Round 1 in the Books
Photo courtesy of Reyna Photo.
Katy started the 2025 post-season with a 42-7 win over George Ranch. The Longhorns finished their season with a 5-6 overall record. Their worst regular season defeats were to Westside (48-7) and Strake Jesuit (42-0). Katy was their third largest margin of defeat for the season.
The Tigers had a slower start to the game and George Ranch had some early opportunities to put Katy in an early hole. Katy did not look particularly sharp. The Tiger defense was able to make key stops with George Ranch threatening early before Katy turned things on later in the first quarter.
Katy’s first touchdown was a fortunate break on a deep pass attempt. Franklin carried out a play fake with a deep corner on and the defender had both hands on the ball in a mistimed jump and somehow it landed in the waiting arms of the Tiger WR Hopkins, who showed good concentration on the catch to score. The Tigers led 7-0. George Ranch gashed Katy with the RB #5 to set up a nice drive into Katy’s red zone. The Longhorns got inside Katy’s 10 before Reid Garrelts forced a fumble on a 3rd and long.
The Pullaway Begins
Katy pushed the lead to 14-0 on a 78 yard TD from Trey Hill. Hartwell came in at quarterback this series with Katy continuing to rotate every two series. I expect this to continue until/if Katy’s season is seriously threatened and then a decision might be made. George Ranch gashed Katy’s kick coverage for a big return into Tiger territory. The Longhorns penetrated the red zone again before Katy stopped them on a 4th and 1.
Hartwell and the Katy offense put together a nice drive in response capped off with Hill’s second TD of the game to extend the lead to 21-0 and put the Tigers firmly in control. Katy stopped the Longhorns, and Hopkins returned the punt for a touchdown making it 28-0. If the previous score didn’t do it, this was the moment Katy took all wind out of the George Ranch sails for the evening.
Katy’s defense generated another stop, and then Franklin went back to work with Tony Manuel at running back. Pettaway got Katy started with a fly sweep before Manuel finished off the drive for the TD pushing the advantage to 35-0. George Ranch pushed to get something positive ahead of half, but Venier did his best Willie Mays impression with a nice over the shoulder interception on a deep attempt.
2nd Half Begins
George Ranch got the ball first out of half and penetrated Katy’s red zone. Katy once again stopped them on a 4th down. Hartwell got the first series in the second half with Katy backed up on its own 16. Fayo George had an explosive run from fullback to get the drive going. Hartwell completed a first down rope to Hopkins to get in George Ranch’s half of the field. Hartwell dropped back to pass on a 2nd and 7, didn’t see what he wanted, tucked and ran into the end zone from 34 yards out to complete Katy’s scoring on the night with over 7 minutes remaining in the 3rd.
Katy pushed for another touchdown on its next possession as the 3rd quarter was winding down, but a Watts fumble ended the drive in George Ranch’s red area. The Tigers started mass rotations as the third quarter ended and continued that throughout the entire fourth quarter.
Overall, job done and the Tigers earn another week. The sequence from the late 1st quarter through Katy’s last touchdown in the middle of the 3rd quarter was by far the strongest for the Tigers. The start and finish to the game were not as sharp or clean as you’d like, but the finish can be attributed in part to working so many into the game. Katy will see a lot it needs to clean up from this one ahead of next round.
The second round game lands at Tully Stadium on Friday night if Memorial beats Wisdom, and every projection says they will.
With bi district done, Katy needs to stay dialed in for four full quarters to earn another week.
