Carter Stewart intercepted Cam Renfro’s pass in the end zone late in the fourth quarter, helping Shadow Creek defeat the Manvel Mavericks in a 27-20 thriller at AISD Freedom Field.
Stewart’s interception with 1:36 left allowed the Sharks (3-1 overall, 2-0 in 22-6A) to run out the time and extend their perfect 4-0 lead in the Bill Lewis/Highway 288 Gridiron Classic series between AISD programs.
Shadow Creek’s defense had two fourth-quarter stops in the last 12 minutes, the latest coming on fourth-and-five from the Sharks’ eight-yard line.
Renfro attempted to target Eric Mosley in the back of the end zone, but Stewart (a Utah recruit) made a leaping pick at the goal.
Manvel scored first on their second possession of the game, with Renfro (18 of 29 for 207 yards, one touchdown) connecting with Dante Mayes for 40 yards to the Shadow Creek 11-yard line, setting up Logan McClanahan’s 29-yard field goal with 2:55 remaining in the first period for a 3-0 Mavericks lead.
The Sharks instantly responded on the subsequent kickoff, with Chris Stewart sprinting 74 yards and Samuel Delgado adding the extra point to give Shadow Creek the lead at 7-3.
Another spectacular throw play allowed Manvel to retake the lead with a six-play, 82-yard drive. Cameron Fitzgerald caught a 56-yard pass from Renfro, while Renfro scrambled 16 yards to the SC two, and Mosley scored on the next play with 11:22 left in the second period for a 10-7 Mavericks lead.
Mosley carried for 131 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown rushing and receiving for the evening.
Shadow Creek quarterback Tavis Coleman (12 of 21 for 164 yards, two touchdowns) evaded the furious Manvel rush on third-and-7 during the Sharks’ following drive and found Stewart, who made an equally fantastic leaping grab at the Mavericks’ three-yard line.
Tristian Willis scored on the following play, and Delgado’s PAT made it 14-10 Shadow Creek with 7:57 remaining in the period.
After forcing Manvel (2-2 overall, 1-1) to go three-and-out, Bryce Coleman gained 35 yards on a catch-and-run throw from Coleman, increasing the Sharks’ lead to 20-10 with 4:12 remaining. The Mavericks closed the gap to 20-13 just before halftime, thanks to McClanahan’s 37-yard field goal.
The Mavericks had an opportunity to tie early in the third after a short Sharks punt. However, Manvel mishandled it at the Shadow Creek 37, two plays into the series.
The Sharks quickly marched 67 yards in eight plays, culminating by Tavis Coleman’s 27-yard pass to Bryce Coleman, extending Shadow Creek’s lead back to 14 at 27-13 with 5:20 left in the period.
Mosley kept the Mavericks in the game, erupting for a 74-yard gain on Manvel’s next possession and crossing the goal line three plays later on a 7-yard swing pass from Renfro to trim the deficit to 27-20 with 3:05 remaining.
On the Sharks’ next series, Karnell James intercepted a deep Coleman pass at the SC 32-yard line, returning the ball to Manvel. The Mavericks moved to the Sharks’ 17 in the next 12 plays, but Renfro was stopped two yards short on a fourth-and-four scramble on the following play early in the fourth.
A few minutes later, Coleman threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Addai, and Shadow Creek appeared to have won. However, an ineligible man downfield penalty nearly cost the Sharks, as Coleman was stripped sack on the following play.
Linebacker Samuel Weary’s recovery at his own 23-yard line set up Manvel for a final chance at the tying touchdown.
Manvel will face Pearland on the road at “The Rig,” Friday at 7 p.m., while Shadow Creek will host Dawson at Freedom Field, Friday at 7.
