North Shore withstands Clear Springs in Texas high school football playoff showdown

Nationally ranked North Shore pulled away for a 49-21 victory in the area round of the Texas high school football playoffs

Clear Springs (7-5) hung with the No. 2 team in Texas for more than two quarters of Friday's area round matchup, but North Shore (12-0) ultimately proved too much to handle in the second round of the Texas high school football playoff

The Mustangs, ranked No. 2 in the Lone Star state and No. 9 in the country, were locked in a close battle with Clear Springs for most of the first three quarters, but they asserted their dominance late to win, 49-21, to advance to the third round of the UIL postseason.

The game was tied 14-14 at halftime and 21-21 late in the third quarter before North Shore scored 28 unanswered points to run away with the game. 

D'Andre Hardeman paced the Mustangs with three rushing touchdowns, including a 90-yard touchdown to make it a two-score game early in the fourth quarter.

North Shore junior quarterback Kaleb Bailey left the game due to an apparent injury in the third quarter with the game tied. Sophomore Kaleb Maryland scored the go-ahead touchdown on a two-yard keeper and led the offense the rest of the game. 

North Shore is set to take on Cy-Fair next week in the regional semifinal round of the UIL 6A D1 playoffs. The Bobcats defeated Katy, 28-21, in the area round. 

(Feature photo by Tom Dendy)

-- Zach Shugan | @SBLiveTX

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