Someone said during Shadow Creek’s game against Summer Creek that it just wasn’t the Sharks night against the Bulldogs.
Shadow Creek came into the Class 6A Region III Div. II area round against Summer Creek with an 11-game winning streak, but that would come to an end as the Bulldogs won 36-20 to advance to the 6A region semifinals where they will face the Katy Tigers. Katy defeated Summer Creek last year 34-31 in a thriller.
For the Sharks, they had too many miscues at the wrong times against the Bulldogs that would end up taking them out of the game.
Summer Creek (8-4) scored on their first possession of the game as senior QB Jahrik Jones crossed the goal line on a 5-yard keeper for a 7-0 lead at the 9:20 mark of the first quarter. It took only five plays to complete the 60-yard drive.
After both teams traded punts, the Sharks set up their second possession of the game at their own 20.
Senior QB Duke Butler launched a long pass to WR Josh Best covering 67-yards to the Summer Creek 13.
The Bulldog defense stiffened forcing the Sharks to settle for a 39-yard field goal attempt by Aiden Bui which was blocked by Darien Hargrove and returned by William Hill for a touchdown. The Bulldogs added a two-point conversion for a 15-0 lead with :09 seconds remaining in the first period.
Shadow Creek got the ensuing kickoff at their own 25 and marched 75-yards in 9-plays for a Butler to Jacorey Watson on a fade route for a touchdown covering 3-yards with 8:35 left in the second quarter. Bui added the PAT and the Sharks cut the lead to 15-7.
The key play in the scoring drive was a Butler to Watson pass covering 44-yards.
With 5:49 left in the first half, Summer Creek began a drive at their own 25.
Ten plays later, Lloyd Avant extended the Bulldog lead to 22-7 on a 21-yard TD run with 1:53 left in the second quarter, and that was the margin at the half.
Shadow Creek had an opportunity to kick a 26-yard field goal with seconds left in the first half, but the kick was no good as the ball hit the left upright and bounced harmlessly away from the goal post.
The Sharks began the third quarter moving the ball, but the Bulldog defense came up with a big interception.
Later in the third quarter, Shadow Creek went on an 11-play, 64-yard scoring drive to cut the lead to 22-14 when Butler hit Watson on a 3-yard touchdown pass and Bui add the PAT.
With 10:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, Summer Creek scored again on an 11-yard run by Avant to increase the lead to 29-14.
After Shadow Creek was forced to punt on their next possession, Aaden Benjamin came up with a big interception to give the ball back to the Sharks.
Butler would scramble to his left and throw back across the field to his right where Bet was wide-open for the score with 5:24 left in the game. However, instead of letting Bui boot the PAT to make it a one possession game the Sharks went for the two-point conversion which failed and left Shadow Creek in a two possession game with little time remaining in the game and season.
Summer Creek would drive the nail in the coffin when Avant scored on a 5-yard run with 2:01 left in the game.
Shadow Creek, who won the District 23-6A crown, ends their season with an 11-1 mark.
