South Oak Cliff (Texas) stuns North Shore (Texas)

All the projections, all the predictions and nothing could’ve prepared folks for the kind of dominating effort South Oak Cliff would have Friday night against Texas’ No. 5-ranked North Shore.

Though the Mustangs would make things interesting in the final quarter, the Bears held on for a 41-31 victory at Alonzo Williams Stadium. With the upset fully complete, we dive into South Oak Cliff’s stunning victory over North Shore.

Should South Oak Cliff’s win have been expected?

Looking back at last year’s matchup between the two programs, North Shore ran away with a 38-0 victory at home over South Oak Cliff (1-0). But this isn’t last year and the Bears made sure to put an exclamation mark on a win this time around.

The Bears were able to temper the Mustangs’ post-Kaleb Bailey offense and held them to 19 points through three quarters of play. What it said about North Shore’s offense is they’re going to need some time behind a new starter in Kaleb Maryland to get some chemistry under their belt.

What South Oak Cliff was able to do was lean on the play of its offensive line, led by senior three-star Cortavious Tisaby (Arizona State commit) and junior four-star Brian Swanson. Both were able to help the Bears control the line of scrimmage en route to the surprising victory.

North Shore’s furious comeback in the fourth quarter comes up short

The Mustangs (0-1) didn’t go down without a fight as they trailed 35-19 heading into the fourth quarter of play.

It became a game of recovering onside kicks and getting extra possessions, which became a bridge too far for North Shore in the end. Maryland was able to score on a short run with about a minute and half remaining, bringing the Mustangs within 35-31 and looking for the improbable win.

North Shore wasn’t able to recover the ensuing onside kick, thus ending its furious comeback attempt in the final period of play. What the Mustangs showed in the second half, especially in the fourth, was a never give up attitude as they attempted to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Where does this leave the 5-time state champion Mustangs?

Finding your footing in the early parts of the season is sure of a heck better than finding out later on.

Any head coach would say that as high school football teams around the country look to establish their identities for the 2025 season. Replacing a quarterback like Bailey was never going to be easy and the offense showed signs of being good in spurts against a solid South Oak Cliff defense.

What will be interesting to watch out of North Shore is how they bounce back next week when the Mustangs face Crowley. North Shore’s next opponent, according to Massey Ratings, that should be on par with the Mustangs is a Oct. 24 meeting with Atascocita.

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For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the country.