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Hightower topples North Shore
By DAVID TAYLOR
The Hightower Hurricanes stirred up a storm and upset the No. 2 state-ranked North Shore Mustangs at Memorial Stadium Friday night in a 28-21 come-from-behind victory.
The Hurricanes jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead and then led at the half, 20-7 before the Mustangs made their move to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, 21-20.
The opportunistic Hurricanes used a couple of Mustang first half turnovers to get the lead, but it was the speed of Hightower that gave the defense trouble early in the game.
“We knew they were good and had speed,” said Mustang Head Coach David Aymond. “They were everything we expected.”
The Hurricanes got a break early in the first quarter when they blocked the Mustangs punt at their own 25. Hightower set up at the Mustang 10-yard line and on the first play from scrimmage, AJ Highsmith connected with Darius Johnson for the TD and 7-0 lead.
After the Mustangs drive stalled at the Hightower 33, the Hurricanes went 70 yards in seven plays and hit paydirt again. The second TD came on another Highsmith pass, this one to Joshua Wesley from five yards out.
The Mustangs were pinned deep at their own 13-yard line following the kickoff, but went 87yards for their first score. The big play came on first down for the Mustangs at the Hurricane 47 yard line and North Shore quarterback Alex Tillman found Deandrew White open in the secondary. The PAT by Ricardo Perez was good and the Mustangs had cut the lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter.
Hightower capitalized on another short field when Tillman coughed up the ball at their 31-yard line. Three plays later, Highsmith threw a nine-yard pass to Lydell Williams and the Hurricanes owned were sensing an upset at halftime, leading 20-7. The PAT, which looked like it might not matter, became critical late in the fourth quarter.
“We went into the locker room and talked to them about the mistakes and miscues,” said Aymond. “We told them they still had 24 minutes of football to play and that was a lifetime for a comeback.”
The speech worked. The Mustangs spent most of the second half in Hightower territory. Their first two possessions came up short, ending at the Hurricane 27 and 31. On the third possession, the Mustangs needed only four plays and 69 yards. With 10:54 remaining, Tillman hit tight end Barrett Matthews for a 48 yard touchdown reception. Perez’s PAT was good and early in the fourth quarter, it was 20-14.
The momentum began to flow in the Mustangs favor. Hard running by Tillman and Deaundre Jones moved the ball to the Hightower six yard line. On second down from the two-yard line, Tillman kept it and scored for North Shore, tying the score at 20-20 with 4:03 left in the game. Perez gave the Mustangs the lead temporarily with his PAT, 21-20.
“Early in the game they kept creating a short field for themselves,” said Defensive Coordinator John Kay. “In the second half, we tried to keep them off balance.”
The critical moment came with 3:08 in the game when the Mustangs held Hightower on fourth down. The Hurricanes punted the ball and with exactly three minutes left in the game, they held the Mustangs deep in their own territory. On a third and 14 from their own 10-yard line, Jones fumbled the ball back to the Mustang five yard line.
The Mustang punt on fourth down was shanked off Abraham Lugo’s foot and only went to the Mustang 14-yard line. Three plays later, Highsmith called his own number and scored the winning touchdown with 33 ticks left in the game.
“We give credit to them,” said Aymond. “They won the game.”
The Mustangs didn't have a problem moving the ball, piling up 396 yards of offense, 133 rushing and 263 passing. The Hurricanes were limited to 188, 98 rushing and 90 passing. Tillman completed 15 of 26 passes for 263 yards passing and two TDs.
Highsmith finished completing 7 of 22 passes for 92 yards, three TDs and one interception. Highsmith also rushed for one TD.
The Mustangs (9-1, 5-0) finish a record-setting season while the Hurricanes (10-0) will advance to the next round of the playoffs against Cinco Ranch.
The Hurricanes jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead and then led at the half, 20-7 before the Mustangs made their move to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, 21-20.
The opportunistic Hurricanes used a couple of Mustang first half turnovers to get the lead, but it was the speed of Hightower that gave the defense trouble early in the game.
“We knew they were good and had speed,” said Mustang Head Coach David Aymond. “They were everything we expected.”
The Hurricanes got a break early in the first quarter when they blocked the Mustangs punt at their own 25. Hightower set up at the Mustang 10-yard line and on the first play from scrimmage, AJ Highsmith connected with Darius Johnson for the TD and 7-0 lead.
After the Mustangs drive stalled at the Hightower 33, the Hurricanes went 70 yards in seven plays and hit paydirt again. The second TD came on another Highsmith pass, this one to Joshua Wesley from five yards out.
The Mustangs were pinned deep at their own 13-yard line following the kickoff, but went 87yards for their first score. The big play came on first down for the Mustangs at the Hurricane 47 yard line and North Shore quarterback Alex Tillman found Deandrew White open in the secondary. The PAT by Ricardo Perez was good and the Mustangs had cut the lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter.
Hightower capitalized on another short field when Tillman coughed up the ball at their 31-yard line. Three plays later, Highsmith threw a nine-yard pass to Lydell Williams and the Hurricanes owned were sensing an upset at halftime, leading 20-7. The PAT, which looked like it might not matter, became critical late in the fourth quarter.
“We went into the locker room and talked to them about the mistakes and miscues,” said Aymond. “We told them they still had 24 minutes of football to play and that was a lifetime for a comeback.”
The speech worked. The Mustangs spent most of the second half in Hightower territory. Their first two possessions came up short, ending at the Hurricane 27 and 31. On the third possession, the Mustangs needed only four plays and 69 yards. With 10:54 remaining, Tillman hit tight end Barrett Matthews for a 48 yard touchdown reception. Perez’s PAT was good and early in the fourth quarter, it was 20-14.
The momentum began to flow in the Mustangs favor. Hard running by Tillman and Deaundre Jones moved the ball to the Hightower six yard line. On second down from the two-yard line, Tillman kept it and scored for North Shore, tying the score at 20-20 with 4:03 left in the game. Perez gave the Mustangs the lead temporarily with his PAT, 21-20.
“Early in the game they kept creating a short field for themselves,” said Defensive Coordinator John Kay. “In the second half, we tried to keep them off balance.”
The critical moment came with 3:08 in the game when the Mustangs held Hightower on fourth down. The Hurricanes punted the ball and with exactly three minutes left in the game, they held the Mustangs deep in their own territory. On a third and 14 from their own 10-yard line, Jones fumbled the ball back to the Mustang five yard line.
The Mustang punt on fourth down was shanked off Abraham Lugo’s foot and only went to the Mustang 14-yard line. Three plays later, Highsmith called his own number and scored the winning touchdown with 33 ticks left in the game.
“We give credit to them,” said Aymond. “They won the game.”
The Mustangs didn't have a problem moving the ball, piling up 396 yards of offense, 133 rushing and 263 passing. The Hurricanes were limited to 188, 98 rushing and 90 passing. Tillman completed 15 of 26 passes for 263 yards passing and two TDs.
Highsmith finished completing 7 of 22 passes for 92 yards, three TDs and one interception. Highsmith also rushed for one TD.
The Mustangs (9-1, 5-0) finish a record-setting season while the Hurricanes (10-0) will advance to the next round of the playoffs against Cinco Ranch.
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