HS Football Playoffs: North Shore defense throttles Deer Park

North Shore held Deer Park to 140 yards of total offense, holding off the Deer 17-10 to advance to the second round of the 5A, Division I playoffs.

Junior quarterback Austin Rainer completed just five of 18 passes for 70 yards and the Deer punted eight times. They managed only five first downs all game, averaging just 2.2 yards per rush.

Deer Park spotted North Shore a 17-0 lead.

Kenneth Tabora's 25-yard field goal gave the Mustangs a 3-0 lead with 7:19 remaining in the first quarter, then touchdown runs by Terry Jackson (five carries, 48 yards) and Reggie Bryant (13 carries, 132 yards) extended it.

Deer Park (7-4) finally got on the board with ten seconds remaining in the first half on Jacob O'Neill's 25-yard field goal. The score was 14-3 at halftime.

Senior running back Jarrod Blocker (15 carries, 71 yards) pulled Deer Park within a score on a 25-yard touchdown run with 9:17 remaining in the third quarter. But North Shore's defense shut them out the remainder of the game.

Payden McVey led Deer Park in receiving, catching four passes for 61 yards.

North Shore (10-1) will play Fort Bend Hightower, a 42-35 overtime first round winner over Clear Springs, in the second round of the playoffs.