Galena Park North Shore Dominates Deer Park In 6A Division I Playoff Opener: Texas High School Football

A defending Texas high school football state champion started its playoff run on the opening night of the postseason.

Galena Park North Shore, last season’s University Interscholastic League 6A Division I champion, had minimal problems as the Mustangs began their title defense on Thursday night by leading from start to finish in a 62-14 win against Deer Park in the bi-district round of the 6A Division I playoffs.

Watch Deer Park at Galena Park North Shore LIVE on the NFHS Network

Last year, the Mustangs went 14-2 and defeated Duncanville to claim the 6A Division I state title. This season, North Shore moves to 10-1, with its lone loss coming to District 17-6A rival Sheldon C.E. King.

The Mustangs are also ranked No. 8 in the latest High School On SI Texas Top 25 poll. They move on to next week's area round against the winner of the bi-district game between Pearland and Alief Taylor.

North Shore built a 35-0 lead in the second quarter and continued to build its advantage. Running back Kaden Brandley finished the night with four touchdowns - three coming in the first half.

Deer Park finished third in 18-6A behind first-place Dickinson and runner-up Barbers Hill. The Deer won all of their non-district games, and finished their season at 8-3.

Follow High School On SI correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Houston.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

NORTH SHORE 62, DEER PARK 14 FINAL

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FOURTH QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. After Deer Park scored a TD earlier in the fourth, the Mustangs came right back and got another score, as Ka'Maury Marshall crosses the end zone on a run from inside the 5. (North Shore, 62-14 | 2:00, 4th)

THIRD QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. Another Mustang TD, a 6-yarder from junior running back Xaylan Owens. (North Shore, 55-7 | 1:05, 3rd)

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. Mustangs pick off a pass, and they cash in as Ian VanCourt darts in from 15 yards out. (North Shore, 49-7 | 4:50, 3rd)

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. Deer Park attempts an onside kick to start the second half, but the Mustangs recover. They take advantage of the short field and punch it in, as Kaden Brandley has his fourth score on the night, an 8-yard run. (North Shore, 42-7 | 8:47, 3rd)

SECOND QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN DEER PARK. Deer able to put together a drive right before halftime, finished off by a 4-yard flip to Jack Paradysz. (North Shore, 35-7 | :06, 2nd)

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. One play after getting the ball back after a punt, Mustangs add to their lead as Javoris Taylor launches a 55-yard deep ball to La'Damian Defreeze. (North Shore, 35-0 | 1:09, 2nd)

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. Facing a fourth-and-goal at the 5, Mustangs go for it and get it, as Dante Mays goes in on a reverse. (North Shore, 28-0 | 1:54, 2nd)

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. Make it three TDs from Kaden Brandley, this time going up the middle from 23 yards out. (North Shore, 21-0 | 5:10, 2nd)

PLAYOFF TOUCHDOWN🔥@theeplaymakerkb finds the end zone for a 23-yard Mustangs touchdown! Under 5:30 remaining in the first half.@NSNationFB 21@DeerFootball 0#TXHSFBPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/CKsapR1bY8
— VYPE (@vypehouston) November 13, 2026

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. Kaden Brandley gets his second score on the night with a short run. The TD was set up by a long pass from Javoris Taylor down inside the Deer Park 5. (North Shore, 14-0 | 8:10, 2nd)

- Deer Park forced North Shore to punt on its second series. Deer have the ball as a new quarter gets under way.

FIRST QUARTER

- North Shore got into Deer Park territory, but a holding penalty, then a bad snap on a second down play was recovered by the Mustangs for a huge loss, leading to a third-and-40 situation. They call a safe run, which goes for 10 yards. But it's fourth-and-30, and North Shore will likely kick it away late in the opening period.

- Deer Park goes three-and-out again on its second possession and punts once more.

- TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE. Mustangs finish off the drive as running back Kaden Brandley darts up the middle from 2 yards out on third-and-goal. PAT is good. (North Shore, 7-0 | 5:50, 1st)

- After fielding the punt from Deer Park, North Shore already on the march, as the Mustangs are inside the red zone.

- Deer Park goes three-and-out on the opening series, with North Shore delivering an emphatic sack on third down, and the Deer have to punt it away.

- Deer Park wins the toss. But the Deer prefer to receive the opening kickoff, instead of deferring. Interesting strategy.

PREGAME

- Live from Galena Park ISD Stadium in Houston, the highly-ranked Mustangs of North Shore get set to face Deer Park in the first round of the UIL 6A Division I playoffs.

ABOUT DEER PARK

The Deer started the season 7-0 before falling to Dickinson and Barbers Hill in back-to-back weeks. They rebounded in their regular season finale, winning 42-23 against Clear Falls.

ABOUT NORTH SHORE

The Mustangs took care of business in the non-district portion of their schedule, beating traditional Louisiana power John Curtis Christian by 10 and then edging Dallas-area powerhouse South Oak Cliff, 23-21.

After its shocking 42-21 loss to C.E. King on Oct. 23, North Shore has rebounded with a vengeance, scoring 77 points against Channelview and 56 points against Kingwood, both wins, while allowing just seven points in that span.

Senior quarterback Javoris Taylor and senior running back Kaden Brandley have helped pace the Mustangs’ offense, which has generated 401 points. Taylor has thrown for 1,324 yards and 11 TDs, while Brandley has rushed for 725 yards on 100 carries with 11 scores.

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