North Shore extended their 14-0 overall record Saturday afternoon, where they took on the Hurricanes from Hightower. With the lead exchanging hands in the second and third quarter, the Mustangs saw playoff semi-finals in their sight and dominated the second half for a 33-9 victory.

Hightower scored its only touchdown on its opening drive.

Quarterback A.J. Highsmith connected with his receivers down the field to move the chains but on the 34-yard line they were faced with a fourth-and-ten. Confident play calling and Highsmith on the scramble found an open Martin Bayles who was stopped on the 12-yard line. After a handoff to running back Kentral Hollingsworth Hightower was within 9-yards of the goal line.

From 9-yards out a handoff to Darius Johnson was all that was needed to put the first 7 points on the board. A strong defensive stand by both teams followed, leaving the score at 7-0 going into the second quarter.

The ball swapped hands throughout most of the second quarter. It was not until the last two minutes of the half did the scoreboard get to see some more action. After a long punt to the 3-yard line the Mustangs were backed against the end zone. With North Shore taking the snap in the end zone the Hurricane defense attacked ready to do some damage. Collectively the defensive line took down the Mustangs for a safety, extending their lead to 9-0.

However the Mustangs were not going to enter the locker room without making an effort to close the point gap. North Shore quarterback, Jeremiah McGinty made the necessary plays to get his team within 10-yards of the end zone with 10 seconds left in the half. From 8-yards out McGinty found Excelle Osborne in the corner of the end zone to close the half with a score of 9-7.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half,” North Shore head coach David Aymond said. “Yet we kept coming back and believed at halftime that we were going to put it together and we did.”

North Shore received the ball on Hightower’s 38-yard line after a fake punt attempt and run came up short for the Hurricanes. Hightower’s defense was determined not to allow the Mustangs to score on their short field but McGinty’s long passes to Isiah Johnson, Lawrence Furlow’s carries, and Hightower penalties placed the Mustangs on the 13-yard line. With McGinty on the move he spotted Jarvis Henderson in the end zone for the Mustangs' first lead of the game, 13-9.

The fourth quarter was the final nail in the coffin for the Hurricanes. North Shore came out and scored immediately with an 82-yard pass and run to Barrett Matthews. Justin Rose followed Mathews adding another seven to the board with an 8-yard reception for a score of 26-9.

Two crucial interceptions on Hightower stopped all forward progress and hope that they had left. Mustang defensive back, Anthony Rushing picked the ball out of the air and then Jestin White intercepts the ball on his own 32-yard line, running back a 70-yard touchdown in the last 40 seconds. Hightower’s chances were again cut short as Mustang, Anthony Johnson recovered the kick off allowing his team to run down the clock for the 33-9 win.

“It’s (the win) credited to our kids because our kids didn’t quit at all,” Aymond said.

North Shore’s McGinty passed for 224 yards and four touchdowns, and Osbourne had 147 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Hightower’s Highsmith had 183 passing yards and Clyde Lee finished with 86 receiving yards.

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