Interceptions prove costly in Pearland's loss to North Shore

November 17, 2009

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Pearland's Alex Deason (45) scored the only touchdown for the Oilers as North Shore ended the season for Pearland with a 24-6 playoff win. Four interceptions by Pearland proved to be too much to overcome despite a stellar effort by the Pearland defense against a fast North Shore team. The game was much closer than indicated by the final score. (Photo by Manny Guerrero)

DEER PARK — Pearland defensive coordinator Mark Kanipes knew that his defense had the tall task of slowing down a very fast North Shore team in the opening round of the Class 5A Region III Division I playoffs.

These two teams are no strangers to one another - especially in first round games. North Shore has knocked off the Oilers in 5-of-6 meetings with the only win for Pearland coming in 2006 when the Oilers won 21-14 at Reliant Stadium on their way to the state semifinals. The two teams were in the same district in 2003 and 2004.

Pearland's defense has been a shining star this year and it seemed they were peaking at the right time for the post-season after blanking Dobie 42-0 to close out the regular season at 8-2. The only two losses for the Oilers came against Kingwood and Pasadena Memorial.

When Pearland took the field at Abshier Stadium in Deer Park -- the offense moved the ball fairly well before having to punt on their opening possession.

North Shore began their first possession of the game on their own 17. After a pass completion to the 30 - Pearland stuffed a running play and then Sam Ukwuachu and Trevor Sealy slammed dunked the quarterback for a loss to the 10 forcing the Mustangs to punt. Ukwuachu and Sealy both had an outstanding game as leaders on the defense.

The Oilers next possession moved from their own 33 to the North Shore 35, but came up a few inches short on fourth and one.

The Mustangs took advantage of good field position to move the ball and score on a one-yard run to make the score 7-0.

And that's the way the game would stand until late in the second quarter when quarterback Trey Anderson hit Desmond King for a 34 yard pass completion to the North Shore 8-yard line.

The North Shore defense stiffened as Anderson misfired on two passes setting up fourth down and a 26-yard field goal attempt by Dylan Nowak. However - kick was hooked left of the uprights and Pearland ended the first half without any points.

The third quarter continued to be a real battle as the Pearland defense kept North Shore's offense on their heels.

Late in the third quarter, North Shore drove to the Pearland 32. On fourth down - Pearland knocked down a pass attempt to stop the drive.

With 10:45 left in the fourth quarter - North Shore got some help after moving the ball to their 38.

Pearland was called for a sideline infraction that turned a fourth down into a first down at the Pearland 47.

Most officials give a team a warning, but that didn't happen for the Oilers.

The defense stood their ground as North Shore settled for a 40-yard field goal making the score 10-0 and Pearland still in the game.

It was in the final period that interceptions took the Oilers out of the game as North Shore picked off three passes.

With 9:55 left in the game - the North Shore linebacker picked off a pass at the Pearland 36. The Mustangs scored on the next play on a run by Tim Cornett making the score 17-0.

Pearland began at their own 31 on their next possession. Anderson completed a pass covering 50 yards to the North Shore 19, but two plays later fires a pass directly into the arms of a North Shore defensive back who returned the ball to the Mustang 15.

After North Shore  was forced to punt - with 5:24  left in the game - Pearland got on the scoreboard on a 2-yard run by Alex Deason. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 17-6.

Pearland went for the onside kick and Ukwuachu, who played an outstanding game on both sides of the ball, came up with the ball at the North Shore 48.

A touchdown and two-point conversion would cut the lead to 17-14, but four straight incompletions gave the ball back to the Mustangs with 3:47 left in the game.

North Shore put the game away with a 32-yard scoring pass making the final score 24-6.

Defensively - the Oilers held North Shore to 284 yards while Pearland had 272 yards    Junior running back Dustin Garrison had a strong showing with 21 carries for 109 yards.

Anderson was 11-of-36 passing for 148 yards and four interceptions. King had five catches for 56 yards.

While the final score was 24-6 -- the game was much closer than that and the Oilers were still very much in the game early in the fourth quarter.

Pearland closes out the year as co-champions for District 22-5A and an 8-3 mark.

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