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SHARKS PUNCH TICKET TO STATE FOOTBALL FINALS WITH 41-24 TRIUMPH OVER SA WAGNER

Sharks punch ticket to state football finals with 41-24 triumph over SA Wagner

STEVE COLLINS

The Alvin Sun | 12/18/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Prentice C. James

Erupting for 27 fourth quarter points, the Shadow Creek Sharks can now set their sights on adding the ultimate prize to their history-making inaugural season run.

The Sharks officially punched their ticket to this weekend’s Class 5A Division-1 State Football Finals after rallying for a 41-24 state semifinal triumph over San Antonio Wagner Saturday night at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Shadow Creek trailed 17-7 early in the third quarter, but the 15-0 Sharks delivered a pair of touchdowns to regain the upper hand and then traded the lead three times with the Thunderbirds during the final 12 minutes to add yet another heart-stopping comeback chapter to their 2018 script.

One which leads Brad Butler’s squad right into an 11 a.m. state title meeting with Highland Park on Dec. 22 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Holding the most wins in Texas high school football history, the two-time defending champion Scots (who dispatched Denton Ryan 43-21 in their state semifinal game on Saturday) will be colliding with an AISD school for the second straight year in the big game. Highland Park outlasted Manvel in a 53-49 classic in 2017.

“We had to make a decision in there at halftime, whether we were going to keep doing what we were doing or turn it around,” Butler said following the game. “I hate that it always makes your heart skip a beat, but I’m just extremely proud of the way they have hung in all year.

“We have been faced with some adversity in ball games, but they have always hung in there and not quit and as long as you do that, you always have a chance to win.”

The Sharks hung in despite being without starting running back Marquez Huland (knee) and being outgained by Wagner’s flex bone attack by huge margins in total yardage (135- 44), time of possession (19:34 to 4:26) and first downs (11-1) during the first half.

Shadow Creek also couldn’t take advantage of a two Thunderbird fumbles deep in their own territory during the third period. However, quarterback Jamarian George’s legs started wrecking havoc again and the Sharks also delivered the game’s crushing blow on special teams.

With Shadow Creek trailing 17-14 still in the third, George hooked up with Kealon Jackson for a 45-yard gain to the Wagner 22-yard line to set up the senior signal caller’s 12-yard catch-and-run strike to Jared Jackson. Jackson outwrestled several Thunderbird defenders during the final two yards to cross the goal line, giving the Sharks a 21-17 lead with 11:09 remaining in the contest.

L.J. Butler answered for Wagner with a 40-yard dash on the ensuing possession to regain the upper hand for the Thunderbirds at 24-21, but George sprinted 58 yards to pay dirt with 7:40 left and Shadow Creek never trailed again.

The Thunderbirds drove to the Sharks’ 19-yard line on their next series, but following a third-down stop by the SC defense, Wagner’s Omar Guevara attempted a game-tying 36-yard field goal.

However, Guevara’s attempt not only severely fell short of the mark, Shadow Creek defensive back Ronald Nunnery grabbed the ball in the end zone and proceeded to both stun and outrace several Thunderbird defenders the other way with an electrifying 105-yard scoring return, increasing Shadow Creek’s lead to double digits at 34-24 with 2:37 left.


Nunnery’s game-breaking play dealt the final blow to Wagner’s hopes and Isaiah Harper added a 15-yard run for Shadow Creek in the closing minutes to account for the final margin.

“I kind of knew they were going to miss it (the field goal) and I told my DB Kaymen St. Junious to go up, in case they tried to fake it, because I was going to return it,” Nunnery said. “I knew I had to make this score and leave it all on the field for my guys.”

Nunnery and his Shadow Creek teammates are well aware of the story line, which will be attached to their date with Highland Park and AT&T Stadium.


“It feels so good to a be a first-year varsity team going to state,” Nunnery added. “It’s really unheard of. We’re trying to win it and create some more history. “We’re trying to go 16-0.”

After forcing a Wagner punt on the game’s opening possession, George completed a fourth-and-eight pass for 28 yards to Kealon Jackson to pave the way for the game’s initial tallies. George capped off the drive with a 5-yard keeper and Will Martin booted the extra point through the uprights for a 7-0 Sharks’ lead with 7:33 left in the opening period.

Wagner tied the contest at 7-7 early in the second, though, with Butler’s 2-yard run finishing off a 17-play, 82-yard march for the Thunderbirds, while a roughing-the-kicker penalty by SC set up Guevara’s 31-yard field goal in the closing moments to give Wagner a 10-7 lead at intermission.


Wagner QB Tobias Weaver fired a 47-yard TD pass to Josh Cobb to make ... Click here to read full article

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