Shocking upset in Texas as No. 9 North Crowley falls to Rockwall, 37-35

In a season already filled with close calls for the defending UIL Class 6A, Division I state champion North Crowley Panthers, it caught up to them on Thursday night at home against an upset-minded Rockwall Yellowjackets.

Rockwall defeated No. 9 nationally ranked North Crowley, 37-35, handing the Panthers their first regular season loss since Ray Gates took over the program in Febraury, 2022. Gates is now 33-2 as the head coach of North Crowley, which was ranked as the No. 2 team in the state of Texas heading into the contest.

Last week was a similar game for North Crowley (3-1), for the exception that the Panthers were able to eke out a 28-27 win over an feisty Guyer bunch. This time around, however, North Crowley wasn’t able to get away and saw a 19-game winning streak snapped.

It looked like at one point in the third quarter that North Crowley was in full control when junior running back G’yrell Smith (five touchdowns) scored on a 24-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers a 21-10 lead. Despite holding a two-score advantage at the beginning of the fourth period at 28-16, North Crowley’s lead would not remain safe against a Rockwall team that had given Lake Travis and Lewisville both fits in the previous two weeks.

Out of the Rockwall backfield leading the way would be Kaydon Castro, who finished the evening scoring three touchdowns. Castro gave Rockwall (2-2) its first lead of the game at the 2:55 mark when the tailback scored from eight yards out. Armed with a 31-28 lead, it would continue to go back and forth in the final minutes.

Smith would find the endzone for the fifth and final time on the night on a 37-yard scamper. North Crowley held a brief 35-31 lead, but Rockwall would take the lead for good with 22 seconds remaining when quarterback Brent Rickert connected on a touchdown pass to Ryan Wiley.

Up 37-35 in the final seconds, North Crowley was able to get across midfield and threw up a Hail Mary with three seconds remaining, which was batted away by Rockwall defenders, ending the game and the Panthers hopes up notching a consecutive undefeated season.

North Crowley will look to bounce back next week when they take on Mansfield Legacy, while Rockwall faces Royse City on the road.

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