North Shore remains a football factory

Galena Park (Texas) North Shore High School's wall of fame is covered with dozens of Division I prospects dressed in their respective college uniforms.

Texas, Oklahoma, Miami, Texas A&M, LSU, Oklahoma State, Colorado and Missouri are all well represented. North Shore is a football factory wedged between the chemical plants and oil refineries on the Houston ship channel. The NFL's highest paid defensive end Cory Redding is a North Shore alum as well as Dallas Cowboy center Andre Gurode, who has been starting since his rookie season six years ago.

With Division I and NFL prospects comes winning seasons, and Mustang coach David Aymond has been winning big since 1993. Aymond's teams have a current string of 60 consecutive regular season wins and a 2003 Class 5A Division I state championship.

"We are going to be a good football team this year," Aymond said. "The strength is our defensive front seven and we have some weapons on offense. We've got a good senior class and a special junior class. We have some great players that just lack experience."

Aymond's front seven could be as stingy as his 2003 state championship defense. The Mustang front four all have Division I aspirations, including senior first-team, all-district selection Chase McEntee, junior Thaddeus Randle and sophomores Jestin White and Terrance Kindle.

"Chase and Thad are both outstanding," Aymond said. "They have great intensity and have experience. White and Kindle have great upside, size and speed on the edge, but are pretty green."

McEntee performed at several camps this summer and is hearing from the academies and several Division I and Division I-AA programs.

Other prospects on defense include juniors Daniel Salinas at linebacker, Eric Ruben at cornerback and Andrae May at safety.

Stirring the drink on offense is senior athlete Jeremiah McGinty, the Mustangs's 2007 signal-caller.

"He a good leader and a great athlete," offensive coordinator Brian Ford said. "He can really run and has great hands. He's a Division I inside receiver or defensive back."

Protecting McGinty will be senior lineman Armando Alvarez, tight end Barrett Matthews and sophomore tackle Trey Hopkins.

"Alvarez has got so much ahead of him," Aymond said. "He's a sleeper who has only been playing football for two years. He's got a great frame and has a chance to be really big."

The 6-foot-1 Matthews is a hybrid tight end, H-back who is the best prospect in the North Shore's program.

"Matthews is the most athletic tight end we've had here. More than Dajleon Farr and Earl Mitchell, who are both starting at major Division I schools. He's a ferocious blocker and can split out at receiver."

Hopkins is drawing comparisons to Gurode.

"We liken him to Andre Gurode," Aymond said. "He's a great athlete and has a great future."

Other prospects include senior running back Deaundre Jones and sophomores Deandrew White and Tracy Woods.

"Woods is just a mean runner," Aymond said. "He's violent with the ball