it with just a few dips here and there.
The junior quarterback entered the game listed as the second-best signal-caller in District 10-5A-DI by yardage, just behind Foster's Ryan Stubblefield.
Drones finished the first half 7 of 12 for 168 yards with three touchdowns and by night's end was 10 of 15 for 230 yards and three scores.
"We were just focused the whole week," Drones said. "I just saw opportunities where everything was open, so I just took it. We had opportunities to score and just completed them."
Drones with the performance now has 1,428 yards and 20 touchdowns for the season.
"Experience is huge," Butler said about Drones' development. "We knew coming in that he had the potential to do a great job. It's just getting snaps and being in it, there's no substitute for getting to do it."
VYPE POSTGAME: @SCSharkFootball coach @coachbbutler talks after a dominating win by his team to move to 7-0 on the year. Next up ... Foster. #txhsfb @ABXCII @KyronDrones @fvmous_tripp @dctf @100YARDLANDLORD @_warrenshankle @ShadowCreekHS @joeagleason @abc13sports @CjHtx02 pic.twitter.com/TUMi6kIjxp
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) October 19, 2019
The trio combined for 241 yards, averaging 8.61 yards per carry, and four scores to add another wrinkle to the potent offense.
"They run hard," Drones said. "Credit to the line and they just do their job."
Senior Jayveon Bell led the group with 16 carries for 109 yards and a score, followed by Kelvon Brown with six carries for 89 yards and two scores.
"It's dangerous," Bell said about the backfield. "Me and Drones, we connect. We see eye to eye."
With the undefeated record protected for another week, Shadow Creek has Foster on deck, which has become a quick-rising rivalry, especially with the two teams fighting for the district crown a year ago and meeting in the playoffs.
Shadow Creek won both, including a playoff thriller where they scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to win 35-34.
"Those two crazy ballgames last year," Butler said with a wide smile and laugh. "I know everybody in the offseason was talking about that matchup. It will be a big, big ballgame and I'm sure both teams will show up ready to play."
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
