North Crowley shuts down Prosper to reach the Class 6A Division 1 state quarterfinals

North Crowley took advantage of early miscues and rode a strong defensive effort as the Panthers downed Prosper 35-7 in a Class 6A Division 1 regional-round game on Saturday at the Ford Center.

North Crowley (13-0), No. 6 in the state in the Dave Campbell’s Class 6A rankings and No. 2 in the Star-Telegram 6A Top 10, will advance to the state quarterfinals and face Allen (9-4), which pulled away late to defeat Midland Legacy 52-35 on Saturday.

“This is the type of game you have to play this late in the season,” said North Crowley coach Ray Gates. “Offensively, defensively, you’ve got to be playing your best football and we’re peaking at the right time.”

North Crowley owned the first quarter, building a 21-0 lead.

The Panthers took the opening kickoff and looked to have been stopped for a three and out, but a roughing the passer penalty gave North new life at its own 48. Six plays later North Crowley quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. hit Mason Ferguson, who made a great fingertip catch, with an 18-yard scoring pass to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 9:27 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers’ defense had two takeaways in the opening frame. Keith Hodge picked up a loose ball at the North Crowley 40 after a pass reception by the Eagles and returned it 20 yards to the Prosper 40.

North Crowley linebacker Keith Hodge (29) comes out of the pile with a turnover in the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division 1 football regional-round playoff game at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2023.

The Panthers didn’t take advantage of that opportunity, losing the ball on downs at the Prosper 13, but NC was able to convert on the next Prosper gaffe.

North Crowley took a 14-0 lead on a four-yard run by running back Ashton Searl to cap a 47-yard, nine-play drive. On the first play following the kickoff, the center snap flew over the head of Prosper quarterback Nathan TenBarge and Ke’Maurrie Davis recovered it after pushing Eagles’ running back Leo Anguiano away from the ball.

“I saw that it was a bad hike and I’m like, oh, I gotta go get it, but I gotta beat what’s in front of me first,” said Ke’Maurrie Davis, a senior defensive end. “Its a one-way trip and I’m going to go get that ball and nobody’s stopping me. I’m like, man, this little dude can’t handle me and I pushed him right out of the way. That’s my ball...turnover.”

The Panthers took over at the Prosper 20 and another four-yard scoring run by Searl five plays later gave North Crowley a 21-0 lead with nine seconds left in the first quarter.

North Crowley running back Ashton Searl (8) bulldogs his way to the end zone in the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division 1 football regional-round playoff game at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2023.

Prosper (11-2) got on the board midway through the second quarter, but it wasn’t without some controversy. A pass play from TenBarge to Lathon Latiolais gained 45 yards down to the North Crowley 15.

Latiolais and Panthers’ defensive back David Moore both had contact with the ball, but Moore ripped the ball away as the two were going to the ground. The referees ruled that it was a simultaneous catch and gave the ball to Prosper.

TenBarge hit Austin Hailey for a 15-yard touchdown two plays later to cut the lead to 21-7, but that was all the offense the Eagles would be able to muster the rest of the day.

The North Crowley defense allowed a mere 119 total yards and only 14 yards in the second half. Prosper, a heavily rushing team, picked up nine yards total on the ground on 20 attempts against the Panthers.

“That’s what we do, we take the heart out of people,” said Ke’Maurrie Davis. “We crush them like a snake. We have heart and we’re not gonna let anybody get in front of us and kick our butts. If we all fit where we’re supposed to fit then the run is no more and that’s what we take pride in.”

North Crowley linebacker Jonathan Cunningham (14) breaks up a pass intended for Prosper tight end Jack Clifford (17) in the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division 1 football regional-round playoff game at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2023.

While the defense was frustrating the Prosper offense, Searl and Jimerson were churning out yards on the ground and running time off the clock behind the Panther’s offensive line.

“My line is just amazing,” said Searl, who finished with 205 yards rushing on 37 carries. “They really take practice seriously and so when it’s time for games we’re always prepared and just get the job done. This was an amazing team win.”

Jimerson added 87 yards rushing on 14 carries, but did struggle throwing the ball completing 10 of 24 passes for 128 yards. LaMarcus Davis had six receptions for 93 yards.

North Crowley quarterback Chris Jimerson (12) scrambles out of the backfield in the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division 1 football regional-round playoff game at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2023. North Crowley led Prosper 28-7 at the half.

“Oh man, I love my boys,” said North Crowley offensive lineman Caleb Henderson of his offensive line mates. “We’ve been at this since summer and fall camp, spring ball and we’ve been grinding it out. We had some rough patches, but we got through it. We’re gonna make sure our running backs always succeed.”

Henderson along with John Delgado, Ronnie Clayborn, John Turntine, and Henry Fenuku plowed the way for 341 rushing yards on 60 carries. North Crowley finished with 496 total yards.

“205...he should have had more,” said Henderson. “That’s on us. We’re going to make sure that he gets more next week.”

Searl finished with four touchdowns, adding a two-yard TD with 3:02 left before halftime and scoring on a three-yard run with 11:03 left in the game.

North Crowley running back Ashton Searl (8) runs into traffic in the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division 1 football regional-round playoff game at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2023.

“I told the kids before the game that this is not going to be a seven point game or a three point game it’s going to be a total domination,” said Gates. “Those were my exact words and that’s the message that we wanted to send. That we can line up with the best of them, and we can play football too.

“Our kids are talented, our coaches can coach and so we’re ready. We’re ready. If we can continue to do what we’re doing then we’re going to be right where we need to be.”