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.
