JON KAY

<b>HOUSTON - </b>Sometimes football is a game of inches.

<b>HOUSTON – </b>As Kent Battle made his way to the sideline after a defensive stop, the senior linebacker lauded his teammates for their play.

Welcome to the start of the 2021-2022 school year and another season of H-Town High School Sports with Todd Freed!

Football powerhouse <a data-linked-post="2649749727" href="https://www.vype.com/Texas/Houston/north-shore-football-2649749727" target="_blank">North Shore</a> proved state championship teams can be good sports, too, as the Mustangs won the Class 6A high school football sportsmanship award for Greater Houston on Wednesday. The Touchdown Club of <a href="http://vype.com/texas/houston" target="_blank">Houston</a> gives the award, which is voted on by area high school referees. Following the Mustangs were HISD schools, which captured five out of the eight places in the awards gala.

HOUSTON – When North Shore looks nearly flawless on gameday it's not by mistake. "These kids lift five days a week and they are constantly in the weight room," North Shore coach Jon Kay said. North Shore is in the State Semifinals for a third consecutive season – the last two winning the Class 6A Division I State Championship over Duncanville. The two have become the faces of North Shore football since they were freshmen. North Shore won that 21-14 in overtime inside NRG Stadium for what was then the program's second-ever state title.

HOUSTON - Whenever athletes are set to graduate early from North Shore High School, Jon Kay always makes sure that they get their well-deserved celebration. Last week, quarterback Dematrius Davis and receiver Shadrach Banks sat at a table on the sideline of Galena Park ISD Stadium with their teammates sitting behind them to celebrate their accomplishment. Davis signed with Auburn, while Banks signed with Texas A&M - both in the SEC. H-Town High School Sports host Todd Freed was on-hand for the signing and caught up with the newly-minted Tiger and Aggie.

Coming out of that, capped by a 49-14 victory over Manvel on Friday at Freedom Field, the North Shore Mustangs are 4-0. Banks was featured in the North Shore offense as usual at wide receiver, showing his strength off multiple times. North Shore Improvements after 4-0 StartThe offensive line has always been a strength of this North Shore program. One play stuck out when he was able to come free off the edge and sack Manvel quarterback Gabriel Larry in the second half. Ross is a part of the Class of 2022 and it wouldn't surprise me if he starts getting some looks because he brings some size to that defensive line for North Shore.

HOUSTON - It's like the Drake song goes - "Got a really big team and they need some really big rings". North Shore just got some really big rings! The 2019 Class 6A Division I State Champions received their championship bling on Friday. A true nod to the North Shore community. "Any success we've had at North Shore is a direct result of our East Houston community where our players have been raised," North Shore coach Jon Kay told VYPE via text message.

HOUSTON - It's like the Drake song goes - "Got a really big team and they need some really big rings". North Shore just got some really big rings! The 2019 Class 6A Division I State Champions received their championship bling on Friday. A true nod to the North Shore community. "Any success we've had at North Shore is a direct result of our East Houston community where our players have been raised," North Shore coach Jon Kay told VYPE via text message.

We won't get De La Salle versus North Shore. It was always known that in 2021, North Shore and Shadow Creek would play against each other at Freedom Field. The last two years we got East Side (North Shore) vs West Side (Katy) - which was split. In this meeting, Shadow Creek would try and extend its winning streak to 17-straight and, oh yeah, 32 wins out of the last 33 games played. North Shore would look to improve to the same record 32-1 in its last 33 games played.

The University Interscholastic League announced on Tuesday that it will be looking to start "limited" summer strength and conditioning on June 8, according to an email from UIL Athletic Director Dr. Susan Elza with more details to be released later this week. Once those directives come down, I realize it's going to be extremely limited early on but just to get some sort of structure in their day and the coaches day and start piecing it back together, it's a great start." I think it's critical that we get some directives, a timeline and start thinking big picture of exactly what we can and can't do." "I think that's going to pay huge dividends and I know the physical stuff is going to come," Kay said. Just to be able to have a schedule and some structure in our daily lives is going to a long way."

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Since he was roaming the middle school playing fields, Roger Hagan has always worked "his tail off" at playing quarterback despite always playing the back-up role.In the seventh and eighth grade, Hagan was the "B" team quarterback. Once in high school, Hagan has continued to grow and for the past two years has competed with Dematrius Davis for reps.Even though Hagan's name has been second on the depth chart since his middle school days, the senior never stopped working. "You look at him in the weight room and it hit us one day, all of a sudden you look at a kid that looks like a grown man," North Shore coach Jon Kay said. "Just because of what he's been taught, just nothing but work."

(He's) still a guy that I reach out to when need be and is always willing to help. Katy is the only other team to win two titles in the 2010's, claiming crowns in 2012 and 2015. "What North Shore can add to the resume is being back-to-back state champions. "Looking towards 2020, the Mustangs will try and get back to a third-straight title game, just like those Katy teams did.So, start talking about a three-peat? "It starts in January," North Shore quarterback Dematrius Davis, who won his second-straight State Title Game Offensive MVP Award, said.

KPRC2HOUSTON - The expectations for the North Shore High School football team are high after the team won the state championship last season. We caught a quick glance at the Mustangs and spoke with head coach Jon Kay about his hopes for the 2019 season. The Mustangs will take on Katy High School. The Mustangs also the won state championship in 2013 and 2015, and after last years viral finish, they want another. With all of the storylines surrounding the team, Kay made it clear what one thing is the most important -- another ring.