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Daveon Boyd powers Atascocita over North Shore in
overtime
By Jason McDaniel Updated 11:56 pm, Friday, December 2, 2016
IMAGE 7 OF 27
Atascocita quarterback Daveon Boyd (2) celebrates as he scores the game­winning touchdown in overtime
during Class 6A, Division I state quarterfinals against North Shore (12­1) on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at NRG
Stadium in Houston. Atascocita won the game in overtime 33­27.
Atascocita coach Craig Stump, after making it through all the postgame
interviews, was heading for the tunnel when he saw his electric senior
quarterback, Daveon Boyd, grinning from ear to ear.
"You know, you could have just scored before overtime," Stump admonished him.
Boyd's reply: "I wanted to make it more suspenseful."
Mission accomplished.
He had everyone on the edge of their seats with Friday's thrilling finish at NRG
Stadium.
Boyd rushed for three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, and threw
for 349 yards and another touchdown, lifting the Eagles to a 33-27 playoff win over
reigning Class 6A Division I champ North Shore.
"This is the greatest feeling in the world, being the (regional) champions," Boyd said.
"My team battled. On offense, we had some plays we didn't make, but the defense
stepped up, and it's on to the next round."
The win in the 6A Division I Region III final gave the Eagles (12-1) their first regional
title, sending them to the state semifinals to face Lake Travis at 2 p.m. Saturday at the
Alamodome in San Antonio.
North Shore ended its title defense at 12-2.
The Mustangs notched field goals on their first two drives of the third quarter for a 2014 advantage with 5:38 showing. The second Jonathan Rodriguez field goal was set
up by Boyd's second interception.
But the Eagles snatched their first lead on their ensuing series, with Lujuan
Winningham turning a short catch into a 60-yard score. They added a 21-yard David
Heaton field goal for a 24-20 lead early in the fourth.
North Shore took the lead back with a clutch drive in the final minutes.
Running back Kerrion Hadnot capped it with an improbable 17-yard grab in the end
zone for a 27-24 lead with 1:31 remaining.
Atascocita forced overtime when Heaton drilled a 36-yard field goal with no time left.
Then Boyd secured the school's first regional title with a six-yard touchdown run after
North Shore fumbled away the first overtime possession.
"You could tee it up and play this game all over again and probably have a different
outcome," Stump said.
Stump's high-powered Eagles won the toss, elected to receive and quickly marched to
North Shore's 11-yard line.
Then the Mustangs flexed their defensive muscle.
Defensive lineman Josh Sifuentes intercepted Boyd and returned it 18 yards to North
Shore's 28, where quarterback Bryant Badie set up before making Atascocita pay for
the early turnover.
Badie directed a seven-play, 72-yard drive, which he capped by following Hadnot into
the end zone for a six-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead with 6:42 left in the first quarter.
Boyd wasn't deterred.
He guided an emphatic Eagles response, hitting Winningham for 26 yards to North
Shore's 8, and then punching in a 1-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal after the
Mustangs stymied three plays inside their 2.
But with Badie picking apart Atascocita's secondary, North Shore regained the lead on
its ensuing possession.
Badie (307 yards, one touchdown passing, two rushing touchdowns) provided the
payoff with a 17-yard touchdown run for a 14-7 first-quarter lead.
Then the Eagles' defense came up big.
North Shore forced a punt and reached Atascocita's 9 before back-to-back sacks by
Jaylon Allen and DeMarius Brooks pushed the Mustangs back 24 yards, eventually
forcing a turnover on downs.
Boyd exploded for a 32-yard touchdown run with 2:05 left in the second quarter, tying it
14-14 at halftime.
"I've never been (to the state semis) either," Stump said. "In high school coaching, this
is it.
"(So) to come in here, when nobody thought we were going to win except the guys in
that room, is huge."
Jason McDaniel is a freelance writer.
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