The Galena Park North Shore Mustang’s had a difficult outing in the inaugural game of their 2009-2010 season against the Katy Tiger’s losing 7-9 at Rhodes Memorial Stadium. The Mustang’s had to prove why they are one of the most dominating football squads in Texas 5A football this week against another dominant team the Eisenhower Eagles.
North Shore’s passing offense seemed to be more in sync this week as Junior QB Keenan Gibson made his second start this season. But this game was decided more by the special team’s play of both squads as North Shore struck first in the first and second quarter with two rushing touchdowns off of Eisenhower’s Jose Martinez punts. The most impressive of the two was Keenan Gibson’s special teams play, with a 66 yard run for the touchdown giving North Shore a commanding lead 14-0 with the extra point conversion over Eisenhower. Tonight’s game didn’t seem to be going very well for Ray Evan’s Eisenhower Eagles, but in the blink of an eye Eagle’s RB Travion Taylor returned a Mustang punt 70 yards putting the Eagles only a touchdown away from the Mustang’s.

North Shore rebounds with a victory.
Photo by Greg Pierson
After that, North Shore’s defense had a phenomenal game as they baffled the Eagles passing game to mere 50 yards in the night. The run defense had trouble stopping Travion Taylor as he rushed for over 150 yards in the game, but North Shore still managed to stop the Eagle offense with less than two minutes to go before the half with a safety sending the score 16-0 into the half.
In the second quarter the Eagles offense came out punching with a long drive, but the Mustang defense managed to force the Eagles into a punt situation, several plays later, the Mustang offense rallied for the touchdown with a Tracie Woods 9 yard run. The Eagles tried to score quickly, but were stopped by the Mustang defense, with a key interception, and a forced fumble. The Mustang’s seemed to be cruising into their 1st win of the 2009-2010 season, but after an impressive offensive play calling by Eagles coach Ray Evans the eagles finally reached the red zone that gave the touchdown with a James Jones touchdown with a little over a minute left in the 3rd quarter. This brought the score 23-14 with a whole quarter to go. The Eagles kicked the ball off to the Mustang’s Devon Gibson but 98 yards later he scored the decisive touchdown in the match and gave the Mustang’s an impressive first win 30-14 over the Eagles.
The Mustang’s next game will be against Cypress Falls this Friday at Galena Park Stadium at 7 p.m.