The Memorial Mustangs and the North Shore Mustangs battled to a 7-7 deadlock under game conditions during the first scrimmage of the year for both teams Friday morning at Galena Park ISD Stadium.

North Shore scored first when senior quarterback Alex Tillman connected with wide receiver Deandre White for a 27-yard touchdown reception at the 11:18 mark of the second quarter. Abraham Lugo’s point after kick made the score 7-0.

 

White caught the pass on a stop pattern 10 yards downfield, sidestepped one defender and raced down the sideline for the score.

The touchdown catch came on North Shore’s 10th play of the drive, which started at Memorial’s 27-yard line.

Memorial responded quickly with a 70-yard drive that was capped off when sophomore quarterback Wayne Taylor fired a nine touchdown strike to tight end Daniel Neumann in the left flat.

Junior kicker Kevin Soto’s PAT notched the score at 7 with 2:06 remaining in the first half. Memorial ran 18 plays during the scoring drive. Taylor shared quarterback duties with returning senior starter Davis Miller during the scoring march.

The teams played two quarters under game clock conditions; the first part of the scrimmage was controlled. Both ball clubs ran several series of drives that ended after 15 plays under controlled conditions and both teams got scores from their first and second units.

The tie illicited cautious responses from both head coaches.

Memorial coach Gary Koch thought his team gave a solid effort. He said he was especially pleased with the Mustangs resolve to not be intimidated by a program that hasn’t lost a regular season game (70-0) since 2000.

“I thought we held our own against a good football team,” Koch said. “You always worry when you play someone like North Shore if you can stand up to them physically. I thought we responded well.

“I think this was a good jumping off point for us because we came into their yard and didn’t get intimidated.”

North Shore coach David Aymond said he wanted to reserve his opinion of the scrimmage until he reviewed the film of the game.

“I thought both offensively and defensively we got off to a slow start,” Aymond said. “I thought our play improved as the scrimmage went on, but we made three critical mistakes during game conditions. We’ve got to get some three downs and out.”

North Shore, a pre-season favorite to win the 21-5A championship, opens the season at home against Katy at 7 p.m. Aug. 29. Memorial, whose regular-season opener isn't until Sept. 6 against Jersey Village, scrimmages at Fort Bend Marshall on Thursday night.