Convenience Big Store: North Shore, Summer Creek capture regional championships

December 3, 2023

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North Shore has been there before. Summer Creek is new to the party.

The commonality of the District 21-6A programs is they are both headed to the state semifinals.

The Mustangs (14-0) fought back from an early deficit Saturday afternoon against Atascocita (11-3). The Eagles led 14-0 before North Shore pulled ahead and held on for a 34-28 win. With the Region III-6A Division I title in hand, North Shore is headed to the state semifinals for the sixth straight season.

Summer Creek (13-1), meanwhile, had to rally late against Hightower (12-2) for its first trip to the state semifinals. The Bulldogs, who trailed by 11 points midway through the fourth quarter, earned the Region III-6A Division II crown when running back Lloyd Avant scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 21 seconds remaining to secure a 35-31 victory.

Quote of the night: "The one thing I told our guys is we want to be in a game like this in order to compete for a state championship. We have to go through some adversity. The one thing I'm most proud of is, at halftime when we were down, our kids did not panic." - Summer Creek coach Kenny Harrison

Stat of the night: 203. The number of receiving yards by North Shore wide receiver Christopher Barnes.

Rob Tate, Deputy High School Sports Coordinator

rtate@houstonchronicle.com

Saturday Night (High)lights

North Shore free safety Dezmon Christian (24) reacts after returning a blocked punt for a 24-yard touchdown during the second half of the Region III-6A Division II championship at Pasadena Veterans Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Pasadena.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman/Staff Photographer

North Shore knocked off district rival Atascocita to reach state semifinals.

North Shore advances to the state semifinals for the sixth straight season. The Mustangs will play Austin Westlake in the next round.

Summer Creek's Lloyd Avant (25) reacts as he crosses the goal line for a touchdown against Hightower in the first half of a high school football quarterfinal playoff football game at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 Houston.

Photo by: Kirk Sides/Staff Photographer

Lloyd Avant's late touchdown run lifts Summer Creek to first state semifinal.

The Bulldogs trailed 31-20 with 6-minutes, 46-seconds left in the game. They outscored the Hurricanes 15-0 down the stretch.

Westfield Mustang players take the field prior to a District 14-6A football game between the Nimitz Cougars and the Westfield Mustangs at Planet Ford Stadium in Spring, TX on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Photo by: Rhonda Taormina/Contributor

Duncanville too much as Westfield gets eliminated by Panthers again.

Westfield, which had won 10 straight games coming in, including 77 points put up against Rockwall last week, fell short of its fifth bid to the state semifinals.

North Shore defensive back Khamani Hudson (22) celebrates alongside free safety Paul Porter (17) and cornerback Lavonte Johnson (5) after intercepting a pass intended for Atascocita wide receiver Jelani Watkins during the second half of the Region III-6A Division II championship at Pasadena Veterans Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Pasadena.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

High school football playoffs: Check out the state semifinal pairings.

Check out this week's schedule for the fifth round of the high school football playoffs.

Photo by: Staff Illustration

High school football: Saturday's regional championship scoreboard.

Check out regional championship scores from across the state of Texas.

Photo of the week

Photo by: Jason Fochtman/Staff Photographer

North Shore free safety Dezmon Christian (24) reacts after returning a blocked punt for a 24-yard touchdown during the second half of the Region III-6A Division II championship at Pasadena Veterans Memorial Stadium, Saturday in Pasadena.