1987 North Mesquite High School Football

Regional Finalists

The 1987 North Mesquite football team came as close to perfection as a team could without winning it all. Ranked as high as #1 in the state, the Stallions were a force to be reckoned with in Texas. The previous four seasons saw only four total defeats for the team, helmed by MISD Hall of Honor inductees Gary Childress and Bill Taylor. From 1985 to 1987, the Stallions did not lose a single district game and rode that wave into the state playoffs in 1987 before their special season ended in a 28-28 tie to Cy Fair in the third round of the playoffs. Back then, there was no overtime in Texas High School football, so the winner of a tie game was determined first by number of penetrations - offensive trips inside the 20-yard line - and second by number of first downs. While their championship aspirations ended there, the ’87 team produced noteworthy athletes, with several players going on to play at the college and professional levels.