By Allan Jamail
November 9, 2023 – At Galena Park ISD stadium, in a drenching rain, the North Shore (NS) Mustangs won their Bi-District game over the visiting Deer Park Deer, 42-14. It was the 24th consecutive time the Eastside Boys advanced into the UIL Texas Football State Championships playoffs, and their 43rd consecutive district win.
The torrential rain kept the usual large crowd of fans at home. The fans of both teams who braved the rainy cold-front wore rain gear to root for their team.
The Deer scored first from a fumble recovery on the NS three yard line. That’s a first in several seasons that NS didn’t make the first score or even score at all in the first quarter. The Deer defense shutout the Eastside Boys until midway into the second quarter, when NS tied the game 7- 7. NS went ahead 14-7 with less than a minute before halftime.
In the second quarter, NS broke open the game with three TD’s. QB Kaleb Bailey ran 53 yds on a keeper for a TD; D’Andre Hardeman ran 84 yds for a TD; Charles Ross, a defensive line backer, picked up a Deer fumble and ran 25 yds for a TD; and Deion Deblanc scored on a 43 yd Bailey pass, making the score NS 42 – 7. With five minutes remaining, the Deer scored, capping the score 42-14.
Mustang scorers: D’andre Hardeman – 2 TDs, QB Kaleb Bailey 2 TD’s & 1 pass TD, Deion Deblanc 1 TD. Jonathan Soto’s perfect kicking made 6 extra points. He has not missed this season.
The offense made 402 yds to the Deer’s 194. NS defense held the Deer to 35 rushing yds.
For the season, NS offense has made 516 points. Their defense has allowed only 154 points.
North Shore, with a 11-0 record, hosts the League City Clear Springs Chargers with a 7 – 4 record at the GPISD stadium Friday, November 17, 2023 at 7PM.
Linda Jamail, statistician and photographer