Zoey Taylor
My name is Zoey Taylor, I am 16 years-old. I am a junior at Ridge point High School. In my spare time, I like to cook, help my mom around the house, chill with my little brother, and watch sports. When I grow up, I want to be a Sports Analyst or a Sports Agent. I am looking forward to covering all sports at Ridge Point to shine a light on our amazing programs. When it comes to being a VypeU Ambassador, I am most excited to learn and understand all that goes on behind the scenes of sports, learning how articles can help players and key attributes in producing my best body of work. With this experience I’m hoping to learn how to be more confident when doing in-person interviews, how to utilize the skills I have learned about writing, understanding how media could help and harm players in the sporting industry and I also want to be able to improve my skill set when it comes to writing to better articulate what I’m seeing as a media source for the masses.
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VYPE U: Shadow Creek Finishes Unfinished Business
Dec 23, 2019
The unfinished business has been finished. After a disappointing loss in the state final last year against the Highland Park Scots, the Shadow Creek Sharks finished it on Friday night with a 28-22 win against the Denton Ryan Raiders in the 2019 UIL 5A Division I State Championship. The Sharks finished this season 16-0 and earned their first state title in only their second year as a UIL varsity football program.
The Sharks started off the first quarter with a touchdown by quarterback Kyron Drones. The Raiders, however, would respond on the ensuing kick return with a trick play to take it to the house. A two-point conversion would bring the score to 8-7 to end the first quarter.
Going into the second quarter, an interception by the Raiders left them on their own eight-yard line. The Sharks' defense would respond with a quick three-and-out. During the punt, a strange series of events led to points for the Sharks. First, a bad snap led Denton Ryan's punter into the end zone, where instead of falling on the ball or kicking it out of the endzone for a safety he kicked it forward, which is an illegal kick. In the confusion, Randy Masters recovered the kick and, as everyone seemed unsure of what to do, he returned the ball 37 yards for a touchdown. Because the penalty was not a dead ball penalty, the touchdown stood, putting the Sharks back in front 14-8. The Raiders would force another interception on the Sharks, but couldn't capitalize, sending the Sharks into the locker room up 14-8 at the half.
The Sharks have been known for their halftime adjustments all season, and this game was no different. They came out in the third quarter and quickly put a scoring drive together. Drones added his second rushing touchdown of the night to extend their lead to 21-8. The Raiders would cut into the Sharks' lead with a touchdown, sending the game into the fourth quarter with the Sharks leading 21-15.
The fourth quarter was a story about defense. The Denton Ryan Raiders would recover a fumble on the Sharks' 39-yard line, but the Sharks' defense would not let the Raiders' offense get going. With two minutes left in the game, the Sharks would extend their lead to 28-15 with a touchdown by running back Kelvon Brown. With 1:14 left, the Raiders would respond again to pull within six, 28-22. With three timeouts in their pocket, the Raiders' defense would stop the Sharks with 50 seconds left on the clock. The Raiders would push the ball down the field, helped by a defensive unnecessary roughness penalty. With two seconds left on the clock, a Hail Mary to senior Drew Sanders, would be deflected by who many would say was the hero of the game, TJ Marshall, to end the state championship 28-22.
Kansas State commit Jeremiah Harris was awarded Defensive MVP and junior quarterback Kryon Drones was awarded Offensive MVP. The Sharks put the cherry on the cake on Friday night after only two varsity seasons, and the seniors of the 2020 class will be allowed to say that they ended their UIL varsity high school careers with a 31-1 football record, plus back-to-back state championship appearances and a state title.
VYPE U: Manvel Dominates Barbers Hill To Advance To Regional Final
Dec 02, 2019
The Manvel Mavericks have done it again. They beat the Barbers Hill Eagles 55-35 to punch their ticket to the UIL 5A Division II Region III Final. The Mavs pulled it out on Friday afternoon with a great show on both sides of the ball.
The Mavericks started the game on defense, but that unit was in and out with a quick three and out. The offense took advantage with a touchdown from senior QB Tucker Yarbrough to junior receiver Jalen Walthall on a quick slant to bring the score to 7-0. Barbers Hill quickly responded with a QB run, which brought the Eagles to first and goal and allowed them to set up a tying 7-7 score.
On the Mavs' second drive, it only took two plays before Tucker Yarbrough connected with Jalen Walthall again for another touchdown and a new 14-7 lead. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Barbers Hill muffed a punt return and the Mavs recovered on the Eagles' 24-yard line. Senior running back Donovan Eaglin found the end zone to bring the score to 21-7.
It was a high scoring first quarter for both teams. The Eagles would add a score on a short run, but the Mavs returned with another touchdown by Donovan Eaglin to enter the second quarter with a 27-14 lead.
The Manvel defense would hold the Eagles to one touchdown in the second period, while Jalen Paxton and Donovan Eaglin added scores to advance the Mavs' lead to 41-21 before halftime.
The Eagles were down, but not out. They would score two more touchdowns in the second half, but it just wasn't enough. The Mavs' offense wasn't letting up, and Donovan Eaglin scored two more touchdowns to finalize the score at 55-35.
Senior running back Donovan Eaglin was a name you heard a lot from in Friday's game. He finished with five touchdowns and over 280 rushing yards. Throughout the playoffs, he has run for 723 yards and 12 touchdowns in just three rounds. This young man is a force to be reckoned with. Since the playoffs started, he has earned three college offers and, if he keeps up the pace, many more should arrive.
Manvel said earlier in the year that we would see it in December, and defended that prediction. The Mavericks are continuing to take each game one at a time and have earned their Monday each week. Their goal is to play for a state title in AT&T Stadium before the end of the month. The Mavs' next test is Fort Bend Marshall in this week's fourth round of the playoffs.