Football Preview

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2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from Sports Editor Cinco Ranch Cougars Kay Tigers Mayde Creek Rams Morton Ranch Mavericks Seven Lakes Spartans Taylor Mustangs Tompkins Falcons Paetow Panthers Faith West Eagles St. Johns XXIII Lions

7 10 16 22 26 30 36 40 44 46 48

PUBLISHER Terry Schaub EDITOR Jimmy Galvan SPORTS EDITOR Dennis Silva II ADVERTISING SALES Michelle Feild, Lindsay Kerr, Jennifer Uribe Katy Times 5319 E. 5th St., Katy TX 77493 • (281) 391-3141 • www.katytimes.com

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

from the SPORTS editor T

his is my first high school football preview section as sports editor of The Katy Times, and that means the world to me. It is a privilege and honor to cover sports for my hometown newspaper, and it’s essential I get things started off on the right foot.

First impressions are important. As a sports reporter/editor since 2005, at newspapers all over Texas, from Houston to Laredo to McAllen and, now, Katy, I know how big high school football is in Texas. It’s huge. Yet it never ceases to amaze me how communities come together every Thursday, Friday, or even Saturday to pull for their local heroes. The atmosphere and camaraderie are like nothing else. If you want to truly get a feel for a community, go to a high school football game. It’s as simple as that. Katy, however, is the pinnacle of what the sport has to offer. From the perennially great Katy Tigers, to the consistently successful Cinco Ranch Cougars, and even to the precocious likes of the Taylor Mustangs, Katy has a core of winning. This year will not be any different. Katy High, once again, will be a threat for the state championship with the healthy return of Deondrick Glass to the backfield. Cinco Ranch is looking to get over that state semifinal hump, and has a great shot of doing so with the Kuithe twins in fold. Taylor may be the most loaded of all Katy ISD schools, with a slew of NCAA Division I prospects taking reign over the offensive and defensive lines. You’ll be introduced to what all those schools have to offer this season, as well as the new looks at Morton Ranch and Tompkins, and the upstart batch of promising talent at Mayde Creek and Seven Lakes. My District 19-6A preseason picks: 1. Katy 2. Taylor 3. Cinco Ranch 4. Morton Ranch 5. Seven Lakes 6. Mayde Creek 7. Strake Jesuit 8. Tompkins In this magazine, you’ll also get to know what’s in store at Faith West Academy and St. John XXIII. Both of those programs feel the playoffs are in their future for 2017. And you’ll get an update on the status of Paetow High football. While the Panthers won’t be engaging in varsity competition this year, you’ll get an idea of the principles and foundation being set.

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

I truly hope you enjoy this comprehensive look at Katy and surrounding area football this season. I encourage you to keep up to date with us via all of our platforms, print and digital. Through Twitter, Facebook, our YouTube video page, and of, course, Katy Times newspaper and katytimes.com, we will be posting videos, breaking news and information, and telling any and all stories in regard to Katy and area athletics. Reach us at @katytimessports on Twitter, and if you’d like to lend a story idea or tip, email us at sports@katytimes.com. Check out our mobile sports app, Just Katy Sports, which is a one-stop shop for Katy sports coverage, with schedules, scores, videos and more. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you at a game this year. This season will be quite a ride for football in Katy, Texas.

Dennis Silva II Sports Editor Katy Times

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2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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2017

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KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

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2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

COUGARS Want another shot in 2017

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By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

C

inco Ranch may have reached a round of the playoffs in 2016 that it hadn’t arrived at since 2009, but it is set on preventing that long of a drought again. “(Assistant) Coach (Quentin) White always puts into us about being better than the year before,” senior running back Brant Kuithe said. “We’re out to prove that last year wasn’t some Cinderella story.” The Cougars went 11-4 last season and were a surprising story as they made an inspiring run to the state semifinals after a 3-3 start. They return 10 starters from that team, four on

offense and six on defense, and their top two playmakers on each side of the ball in the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Kuithe (1,891 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns; 375 receiving yards, 3 TDs) and his 6-foot-4, 235-pound twin brother and defensive end Blake (94 total tackles, 6.0 sacks). But there will be plenty of newness as well. For the first time since the 2013 season, the Cougars do not have a returning quarterback. Junior Cameron Harper won the job in the spring. An athletic dual-threat talent, Harper has been praised for his confidence and work ethic. The No. 2 quarterback, senior Zach Easterly, is a prototypical pocket passer. There is also a batch of new wideouts and defensive tackles to work into varsity condition. The Cougars return just 19 lettermen.

UNDER CENTER Harper had a strong summer, and while he underwent a quarterback competition with Easterly and others during the spring, he was the frontrunner for the starting spot pretty much the whole way. “More than anything else, we went from trying to determine who was going to play to determining if we had a quality backup,” Clayton said of his quarterback situation. “If one was drastically better than the other, that means we didn’t create a quality backup. They were both competitive and one just edged the other out.” Along with Brant Kuithe, look for senior wideout Devin Staton to emerge as a capable target for Harper. Staton is finally 100 percent healthy after suffering a devastating Lisfranc foot injury his sophomore year. An intelligent young man, he will be essential in taking pressure off Kuithe and loosening the defense.

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“Each season is a new chapter, and that’s what we try to tell them,” Cinco Ranch coach Don Clayton said. “People before them have shown how things can be done, and they’ve shown how things maybe shouldn’t be done. We’ve had more talented teams than we had last year, but when you think of the true definition of a team, last year was it. It was about putting others before yourself. “As we come into this year, you don’t always automatically assume that the group you have shares the same values that the previous group had. Unless you have all 22 starters back, you’re going to have different personalities, different approaches and different ways of doing things. The key is to take these kids here and make things fit them instead of making them fit what you want to do.” At least early in the season, the defense figures to be the strength of Cinco Ranch as it returns the most experience. Not only will Blake Kuithe man the front, but the Glass twins, seniors Ethan and Ryan, will lead the way in the backfield. They combined to collect four interceptions and 25 pass deflections last season. More on the Cougars:

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Clayton likes the depth the Cougars have on the defensive line as a whole, though it’s not too strong at defensive tackle, where Cinco Ranch does not return a starter. Still, Blake Kuithe and Devin Wygal are capable anchors along the front, and the move of middle linebacker Joe McCain to defensive tackle gives the line more size and strength. Offensively, the line is paced by 26-game starter Tyler Worrell, who plays right tackle but can line up at any position up front. Guards Joseph Hiller and Bobby Van Pelt return to add experience, and Nick Pappas will man center, where he was a backup last season. Overall, Clayton said he feels good about the offensive line, though the depth is challenging. A newcomer to look out for is San Antonio move-in and 6-foot-2, 270-pound junior guard/tackle Connor Hughes.

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STATON IS READY TO ROLL FOR COUGARS By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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evin Staton is back at full health just in the nick of time for Cinco Ranch. Just as the Cougars are looking to establish more consistent playmakers this upcoming season, with no returning quarterbacks or receivers on the roster, in comes the 6-foot-2, 185-pound wideout. Through spring football and the 7-on-7 summer season, Staton has worked his way back from a hellacious Lisfranc foot fracture he suffered during his sophomore season and emerged as a key component of the 2017 Cougars. “It was definitely difficult mentally,” Staton said. “You want to be out there working with your teammates. It took a lot of extra hours outside of football, going to physical therapy. Once I got cleared for lifting, I was in there every single day, working on legs especially, even when I was in a cast. It was continuous work. There was no sitting around, laying on the couch. It was motivation for what I was working towards.” Staton was fully cleared to return to football in July of 2016, but he played last year’s junior varsity campaign at about “7075 percent” healthy. “Whenever I’d make cuts, my left foot would get really sore 30 minutes into a practice,” Staton said. “It was frustrating. I just had to know the more I worked at it, the better it would start feeling. The more I worked on it, the faster it would heal. Knowing it would fix itself eventually is really what got me through it.”

Staton injured the foot when backpedaling to make a catch on a kick return. When he planted his back foot to start running forward, he heard a pop. Staton ran 20 yards, got tackled and then headed off to the sideline. He initially thought he had sprained his ankle until X-rays showed a torn ligament. “I earned a lot of respect for him, watching him grind and work so hard to get back on the field,” said junior quarterback Cameron Harper, who played with Staton on junior varsity and has great chemistry with the receiver. Harper said Staton brings an explosive dynamic that figures to complement star running back Brant Kuithe nicely. Staton, who is ranked 21st in his class of more than 800 students, also brings intelligence to his playmaking. “He brings speed. He has great hands,” Harper said of Staton. “He knows what he’s doing. He not only knows his own routes, but he understands defense and he understands positioning. “If he sees the safety playing a certain way, he knows how to break it off. He’s just a really smart player.” Staton said he now “definitely feels 100 percent.” He is eager to join a group of wideouts that he labels as “great” and Kuithe. He is excited to play a key role for an offense that he thinks will be balanced. “I’m definitely eager to get back out there and prove I can play at this level,” Staton said. “Some injury is not going to hold me back. I intend to prove I can play with anyone in the state.”

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Date

Opponent

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Time

Aug. 31

at Cy-Ranch

Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

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Sept. 8

Jersey Village

Legacy Stadium

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Sept. 15

at Memorial

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Rhodes Stadium

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Taylor

Legacy Stadium

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Legacy Stadium

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at Seven Lakes

Rhodes Stadium

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Nov. 4

Morton Ranch

Legacy Stadium

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at Tompkins

Legacy Stadium

11 a.m.

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KATY TIGERS

INEXPERIENCED TIGERS HEAD INTO 2017 WITH PROMISING TALENT By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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or Katy High football, any season that does not end with the Tigers holding up a state championship trophy is considered a disappointing one. So you can imagine how the Tigers felt after last season’s finale, a 20-17 loss to North Shore in the third round of the playoffs. “Fourth-and-one,” offensive tackle and senior captain Connor Galvin said of the final offensive possession that could have won the game for the Tigers, but they fell short on. “Push. What’s next is what we focused on and what we told ourselves.” The Tigers’ last eight months were consumed by that final play. It certainly provided more motivation for a program that generally doesn’t need it. “It was rough to lose a game like that, but North Shore beat us,” kicker and senior captain Seth Small said. “We’ll give it to them. We’re very focused for this next season. Our only concern is what’s between the walls of this fieldhouse and taking care of business our senior year.” Katy returns eight starters, four on offense and four on defense, and 22 lettermen from last season. The Tigers do not have a returning quarterback or receiver, though they boast a dominant 1-2 punch in the backfield in junior running back Deondrick Glass and senior running back Joshua Oglesby. Glass rushed for 1,912 yards and 30 touchdowns before missing the North Shore game with a season-ending leg injury. Oglesby, a BYU verbal commit, rushed for 919 yards and 11 touchdowns. Handing the ball off to those dynamic ballcarriers will be senior Austin Marshall, who won a spring quarterback competition because of his consistency and smart decisionmaking. The defense will be the strength of this year’s Tigers team, particularly up front with seniors Michael Matus, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound end, and Moro Ojomo, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound tackle/end. The secondary was built up in the spring with the promising play of Joel Mewis, Darius Babalola and Izaiah Jordan. They’ve emerged as strong complements to veteran KeShon Rowe and Jianni Angulo. Depending on the return of Gage Landry to full health, the secondary could end up in much better shape than Joseph anticipated. “We had injuries in the secondary last year and didn’t have the depth to overcome,” Joseph said. “If we can build depth, it

will be big.” Joseph said the primary emphasis in the early part of the scrimmages and preseason will be the passing game, such as protection, footwork and putting inexperienced receivers like Trey Brown and Tyler Pullig in better position to make plays. Joseph still would like to find more size at receiver and depth at tight end. Though the returning names are considerable premier talents, there will be a slew of new names that will have to produce sooner than later if the Tigers intend to play up to their standards. On paper, the Tigers do not appear to have the experience or skill that even last year’s team had, but the drive remains as strong as always. “People just assume you’re going to win,” Joseph said. “Everyone around here wants to be the one to knock the top dogs off. You go to the state championship game four years in a row and the odds can catch up with you sometimes. We’ve addressed how we respond and if we’re going to have the athletic talent to do it. We’re going to have to have kids come through, and that’s always been the great thing about the program is we’ve had kids we didn’t expect to come through, they come through.” More on the Tigers:

GLASS WILL BE BACK Glass did not go through spring football or strength and conditioning camps as he continued to rehab from a right leg injury. Joseph said the idea was to have Glass ready by the time preseason practices start in early August, and that timeline remained true well into July. Over the summer, Glass managed to increase his profile despite not stepping onto the field, earning offers from schools like Texas and Alabama. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder averaged 10 yards per carry in 2016.

BRIXEY RETURNS With the departure of B.J. Gotte to Paetow High, the Tigers have a new offensive coordinator for the first time since 2012. Jeryl Brixey returns to the program after spending the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Euless Trinity. Brixey was an assistant coach for Katy in the mid-2000s. Gotte was named the head football coach for the Panthers in February.

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

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KATY TIGERS

SMALL MAKES BIG HISTORY AS KICKER FOR TIGERS By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

S

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eth Small never touched a football until eighth grade. Though he was born in Houston, Small spent most of his childhood growing up in Colorado, scraping ice off his driveway to play hockey or soccer. Fast forward four years later, however, and the Katy High senior now rates as the No. 2 punter and No. 7 kicker in the country. And, for the first time in coach Gary Joseph’s 39 years at Katy High, Small is the first kicker to be elected a team captain. He joins defensive end Michael Matus, offensive tackle Connor Galvin and linebacker Neil Solis as leaders of the 2017 Tigers. “For a kicker to be elected captain says something about how special the kid is,” Joseph said. “It’s a compliment to who he is as a person and his work ethic.”

Small has been a varsity player at Katy since his sophomore year, just two years after he was introduced to football when he moved to Katy from Colorado. For a program that prides itself on defense and field position, Small’s role is essential. Last season, Small went 13-for-20 on field goals (his longest make was from 50 yards) and made all 79 of his extra-point attempts. He averages 40.7 yards per punt attempt. “For him, it’s his work ethic,” Joseph said. “There’s not a kid in our program that works any harder than he does. Kicking is a lonely job, and you watch him go out there and practice his steps, practice his drops. He goes through the strength and conditioning, offseason and all our programs like any other kid.” Small recently sat down with The Katy Times to discuss everything from verbally committing to kick for Texas A&M to aiming for another state championship this fall.

4 +RZ ZRXOG \RX GHÂż QH \RXU OHDGHUVKLS VW\OH" A: “I definitely try and lead by example. I do my best to show up every day and give the same effort every day, coming out to work and giving 100 percent. But I can be vocal, too, when I need to push my teammates.â€? 4 :KHUH KDYH \RX VHHQ WKH PRVW LPSURYHPHQW LQ \RXU NLFNLQJ GXULQJ \RXU WLPH DW .DW\ +LJK" A: “Strength, speed and technique. The strength and speed comes from Katy. The training that we do here is no joke. I do the same squats, deadlifts, sprints, agility and power cleans that the team does. Technique is just putting in the hours, working with the coaches and getting that muscle memory down.â€? 4 +RZ LV WKH PLQGVHW IRU SXQWLQJ DQG NLFNLQJ GLয় HUHQW" A: “It’s different kicks, but you attack it the same way. I feel I can do it all at a high level, but there’s something about punting and watching how the ball comes off my foot that I love.â€? 4 +RZ ZRXOG \RX GHÂż QH WKH VFLHQFH RI NLFNLQJ" A: “It’s definitely a twist, but it’s all muscle memory. It’s raw power and a special type of foot and eye coordination. It’s not something developed overnight, definitely.â€? 4 :KDW LV LW OLNH WR EH D SDUW RI .DW\ +LJK IRRWEDOO" A: “It’s amazing. It’s a bunch of tradition. It goes all the way back to that first state championship (in 1959), and even those teams before them that did their job to get Katy over the hump. Now we’re just thriving off what those teams did, trying to continue that legacy and tradition.â€?

4 :KDW ZDV LW DERXW 7H[DV $ 0 WKDW \RX WKRXJKW LW ZDV WKH EHVW VSRW IRU \RX" A: “It fit all the requirements I was looking for in a school. (The) SEC is the highest level of football. I love the coaches there. Kyle Field is just gorgeous. I can’t wait to play in front of those fans. It’s a dream school. I didn’t even think twice about it. Whatever they need me to do, I’ll be ready to do it.�

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4 :KDW DUH \RXU HDUO\ WKRXJKWV DERXW WKLV XSFRPLQJ \HDUÂśV WHDP" A: “The defense is clicking well. The offense is stepping up. We have playmakers on special teams that hustle and make the breaks for us.â€?

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4 <RX DUH WKH Âż UVW NLFNHU WR EH YRWHG D FDSWDLQ DW .DW\ +LJK DW OHDVW LQ &RDFK -RVHSKÂśV WLPH KHUH :KDW DUH \RXU WKRXJKWV DERXW WKDW" A: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It comes from a very interesting position, because a kicker isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the most leadership-like role on the team. But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m honored to do it. My job is to make sure theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to do their jobs and remind them that we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accept anything less than a state championship. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m honored to be a captain. I love that my teammates selected me for it, and I respect them a lot and they respect me a lot. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just excited for this next season.â&#x20AC;?

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KATY TIGERS

Date

Opponent

Site

Time

Sept. 1

Austin Westlake

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 8

at Klein Collins

Klein Memorial

7 p.m.

Sept. 16

The Woodlands

Legacy Stadium

6 p.m.

Sept. 22

Cinco Ranch

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 30

at Taylor

Legacy Stadium

6 p.m.

Oct. 13

at Seven Lakes

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 20

at Morton Ranch

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 27

at Tompkins

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Nov, 2

Strake Jesuit

Tully Stadium

7 p.m.

Nov. 10

at Mayde Creek

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

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MAYDE CREEK RAMS

RAMS’ NEWFOUND LEADERSHIP ‘TIRED OF LOSING,’ EXCITED FOR 2017 SEASON

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

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ince Mike Rabe took over Mayde Creek football two years ago, the Rams have lacked leadership. As a result, Mayde Creek lost 19 of 20 games over that span, extending their playoff drought to eight seasons. But Rabe is hoping this season is different. With only 16 returning lettermen, including eight returning starters, it’s another chance to continue moving forward by starting fresh. “Guys stepping up and taking over the leadership roles, we’ve lacked that the last two years,” Rabe said. “Keeping the accountability high has been a big, big change. Some of it is taught, and some of it has to be a bit natural. We’ve worked with them on it and we’ve got guys that aren’t scared to go out there and lead.” The Rams have established a nice nucleus of leaders, guys who are desperate to see a change in culture. Players are tired of being the doormat of District 19-6A football. So, they’re doing something about that.

“There were a lot of people on this team last year that didn’t want to be here and didn’t care about football,” junior defensive end Marcus Stripling said. “There was a lot of fighting, a lot of people quitting. All offseason, we tried to weed out people by working extra hard and finding the people who love this team and who love football. Nobody’s going through the motions anymore. We’re tired of losing.” The Rams aren’t far away from contention, either. Five of their nine losses last season were decided by 13 points or fewer; three losses were determined by a touchdown or less. Rams players cite improved chemistry as the No. 1 reason why expectations are higher. A few months ago, about 18 of them started attending church together. If they’re not on the field working on passing and catching, then they’re eating as a team at Chick-Fil-A. “I’ve been going to Second Baptist for three years now, so I’ve been getting everybody to go to church,” Stripling said. “We’ve been going Wednesdays, Sundays. We went to a church camp.

MAYDE CREEK RAMS

There’s about 18 of us that are really close and we hang out a lot and just spend a lot of time with each other. The chemistry is way better.” Rabe said players are doing a better job of adopting the mindset of taking everything piece by piece, play by play. That’s why, he said, his team was in a lot of games last season. “It’s a cliché, but it’s about getting better with every rep, whether it’s a game rep or in practice,” Rabe said. Things have improved so much that Rabe cites the change in leadership as the strength of this year’s team, noting the positive attitudes of guys like Stripling, senior quarterback Keyonte Fiakpui and senior linebacker David Smith. “I’ve been pleased with the progress,” Rabe said. “Everybody wants it to go a little faster, but it’s been good. It’s a matter of getting everybody, all the kids, on the same page, having the same focus and the same energy toward getting better at football. “When you put a lot of energy and effort into something, it becomes real important to you. I think that’s where they’re at right now. They’re excited for the season and excited to see if all the work is going to pay off.” More on the Rams:

CHANGE UNDER CENTER The Rams will have a new quarterback this season in Fiakpui. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound speedster is a dynamic dual-threat talent and will allow Mayde Creek to play more of an option offense with his ability to pass and run. Fiakpui played quarterback his freshman and sophomore years before he was moved to receiver last season. “He’s got all the ability in the world,” Rabe said. “He’s really sharp when it comes to understanding what we’re trying to do. You don’t have to spend a lot of time teaching him. He’s real athletic, and he can make something out of nothing. It makes calling plays a little easier when you’ve got a guy as quick as he is back there.” Speed will be evident in the Mayde Creek offense. Along with Fiakpui, there are athletic and quick talents in running back Trevion Goins and receiver Ike Nsoedo.

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The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Stripling had a breakout offseason, earning offers from Missouri, Notre Dame, Baylor, LSU, Alabama, Florida and others. Stripling, a four-star recruit at defensive end, opened eyes with his performance last season, when he compiled 19 sacks as a sophomore. He has helped initiate the change in culture at “New Creek” and tags most of his Tweets with “#MaydeElite.” Rabe said the attention Stripling has received has been a huge positive for the program. He’s seen other players raise their level of work because they now see what can be accomplished. “Guys are understanding that if they work hard and commit themselves, football can be a part of their future beyond high school,” Stripling said. “Guys are picking up the pace and just working harder. Mayde Creek has a lot of talent, and I don’t want none of my teammates to miss an opportunity. We have a kicker Tony Casas right now, for instance, who has been able to knock down 50-yard field goals since his eighth grade year. We know we have the talent.” Rabe said Stripling has gotten faster through his work in the offseason and is doing a better job of knowing when and how to use his hands to ward off blockers.

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MAYDE CREEK RAMS

SENIOR NSOEDO COULD BE RAMS’ SECRET WEAPON By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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oward the end of last season, then-junior Ike Nsoedo turned to his coach during a game and suggested he should be playing receiver. Nsoedo, a cornerback and safety, was half-kidding, but he did think his speed and athleticism would be welcomed in the Mayde Creek receiving corps. Fast forward a few months later, at the start of spring football, and Nsoedo was listed on the receivers’ depth chart. “I’ve been working hard at it ever since,” Nsoedo said. At 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, Nsoedo has the physical tools to thrive at wideout. His height and speed is what made him a successful defensive back. This season, Nsoedo will play both ways for the Rams, but he is most excited about being part of a new offensive look. Along with quarterback Keyonte Fiakpui, who returns to the position after a one-year hiatus playing receiver, and running back Trevion Goins, the Rams have speed and versatility at skill positions like they’ve rarely had before. “We have a whole new offense, really,” Nsoedo said. “A new QB, a new everything. It’s a pass-run option now; whatever looks good, the QB is going to do. It’s like everything just got replenished, and I feel that’s going to be the best for the team.” To acclimate to his new position, Nsoedo has spent countless spring and summer afternoons working long hours on routes with Fiakpui. The pair has developed a nice bond. Fiakpui is a dual-threat talent, and his ability to run and extend plays is perfect for Nsoedo. Nsoedo has worked hard on catching, which took a while at first for him to master. But he was pleased with his play during the 7-on-7 season when he did not drop a single pass as one of Mayde Creek’s top playmakers. Fiakpui, meanwhile, has gotten better with the timing and placement of his throws. “Throughout the whole spring, he’s been improving,” Nsoedo said. “He keeps getting better and better.” Nsoedo runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and has a 38-inch vertical. He knows as long as he can get open, or simply just make a play on the ball, good things will happen. “Ike is a pure athlete,” junior defensive end Marcus Stripling said. “Wherever he is on the field, he’s going to shine.” Nsoedo also is not a typical rookie receiver. He has an in-

depth grasp of offenses thanks to his time as a defensive back. That knowledge allows him an edge. “Once I see that corner play outside technique, I already know if I go deep he’s going to pass me off to the safety,” Nsoedo said. “All I need to do is hit the safety with one move and I’ll be open.” Like his teammates and coach Mike Rabe, Nsoedo talks often about changing the culture at Mayde Creek. He is hungry and desperate to do something about a losing stigma that hovers around the program; the Rams have won more than two games in a season just once since 2009 and have not made the playoffs since 2008. With this latest opportunity, Nsoedo is confident he can help the Rams turn things around sooner than later. “At first, I didn’t even know if I could do it,” he said. “But I’ve gotten more comfortable and it’s just natural to me now. I feel like there’s nobody in Katy ISD that can hold me. I can be unstoppable. I’m ready for the first game. Nobody knows who I am. They’re going to find out.”

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MAYDE CREEK RAMS

Date

Opponent

Site

Time

Sept. 2

at Fort Bend Kempner

Mercer Stadium

6 p.m.

Sept. 8

at Cy-Lakes

Cy-Fair FCU

7 p.m.

Sept. 15

Aldine Nimitz

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

OPEN Sept. 28

at Morton Ranch

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 6

Taylor

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12

Tompkins

Rhodes Stadium

6 p.m.

Oct. 20

at Cinco Ranch

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 28

Strake Jesuit

Rhodes Stadium

Noon

Nov. 3

at Seven Lakes

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Nov. 10

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Rhodes Stadium

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25

MORTON RANCH MAVERICKS

MAVERICKS HAVE A NEW LOOK GOING INTO 2017 By Tom Behrens Times Correspondent

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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lot of noise is coming from the Morton Ranch High weight room. While that’s generally typical, it’s not just the usual clanging and thumping of weights and machines being used. Players are yelling at each other. They are singing, whistling and urging each other on. They are challenging each other to do better. Indeed, Morton Ranch football has new life, charged up and ready for the season to begin. “When I got here in February, the kids were working hard, but there just wasn’t enough energy,” new head coach Ron Counter said. “I brought in a new defensive coordinator, Scott Joseph, who is in charge of strength and conditioning. Coach Joseph is doing a great job in getting them going.” There will be drastic changes for the Mavericks under Counter. Morton Ranch is essentially starting over, with just 15 returning lettermen. Counter describes the offense this year as more balanced. “Where the Mavericks were, like, 90-percent run last year, we are going to try to be more 50-50,” Counter said. “That might be 60-40 (percent run), or 70-30; who knows? We are obviously going to try to throw the ball more than they did last year.” Larry Edmondson, another new hire from Rice, is the offensive coordinator. Before Rice, he was the offensive coordinator at Katy Taylor. Edmondson will be depending on senior Dallas Ross, who is moving from receiver and backup quarterback to the No. 1 signal-caller. “He has a big learning curve,” Counter said. “Not only is he switching positions, he switched offenses, too. Going into his senior year, he has to learn. “This year, the blocking schemes are totally different. When we do run the ball, the running plays will be different than last year, pretty much night-and-day different.” Morton Ranch’s offense will have variety. There might be two running backs in the backfield on some plays and only one back on others. On passing downs, there might be two or three receivers on one side instead of just one on each like the

Mavericks had been accustomed to. Counter says Ross is probably the fastest kid he has. Ross runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. Besides getting a chance to show his arm strength, he is going to run the ball a lot. Also contributing on offense will be seniors Logan Brown, Hunter Sanders, Christian Advincula, Justice Guillory and Sean Greer. More on the Mavs:

EXPERIENCE ON OFFENSE Counter has a slew of running backs available in Trey Taylor, Josh Bennett, C.J. Taylor, Anthony Williams and Jaylen Moorehead. They are all in the 5-foot-8-to-5-foot-10 height range. Deonte Bradford figures to be the Mavericks’ top wideout. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound junior runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. He will be complemented by James Calhoun, James Carroll and Simon Leuth. Of Morton Ranch’s five returning starters, four come on offense.

ROSA LEADS DEFENSE Thomas Rosa is the Mavericks’ lone returning starter on defense. “He wants to be a coach someday, and he’s kind of our coach on the field,” Counter said of the 5-foot-8, 175-pound linebacker. Jakobe Littlejohn, at 6-feet, 245 pounds, also figures to have an impact at defensive tackle. “I expect him to be first team all-district this year,” Counter said. Other returning linemen are Brandon Brown and Ryan Hageali. Counter also likes his special teams, led by kicker David Dominguez, who played only half of last season after injuring his foot. “In spring drills, he got a chance to punt, and I think he is going to be one of the better kickers and punters in the district,” Counter said. “He’s got a strong leg and I believe he has a chance to kick a 50-yard field goal this year.”

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

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MORTON RANCH MAVERICKS

MAVS’ BRADFORD READY FOR BREAKOUT SEASON By Tom Behrens Times Corespondent

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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eonte Bradford has been a runner since he was in the eighth grade. Besides competing for Morton Ranch on the football field or track, he’s also a member of the Houston Youth Track Club. This season, though, he’ll be doing more running than what he’s been used to on the football field. That stands as a very good thing for Bradford and the Mavericks. Last year as a sophomore, Bradford played both slot and wide receiver for the Mavericks, accumulating 15 receptions for 317 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 21.13 yards per catch. His longest reception was 94 yards. Of District 19-6A’s returning receivers, Bradford ranks second in average yards per catch. Bradford is fast and quick, and if Morton Ranch is to make the playoffs for a second straight season, he will have had to make a significant impact. As the Mavericks turn to more of a balanced offense with more passing under new coach Ron Counter, defenses are going to know who Deonte Bradford. Counter’s spread offense will take advantage of Bradford’s athleticism and speed. “I’m very excited about the new offense,” Bradford said. “Last year, our passing … we only threw the ball the whole season about 70 times. Most teams throw at least 100. I had only 15 receptions; I should have more chances this year to catch the ball.” His new coach agrees. “I’m hoping 30-40 (receptions), at least twice as many as he caught last year,” Counter said. “I would be shocked if he doesn’t catch at least 30. The thing about Deonte, he has some speed. When he did play in 7-on-7, he beat the corner down the sideline on a couple deep balls. As they say, he should be able to ‘stretch the field.’ He has long legs, a track guy.” Bradford embraces the competition of beating a defensive back for big yards. He is studious in his approach. He doesn’t just want a physical edge against his opponents. He also wants a mental one. “You only have a matter of time to get downfield,” he said. “Defensive coverage is trying to slow me down and take me out of the play. I’ve learned that if the defensive man is that close, you can’t just run up the field. You have to maybe take a step back, get some space, and then try to make a move. “I’ve been doing that lately. Get away from the coverage, just go around, or make a move inside and beat them downfield.” Bradford will be crucial if the Mavs want to open lanes for the running back and quarterback. It will be on him to keep defenses honest. “I imagine some people are going to double-team him,” Counter said. “If they single-cover him, he has the ability to run past the corner and catch the deep ball.” Counter said Bradford has got “speed, good hands and smarts.” That’s a pretty solid foundation heading into Bradford’s final year as a Maverick and Counter’s first.

Opponent

Site

Time

Sept. 1

Aldine Nimitz

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7

Cy-Ridge

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 14

at Pasadena Dobie Pasadena Memorial St.

7 p.m.

Mayde Creek

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 6

at Tompkins

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 13

Strake Jesuit

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 20

Katy

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 28

Taylor

Legacy Stadium

11 a.m.

Nov. 4

at Cinco Ranch

Legacy Stadium

11 a.m.

Nov. 10

Seven Lakes

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

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2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

SEVEN LAKES SPARTANS P

SPARTANS NO LONGER YOUNG AS EXPERIENCE LOOMS By Tom Behrens Times Correspondent

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KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

very time a new high school opens close to an existing high school, some of the latter’s students are moved to the new school. Some of those students probably played football. According to Seven Lakes coach Lydell Wilson, that’s what influenced the year-end outcome for the Spartans in 2016. The Spartans lost experienced players. Therefore, they went 3-7 overall, and 2-5 in District 19-6A. “It takes about three years before the effects of moving and losing players are felt, and last year was that year,” said Wilson, referring to the opening of Tompkins High. In 2012, the year before Tompkins opened, Seven Lakes went 4-3 in District 196A and made the playoffs. The Spartans had a total of 18 seniors last year. The four previous years, Seven Lakes had 55, 45, 40 and 38 seniors, respectively. This year, however, experience, or lack thereof, will not be an issue. Seven Lakes has 17 returning starters and 42 returning letterman. Eight starters return on defense. Key contributors will be end Brendan Bibbs, tackles Chris Bartuska, Tyler Strain and Caleb Birchum, and lineman Tiago Sumbo. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Sumbo is a sophomore with booming potential. “Sumbo is a big kid, very athletic and we expect him to be really good in a couple of years,” Wilson said. “At linebacker, we will have Ty Murray, Parker Jones and Nate Hawkins

moving up to varsity, all sophomores this coming school year.” Nine starters return on offense, led by 5-foot-10, 155-pound junior running back Chris Williams. In nine games last season, Williams amassed 386 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. “He will have the opportunity to get the ball and make some carries, get some yards,” Wilson said. “His 40 time is 4.55. Chris is a speed guy; give him some space and he is going to make things happen.” Junior Michael Batton returns at quarterback. Batton threw for 884 yards and eight touchdowns last season while running for 209 yards and four more TDs. “He was our quarterback the last six games and did a pretty good job as a sophomore,” Wilson said. “John Harrington, a junior, is our backup quarterback. John can play most of the positions; he’s the guy we have to get on the field somewhere to do something.” Receiving will probably be the Spartans’ strength. Junior David Ugwoegbu had 17 receptions for 320 yards and a touchdown last season. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder received four offers from colleges as a sophomore. Jahquan Bloomfield, a senior this year, was the district champ in the 200-meter run after catching 19 balls for 481 yards and five touchdowns. Keilan Johnson led all Spartan receivers with 30 catches and compiled 310 yards and three TDs. “I never put numbers on anything, but we will be greatly improved just because we have so many people coming back,” Wilson said “Everybody is returning with experience, so with that experience, hopefully we will get more wins.”

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SEVEN LAKES SPARTANS

SEVEN LAKES’ WILLIAMS EMBRACES THE PRESSURE By Tom Behrens Times Correspondent

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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aving played running back since his freshman year at Seven Lakes, senior Chris Williams is the speed dynamo behind the Spartans’ attack. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder will play in the backfield and on special teams as a return specialist this season. Speed is essential to Williams’ game, which is no surprise considering he grew up in a family that loved the gridiron and track. Williams’ brother, Cameron Wolf, played high school football before becoming a broadcaster with ESPN covering Tennessee Titans games. Williams’ father ran track and played football in high school before running track in college at Jackson State. Williams runs a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash. He’s only gotten faster since last season. Last year was his first running track, but he still went all the way to regionals in the 200-meter and 100-meter runs. According to Williams, his 200 time was a 22.5; his 100 time was 10.86. He said track helped him gain speed and stay competitive during the offseason, which should help him have a strong football season. “I’m not restricting myself while running,” Williams said. “Just run smooth, keeping my long, fast strides and staying loose.” Last season, Williams compiled 386 rushing yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He also caught five passes for 83 yards. This season, he figures to play a leading role in the Spartans’ offense. It’s a responsibility he craves. “When you’re a running back, you have all the pressure from your teammates, from the fans, to do your best,” he said. “I like the pressure.” Williams did not start his football career as a running back, however. In eighth grade at Seven Lakes Junior High, he was the safety. The next year, though, the running back on the ‘B’ team got hurt. “I filled in his position so we could run scout plays against the varsity team,” Williams said. “I did really good.” Good enough that he was permanently moved to the offensive backfield from the defensive backfield. Williams describes his running style as a slashing type.

“I can get in the hole and make some moves, shoot to the outside and score,” he said. “I’m not the type that just runs straight … I try to avoid getting hit.” Williams, like the rest of the program, has high expectations for this season after going 3-7 last year. The Spartans are no longer inexperienced and raw. While they had talent last year, it wasn’t mature. Going into this season, it is. “Last year, our starting senior count was in the single digits,” Williams said. “We had maybe 18 seniors come out to play varsity football. We had a really young team. This year, we have 50-plus seniors who are ready to win. Some last year played on the varsity level, some on the JV level. “This year will be our breakout year. I feel like we have everything together.”

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

33

SEVEN LAKES SPARTANS

Date

Opponent

Site

Time

Memorial

Legacy Stadium

6 p.m.

Sept. 16

at Richmond Foster Traylor Stadium

6 p.m.

Sept. 23

at Alief Taylor

7 p.m,

Sept. 2 OPEN

Crump Stadium

Sept. 29

Tompkins

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 6

at Strake Jesuit

Clay Stadium

7 p.m.

Oct. 13

Katy

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 21

at Taylor

Legacy Stadium

11 a.m.

Oct. 27

Cinco Ranch

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 3

Mayde Creek

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Nov. 10

at Morton Ranch

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

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2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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TAYLOR MUSTANGS

MUSTANGS LOOK TO ‘DO IT AGAIN’ IN 2017 By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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n signage boards plastered all over the fieldhouse, Taylor’s offseason message has been clear. “Do it again.” The Mustangs were a surprise last season, posting a 9-3 overall record and finishing second in District 19-6A after going 4-6 in 2015. The summer only emboldened the momentum from the strong finish. Taylor has a slew of athletes offered by NCAA Division I schools, including four of six returning defensive starters: linemen Max Wright, Braedon Mowry and Otito Ogbonnia, and safety Ben Montgomery. Running back Ean Beek is a dominant talent, and the offensive line is full of youth with the physical tools to play at the next level. Now the idea is to put all that potential and promise toward bigger and better results. “A championship,” Mowry said, “is what we’re about. We want that ring.” “The biggest thing about coming off a successful season is you want to re-establish that hunger to succeed again,” coach Trey Herrmann said. “You have to recognize it took a lot of work to get there and it’s going to take a lot of work to get back. It will take even more work if we want to go beyond that. “That motivates us as players and coaches to up our game a little bit. The expectation is we should be better.” The Mustangs have not made consecutive playoff appearances since the ’90s. They have a chance to break that drought.

Though only 10 starters return, those who are back have prominent profiles and are premier playmakers. “One thing that’s pushing us is all the hype we’ve put upon ourselves,” said Wright, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive end/ fullback who has verbally committed to play at Texas A&M. “We know we’re a talented group of kids and we know we can put something special together.” The trenches will carry the Mustangs. The entire defensive line is back, of which no starter stands shorter than 6-foot-2 or weighs fewer than 220 pounds. “It’s like a brotherhood out there,” said Mowry, who holds offers from Houston, Baylor, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma, among others. “If one person messes up, we hold each other accountable, but we do it lovingly. We do it because we care about each other. We’re a very close group. This year, we’re going to be amazing defensively.” And though only the 6-foot-7, 325-pound Coker, a Florida verbal commit, returns on the offensive line, freshmen Bryce Foster and Hayden Conner each boast multiple Division I offers. “The identity of this team will be up front, offense and defense,” Coker said. “Every single one of our defensive linemen has Division I football offers. Three of our starting offensive linemen have Division I football offers. Our defense will stop other running backs and get sacks. The offensive line will move the ball and allow our quarterback to stand up tall in the pocket.” The Mustangs certainly have the tools to “do it again.” Now it’s a matter of making that mantra a reality.

Katy Hardware

SMITH IN TOW Taylor will have a new man under center following the graduation of two-year starter David Perkins. Sophomore Austin Smith won the quarterback competition in the spring and has impressed teammates and coaches with his physical ability (he stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 200 pounds) and his arm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing really good,â&#x20AC;? Beek said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;During 7-on-7, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been maturing a lot, playing against older dudes, more veteran teams. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got height, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a great arm, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got speed. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a good mobile quarterback for us.â&#x20AC;?

Good luck to all Katy Area football teams! of

COKER EMERGES Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a busy six months for Coker, who has emerged onto the national scene and received multiple Division I offers in the spring before verbally committing to play for Florida, his dream school. Coker was a key cog of a veteran offensive line in 2016 that surrendered just three sacks and helped produce 280.3 rushing yards per game, but now the junior is looked upon as a leader for a program on the rise. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a change, especially for me and my family,â&#x20AC;? Coker said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not really used to being in the spotlight, especially as an offensive lineman. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great feeling and it is a lot of pressure. It definitely puts a target on your back, especially when your team is pretty good, but people live and thrive through pressure.â&#x20AC;?

TAYLOR MUSTANGS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year, we put a big target on our back,â&#x20AC;? Coker said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Doing it againâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a mentality where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to do everything again, but better. Last year, we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go undefeated. So the goal is to win more games, the goal is to beat Katy, which no one has done in a while, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our expectations.â&#x20AC;? More on the Mustangs:

2017

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37

TAYLOR MUSTANGS

BEEK’S A BALL-CARRYING DYNAMO FOR MUSTANGS By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

T

38

he best running back in District 19-6A last season, by the numbers, wore the blue and white of Taylor. In his junior campaign, while leading the Mustangs to the area round of the playoffs, Ean Beek rushed for 2,401 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per tote. He also caught 14 passes for 190 yards and two more touchdowns. Though he holds offers from Abilene Christian and Houston Baptist, the 5-foot-9, 193-pound Beek still remains a little under the radar, at least state-wide. On the local scale, he is highly-regarded. “Although he’s not getting a lot of attention from the major DI colleges, he is getting a lot of attention from coaches and teams,” junior offensive lineman Andrew Coker said. “Whenever people game plan for us, they know who Ean Beek is. It’s very hard to stop him.” Beek said he added eight more pounds of muscle this season. A video on Twitter showed him running the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds; his official 40 time is listed as 4.5. He has worked diligently to become a better running back, preparing for the defenses that will certainly aim to render him irrelevant during games. Beek said he isn’t concerned with what attention he’s getting. He’s not preoccupied with offers; he said he’ll let that process play out after the season. While he admits to feeling overlooked by recruiters and media, he knows it’s out of his hands. What Beek wants is to finish his Mustangs career on a high note. “I just focus on myself and my team,” Beek said. “I just worry about doing what I can for my team. I’m not worried about anyone else or what’s going on. I still have a whole other season left of high school, and that’s what I’m worried about right now.” Beek sat down with The Katy Times to talk about the

upcoming season. Q: What’s your summer regimen been like and what have you focused on? A: “I’ve worked a lot with my linemen to get stronger. These days are important. You want to get stronger and stay stronger through the summer camps and make sure you’re in top shape heading into the season.” Q: Where do you feel you’ve improved as a running back heading into your senior season? A: “My speed has gotten better. I’m stronger, so I can do a better job breaking off tackles. I’m working to keep flexible and keep me upright, and so far, so good.” Q: How do you like the role of being the workhorse for this WHDP DQG EHLQJ WKH JX\ WKLV Rৼ HQVH UHDOO\ GHSHQGV RQ" A: “I like it a lot. I like having people rely on me. It feels good. It feels good to know that a team like this trusts you on the field.” 4 :KDW GR \RX DOO KRSH WR EXLOG Rৼ RI ODVW VHDVRQ JRLQJ into this year? A: “Throughout the season, you’ve got to keep working hard. You can’t slack off, and that’s especially true in the playoffs. You’ve got to keep working no matter who you’re playing.” Q: What are your expectations for this team going into 2017? A: “We’re going to be a lot better. We had a great season last year, but I feel we can do even better with the way we’ve been working hard.” Q: Where do you feel the strength and the identity is going to be for this team? A: “Honestly, it will be in the front on both sides. The O-line and D-line. They’re going to be really good for us this year and they’re going to win a lot of games for us.”

TAYLOR MUSTANGS

Date

Opponent

Site

Time

Aug. 31

Richmond Foster

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 7

at Fort Bend Travis Mercer Stadium

6 p.m.

Sept. 15

Magnolia

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Katy

Legacy Stadium

6 p.m.

OPEN Sept. 30 Oct. 6

at Mayde Creek

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12

at Cinco Ranch

Legacy Stadium

7 p.m.

Oct. 21

Seven Lakes

Legacy Stadium

11 a.m.

Oct. 28

at Morton Ranch

Legacy Stadium

11 a.m.

Nov. 3

Tompkins

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 10

at Strake Jesuit

Clay Stadium

7 p.m.

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39

40

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

F

QB MIX Schmidt, sophomore Nick Mayberry and junior Trace Jordan are all in the mix for the starting quarterback role. McVey said he will determine a starter in the fall or play multiple guys in that spot during the season. “I like all of them,” McVey said. “They all bring a certain skillset. But it’s like anything else, if one starts separating himself, we’ll adjust. But I like the competition because it makes all three of them play hard and play fast.” The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Mayberry is a bruising, physical quarterback who played linebacker as a freshman last year. He throws a good ball, McVey said. Jordan is a pure pocket passer. Schmidt, the incumbent starter who threw for 714 yards and eight touchdowns last season, is a mix of Mayberry and Jordan, but has the athleticism and skills to be used elsewhere, as a receiver or slot back. They will attempt to lead an offense that returns six starters. “It’s not really a competition,” Schmidt said. “We’re battling for a job, yeah, but at the same time we’re working to get everyone better. We’re not working against each other. It’s more about working with each other to build a better team than last year.”

BUILDING DEFENSE Tompkins’ defense returns just three starters, so that side of the ball is very much in the baby stages of its development under the new regime. “Defense is about reaction, and we’re still thinking,” McVey said. “A lot of them still have to settle in and continue to get better. I don’t want just one or two playmakers; I want 11 guys. We’re still learning team defense. At this level, one guy can’t do it by himself.” The Falcons are running a 4-3 base defense opposed to the 4-2-5 they ran under previous coach Tony Tademy. Whereas the 4-2-5 was more of a read-and-react scheme, the 4-3 is more aggressive and pursues more frequently. “This year, the defense is way more aggressive,” Malone said. “We’re constantly moving around, we’re constantly together. Our big thing is third down. We call that the money down. That’s when we’re going to get stops.”

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irst-year Tompkins coach Todd McVey said his program is in the process of learning “the Jordan rule.” “Michael Jordan never won (championships) until he learned to make everybody else better,” McVey said. “That’s what our kids are learning about right now.” In February, McVey took over a four-year old program that has an overall varsity record of 5-25. He spent the previous eight years as an assistant athletic director for Katy ISD; Tompkins is his third head coaching stint after stops at Killeen Harker Heights and McKinney. He has already made an impact affecting the culture at Tompkins. “At first, it was weird just seeing a new coach after three years of the same guy,” junior quarterback/receiver Ryan Schmidt said. “But it didn’t take long to warm up to each other. We have a lot of meetings, and I feel it’s more of a family bond between coach and player. At the end of the day, we’re all one family working together.” McVey said there is still a vast learning curve going on, in regard to coaches getting to know players and vice versa. He is eager for players to assume ownership of the program. His philosophy is based in the intangibles. “It’s about having integrity in what they’re doing every day, on and off the field, weekdays and weekends,” McVey said. “Representing the Falcon family, they’re going to be held accountable for that. They’ve got to have a work ethic. Success doesn’t happen without work. And then there’s trust. Trust the system, trust the process. Trust each other. “It’s not rocket science. It’s just doing your job. I don’t worry about the outcome. I worry about the process, the day-today. You don’t win on Friday. You win Monday through Wednesday.” Schematically, the Falcons are simple. Defense is predicated more on getting stops than allowing a specific amount of yardage — the “bend but don’t break” adage —and the offense has only established a base set. The Falcons are still figuring out personnel. There were many players who started in one position on Day 1 of spring football that ended up in a totally different role by Day 18. “Every day is depth chart day,” McVey said. “Competition breeds competition, and I want competition. That’s a life lesson, and we’re trying to teach life lessons. Our purpose every day is to just get better.” While very few starters are set, McVey knows who his captains are. They are offensive linemen Brendan Robisch and Ryan Rey, receiver Tyler Prahm, and defensive back Deginald Malone. They will be responsible for carrying McVey’s message to the players.

They will be responsible for helping chart a new path for Tompkins football. “No one understands how much work we’re putting in to be the best we can every game,” Malone said. “We’re going to give our all. We’re getting mentally tough. When it’s the fourth quarter, three seconds left and they’re on the goal line, we’re going to make the play, and we’re going to have fun doing it.” More on the Falcons:

TOMPKINS P FALCONS

FALCONS ‘CLIMBING THE HILL’ UNDER NEW COACH MCVEY

41

TOMPKINS FALCONS

robisch hungry to leave lasting impact at tompkins By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

N

42

ot only is senior center Brendan Robisch a mainstay of Tompkins’ offensive line. He’s a prominent staple for the entire Falcons program. Robisch has been a Falcon since the inception of Tompkins football his freshman year. Since then, he’s been an invaluable contributor to the type of culture the program desires. So much so that Robisch was elected as a team captain by his teammates for the upcoming season. “Brendan has been solid,” coach Todd McVey said. “It’s important to him, going into his senior year, that he wants to lead in a way that, when it’s all over, he feels he made an impact. He’s a mature kid, very much a team guy. This is important to him.” Robisch will make the move to center from right tackle. He has accommodated by spending a lot of time in the weight room, gaining 30 pounds. He now stands 6-foot-1 at 250 pounds. Now it’s about having that work pay off in the fall, and he’s been encouraged by what he’s seen from his teammates so far. “We play six seconds hard on the ball. We have a lot of effort, tenacity,” Robisch said. “We give our all every single snap. We have a great group of guys where everyone just wants to be on the field.” Robisch talked with The Katy Times about the upcoming season: Q: What is your mindset going into your senior year? A: “I just really want to lead our team to a place where we’ve never been and push my teammates to their maximum potential. We have a lot we can achieve and we just have to work hard to get there.”

Q: What have you seen so far through spring ball and summer camp? “Since Coach McVey came in, we’ve been rejuvenated. There’s a new energy on our team. It’s something I’ve never seen before. Everyone is working, before and after school. We’re getting closer as a team. Everyone just seems more together now.” 4 :KDW KDYH \RX EHHQ ZRUNLQJ RQ WKLV Rৼ VHDVRQ WR EH ready for next season? A: “I really wanted to get bigger, improve my lifts, and get a little bit faster. Mostly it was just about getting stronger. I’ve been adjusting to playing center now, where I’m making more calls and learning to be more vocal.” Q: What has the process been like seeing this program grow in your four years? A: “The thing about starting a new school is you really have to install the culture. There’s nothing that was settled before, obviously. My freshman year, we didn’t have any seniors, so a lot of people had to step up and be leaders before their time would’ve come at another school. Everyone got a lot of reps early, so it takes a lot of hard work and character to establish a new program and build what you think is right.” Q: What are the expectations going into this year for the team? A: “We’ll take it one game at a time, but I’m not ruling anything out. I’m really excited to see what we can do. I think we can compete. This is a hard district and I’m excited to see where we can go. Playoffs would mean everything to us, and that’s been our No. 1 goal so far. We’re just pushing to break through that ceiling.”

TOMPKINS P FALCONS

Date

Opponent

Site

Time

Sept. 1

at Humble

Turner Stadium

7 p.m.

Sept. 9

Beaumont Central

Legacy Stadium

6 p.m.

Sept. 21

at Houston Heights

Delmar Stadium

7 p.m.

Sept. 29

at Seven Lakes

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 6

Morton Ranch

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 12

at Mayde Creek

Rhodes Stadium

6 p.m.

Oct. 20

at Strake Jesuit

Clay Stadium

7 p.m.

Oct. 27

Katy

Legacy Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Nov. 3

at Taylor

Rhodes Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 11

Cinco Ranch

Legacy Stadium

11 a.m.

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43

PAETOW PANTHERS

PAETOW IS THE NEW KID ON THE KATY I.S.D BLOCK By Dennis Silva II Times Sports Editor

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

K

44

aty ISD’s eighth high school debuts in August as Paetow High will open its doors. But the newly-christened Panthers won’t adopt a varsity athletic schedule until the 2018-19 school year. With the school fielding just freshmen and sophomores from Katy and Morton Ranch junior highs and high schools this inaugural year, Panther athletics will carry just freshmen and junior varsity teams. But if the summer’s strength and conditioning camps were any indication, things are off to a promising start for B.J. Gotte, Paetow’s athletic coordinator and head football coach. More than 165 kids, from grades 7-10, showed up for the first week of camp in June, and that number stayed consistent through the next month. Gotte said Paetow has six sophomore football players coming from Katy and 27 from Morton Ranch. Along with the projected number of 60 athletes that will compose the freshmen class, there will be a little less than 100 players for Paetow football when the doors open. Gotte is a 1997 graduate of Katy High and started his coaching career there. He made stops at Deer Park, La Marque and Flower Mound Marcus before returning to Katy High in 2009. Since 2012, he had served as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. “It was an opportunity for my family and myself to give back to a school district that’s given me so much,” Gotte said. “We moved back here in 2009 to raise our kids in Katy, and the opportunity to open a new school and be a part of a new tradition is exciting. To have my kids be able to grow up and be in that type of environment really attracted me to it.” Gotte’s philosophy is similar to that of Katy’s: evaluate kids, put the best kids on the field and place them in positions to succeed.

He will emphasize being flexible and adapting the system to the athletes, and he makes no secret that much of his philosophy comes from his time under the tutelage of Mike Johnston and Gary Joseph at Katy High. Gotte and assistant head coach Brett Holgorsen and offensive coordinator Joseph Longacre, both of whom Gotte brought with him from Katy, began working with Paetow-zoned kids at Morton Ranch and Katy high schools under their offseason regimen from March through May. “We’ve got a fun road ahead,” Gotte said. “This opportunity is special, and I’m excited about the chance to create something that’s going to last a lot longer than I’m around.” Gotte said the big thing during the summer was establishing “normal.” Coaches did not move onto campus until early July. Before then, their offices were housed at Bethke Elementary and Stockdick Junior High, the latter serving as the home for strength and conditioning camps. Paetow’s initial principles during summer training were basic: show up, work hard and commit. Coaches were pleased with camp attendance and the energy and spirit kids showed in being a part of something brand new. “It’s an amazing opportunity to go out there, work hard and show everybody that it’s not where you come from, it’s where you end up,” sophomore football player Alex Ecko said. “I came from Katy Junior High and saw how they worked there, went to Morton Ranch (high school) and saw how they worked there. You take bits and pieces from that and transfer it to here, taking the good from it all to make it better and make it great here.” When the Panthers do start varsity play in 2018-19, they will do so beginning in Class 5A. February’s UIL realignment will dictate what district Paetow will be a part of for 2018-19 and 2019-2020.

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45

FAITH WEST EAGLES

EAGLES EYE PLAYOFFS IN 2017 By Tom Behrens Times Correspondent

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

F

46

aith West Academy finished its 2016 six-man season with a record of 1-9, 0-2 in TAPPS Six-Man Division I, District 5. “Last year we suffered quite a few injuries that hindered our season,” coach Jacob Phillips. “We were a little bit low in player numbers as well. We limped our way through the season.” The Eagles’ lone victory came against Providence Classical in a non-district game, 52-47. Last year, the Eagles began the season with 15 players, according to Phillips, and finished with eight. This year, there are 12 players. Phillips hopes the roster will expand to 17 by the start of the season. “We have quite a few returners,” he said. “Those returning are more aware of the type of play we are involved in and will be able to make safer on-field decisions, (as to) not have to deal with the injuries.” Six-man football is a game that boasts a lot of scoring and open field running. “What helps a team is being able to make good contact in the open field; open-field tackling is a big part of it,” Phillips said. “Great tackling technique plays a huge part in the success of a team. There is so much green grass for guys to run.” The rules also accommodate for the scoring. If a team is

ahead by 45 or more points going into the second half, the game is called to a finish. Last season, Faith West averaged 17.1 points per game and surrendered 52.2 points. Five opponents won the game by the end of the first half. Phillips said that was due to a lack of depth for the Eagles. There were simply too many players playing too many snaps. “If you can put 20-25 guys on a six-man team, you can rotate players in and out of the game a lot and keep their stamina up,” Phillips said. “But when you have under 15 players, pretty much all of your guys are playing both offense and defense. There’s not a lot of rest.” Though the numbers are not much better for the Eagles this season, there is experience in fold. Junior Joey Robinson was an all-state first-team selection last season. Senior Conner Sibley had a season-ending injury in the second game of the season, but had already amassed enough rushing yards in one game to serve as the team’s leading rusher midway through the season. Along with Sibley and Robinson, other key players are junior running back/linebacker Leo Alvarez, sophomore running back/defensive back Dan Owen, and senior receiver/linebacker Benjamin Grinestaff. With the returning talent, Phillips hopes that Faith West can get to a .500 mark this season and have a shot at making the playoffs. Faith West will compete in Division I-5 this season along with projected district champ Emery-Weiner, Giddings State and Spring Providence.

FAITH WEST EAGLES

Opponent

Site

Time

Sept. 1

Date

at Brazosport Christian

Emery/Weiner

7 p.m.

Sept. 8

at High Island

High Island

7 p.m.

Sept. 15

Alpha Omega

Kerr Field

7 p.m.

Sept. 22

at Veritas Academy

TBD

7 p.m.

Oct. 6

at Hill Country San Marcos

San Marco Peyton 7 p.m.

Oct. 13

vs. TBA

Kerr Field

TBD

Oct. 20

vs. HYCA Chargers

Kerr Field

7 p.m.

OPEN

Oct. 27

Giddings State

Kerr Field

7 p.m.

Nov. 4

at Emery/Weiner Academy

Emery/Weiner

7 p.m.

Nov. 10

at Spring Providence

Providence

7p.m.

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47

ST. JOHN XXIII LIONS

IT’S ABOUT QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY, FOR LIONS By Tom Behrens Times Correspondent

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

I

48

n 2016, the St. John XXIII Lions got off to a bad start, losing their first six games before defeating Beaumont Kelly Catholic, 10-0, and Village, 42-0. The Lions finished the season with a 13-7 loss to Savio of Austin, ending with a TAPPS Division V, District 1 record of 2-7. The Lions play as a TAPPS independent team, but basically played the entire Division II TAPPS 5A teams, including Fort Bend Christian, Lutheran South Academy and Second Baptist. “I feel we have a chance to beat most of them this year,” Lions coach Clay Richardson said, “or be in the game with most of them. I think our start is going to be a lot more positive.” St. John XXIII’s roster had 25 players last season, many of whom played virtually every snap. This year, with some new students signing up to play and a couple of transfers from public schools, the Lion roster should increase to between 40 and 43 players. “Almost 95 percent of our kids are all returners,” Richardson said. “I would like to get our numbers up to 70; we will get there.” Richardson describes the 2017 edition of the Lions as not real big between tackle to tackle. Senior Jake Downie is one of the bigger Lions at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. Junior Alex Sickafoose, who played offensive and defensive tackle, is 6-foot-3. “Our two guards and two tackles may have to play both sides of the ball all the time,” Richardson said.

The Lions will be changing from a spread offense to a Delaware flex bone, similar to what Georgia Tech uses. “It fits our personnel’s skills better,” Richardson said. At 5-foot-6, 160 pounds, junior Gregor Gourlay is the Lions’ workhorse. He’s described as a hard, downhill running back. “He hits the hole, is a slasher, not bouncing around, but just goes,” Richardson said. “He’s a little guy, but he’s tough. Last year, he piled up an easy 500-800 yards.” Richardson added that Gourlay is also a good receiver, scoring several touchdowns last season on screen passes. “As he goes, we will go on offense,” Richardson said. “He will be a difference-maker for us, one of the few players that will play only on one side of the ball.” Defensive standouts will be Sickafoose, Ian Craig, Keegan O’Connor and Downie. “They played pretty much every down last year, guys that can just keep going,” Richardson said. “They are outside receivers and defenders. Alex plays defensive end, and was a pretty good pass rusher.” Ben Turner moves up from backup quarterback to the main signal-caller this year. “He has played safety on defense, but I think this offense fits him,” Richardson said. Richardson said the numbers are not much bigger than last year, but the quality of those numbers is better. “I believe the team we have this year should be pretty good,” he said. “Where we will be really tested is when we play Second Baptist and Fort Bend Christian Academy.” The Lions open their season against Fort Bend Christian Academy on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. in Sugar Land.

ST. JOHN XXIII LIONS

Date

Opponent

Site

Time

Sept. 1

Fort Bend Christian Academy St. John XXIII

6 p.m.

Sept. 8

at Lutheran South Academy

Lutheran South

7 p.m.

Sept. 15 Westbury Christian School

St. John XXIII

7 p.m.

Sept. 22 Bullard Brook Hill

St. John XXIII

7 p.m.

Sept. 29 at Second Baptist

Second Baptist

7 p.m.

Oct. 6

Victoria St. Joseph

St. John XIII

7 p.m.

Oct. 13

at Monsignor Kelly

Monsignor Kelly

7 p.m.

Oct. 20

at The Village School

The Village School

7 p.m.

Oct. 27

St. Dominic Savio

St. John XXIII

7 p.m.

Parare Mente et Corde X To Prepare in Mind and Heart

Come See Why Our Small School Makes a Big Difference! Unique House System - Promotes School Spirit, Fellowship, & Academic Achievement College Preparatory Curriculum - Educates with Rotating College Block Schedule & AP Courses Christian-Oriented - Imparts strong Catholic Identity in a Moral, Friendly, and Safe Environment Learning Center Program International Program - Includes students from Around the World as Part of our Student Body Perfect Size - Provides Opportunities to Participate in a Wide Variety of Activities

1800 West Grand Parkway N., Katy, Tx 77449

Voted Readers’ Choice Katy’s Best Private School

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

• • • • • •

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Seconds F R O M 1 - 1 0 . M I L E S F R O M Ordinary. With renowned builders, incredible amenities and the New Cane Island Parkway exit, Cane Island is luxury living like nowhere else in Katy. From the high $200s to over $1 million

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Coventry Homes • David Weekley Homes • Perry Homes • Ryland Homes • Toll Brothers • Trendmaker Homes • Shea Homes CaneIsland.com • A Rise Community Cane Island

KATY

DETOUR TO ENTRANCE

90 KATY

CANE ISLAND PARKWAY NOW OPEN!

Yoga studio/lap pool

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1 ST ST

MAP NOT TO SCALE

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10 G R A N D PA R K WAY

ENTER HERE

PIN OAK RD

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

E x p e c t t he u ne x p e c te d .

n

Entrance experience

Conservatory

No warranty or representation of intended use, design or proposed improvements are made herein. All plans for land or facilities are subject to change without notice. Nothing presented in this advertisement shall obligate the owner, or any other person or entity, to construct facilities or develop land as shown. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of Equal Housing Opportunity in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

fresh seafood

• Shrimp &DWÀVK •Blue Crab •Salmon •Alligator •Flounder

•Red Fish •Snapper •Striped Bass &UDZÀVK WDLOV •Frog legs • Snow Crab Legs

come take a tour!

The Market is set with fresh seafood, coolers of wine, Cajun meats & desserts. We can package your seafood & butcher your prime meats to your liking! We also offer special seafood orders when seasonably available!

ask about our catering! We offer seafood as well as bbq catering options for any occassion!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Restaurant • Catering • Seafood Market R offering breakfast & daily specials

special orders available

979-987-6077 • 9027 SE 1-10 Frontage Rd., Sealy, TX • Just 10 minutes from Katy Mills Mall on I-10!

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM 51

We care more than anyone else. It’s not bragging if it’s true. And it is in Katy. No other urgent care opens as early as Next Level. That’s because we now have new extended hours in Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch, 7am-9pm, 7 days a week.

nextlevelurgentcare.com All other locations open 9am-9pm.

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

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7KDQN <RX .DW\ .DW\ ·V Bes t nce Insura Agen cy 2017

For selecting Katy of Insurance Agency as the Best Insurance Agency in the Katy Area back to back years. .DW\ ·V Best 6 ur ance InsYears inAa cy ge nRow! Thanks Katy for voting us the Best!

We take great pride We take great in this recognition and strive to always provide the best customer service for over 41 years.

THANK YOU! Your support is such a blessing to us. Our new building will open Summer of 2017 and we hope to see you at our Grand Opening Event! Here’s to many more years of serving the Katy community!

• General Practice • Orthodontics • Endodontics • Same Day Crowns

www.katyinsurance.com

1207 Ave. D

FREE custom sports guard!

X Katy, TX X 77493 281.391.2109 We take great

Over $250 value

pride in this recognition and strive to always provide the best customer service.

Locally owned by Skip Conner www.katyinsurance.com 1207 Ave. D Conner Katy, TXSissom 77493 & Kellie X

X

281.391.2109

for any KISD sports player with a new patient exam! One per student.

1421 Avenue D | Katy, Texas 77493 Next door to the Fire Station

281•391•8882 | www.smilesofkaty.com

ŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƋƵĂƟĐ Θ >ĂŶĚ WŚLJƐŝĐĂů dŚĞƌĂƉLJ

2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

AQUATIC BASED PHYSICAL THERAPY

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ůƵĞ >ĂŐƵŶĞ dŚĞƌĂƉLJ ŽīĞƌƐ ĂƋƵĂƟĐ ƚŚĞƌĂƉLJ ŝŶ Ă ǁĂƌŵ ŚĞĂƚĞĚ ƉŽŽů ĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƉĂƟĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞĂů ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ ĨŽƌ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ĞĂƌůLJ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞƌĂƉĞƵƟĐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞƐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ ƌĞƐƵůƚƐ͘ tŚĞŶ ĂƋƵĂƟĐ ƚŚĞƌĂƉLJ ŝƐ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ͕ ŽƵƌ ƚŚĞƌĂƉŝƐƚƐ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ Ă ĐƵƐƚŽŵŝnjĞĚ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ĨŽƌ ĞĂĐŚ ƉĂƟĞŶƚ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŚĂŶĚƐͲŽŶ ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ͘

1115 Avenue D • Katy, Texas 77493 Phone: 281.712.4835 Fax: 832-437-5709 info@BlueLaguneTherapy.com appointments@BlueLaguneTherapy.com

BlueLaguneTherapy.com

• Alleviates pressure on joints and spine • Decreases swelling and edema

• Increases endurance

• Increases core strengthening and stability • Promotes improved muscle strengthening and endurance

KATYTIMESSPORTS.COM

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Thank you for voting us #1 RV Dealership in Katy! Sales: (888) 225-0981 Service: (281) 829-1560 29029 Katy Freeway Katy, TX 77494 ronhooverwesthouston.com