The Cougars Started Strong
The Tigers pulled away from Cinco Ranch in a 56-28 victory to earn its second district win. Katy plays Seven Lakes next week. If you only saw the score in this one, you might not think much of the game and you might expect it given the season outlook for each team. Photo credit Ramiro Rams Reyna Jr.
Cinco opened the game on fire passing the ball with senior QB Davis Roup, and the Katy secondary was all over the place trying to keep up. Roup was able to do whatever he wanted just about in the first quarter. The Cougars scored 21 of their 28 points in the first quarter. Sophomore (#2) Jacob Chevez seemed to cause Katy the most issues downfield, but Katy struggled to track anyone to start the game.
Katy shuffled some players around to try and shore up the back and also adjusted some of the pressure it was applying to try and get people in Roup’s face. These adjustments paid off as the game progressed beyond the first quarter.
Some Much Needed Adjustments
Initially, Katy’s secondary looked as lost as I’ve ever seen it. Mason Dismuke began the night on the sideline, but he subbed in as part of Katy’s response to Cinco’s early success in the air. He did not appear to be 100% after being out the last two games, but he gutted it out and hopefully can get back to his best now.
When Dismuke came on, it was he and David Olotu-Judah at the cornerback positions for the most part. Sophomore Olotu-Judah continues to show why he was trusted enough to be promoted and play important downs. He has a knack for making plays on the ball.
Equally as important to the adjustments at the back, Katy found a way to generate pressure on Roup as the game progressed.
Katy, through a great effort by the blocking unit and running backs running hard, established the run immediately and dominated on the ground for the entire game. Cinco attempted to play further off the ball (seemed to be giving Katy’s OL 2 yards of space) in order to try and shed blocks, but the Tigers just ran over and through them at will with Trey Hill leading the way from tailback. He has responded well since the first game against Dickinson. Cinco’s base defense is set up to defend spread teams, but not a team like Katy.
What’s to Like?
Strategically, I liked that Katy mixed things up formation wise with a nice balance of the traditional I under center and the pistol. The pistol is useful for changing the angles to favor the offense and throw the defense for a loop. It baits the defense into coming more upfield and opens lanes. Katy also was unbalancing formations a little more in this one and being more strategic in the play design. This is the kind of stuff I enjoy seeing because it shows progression.
Katy completed a touchdown pass to a receiver over the top on a post in this one to senior Drake Hopkins. I nearly blacked out watching it live. Hopkins made two outstanding catches on the night. Fayo George continues to be a revelation in his new role this season. He made an insane diving catch to extend a drive for Katy in addition to the balls he’s been catching in the flat area.
While the opening quarter of the game was wild to watch with both teams exchanging big plays, Cinco through the air and Katy via the ground, it was nice to see this Katy team prove it could respond and make adjustments. When Katy was hit in the mouth against Dickinson and Atascocita, we didn’t see that.
Katy has a backloaded schedule, so there are games against Seven Lakes and Taylor coming up around the bye week before the stretch run starts against Jordan on 10/16. 19-6A is going to deliver some entertaining competition this season with as closely matched as the top 5 or 6 in the district seem to be this season. In my opinion, Katy will face tests again, probably multiple times, before November and the state playoffs arrive.
