Tigers find their identity
I watched the first half back of the Tigers’ 52-7 win over Seven Lakes. Katy led 45-7 at the break, so I believe I have the gist of what happened. Katy’s only score allowed was on a botched exchange where the Spartans were able to scoop and score for a defensive touchdown. The defense pitched a shutout. Katy was not challenged in the same way we’d seen in previous games, but there will be much better looks coming in the Tigers’ stretch run to finish district.
I thought it was cool Katy used three different running backs on its first three possessions and they each scored to build Katy’s initial lead. Hill, Watts, and Manuel scored the touchdowns – in that order. I thought this was Watts’ best game of the season so far. He buzzed around the field with the ball like an angry hornet and was getting into defenders when finishing his runs. Also, he had an amazing punt return bobbing and weaving around Spartan players.
Another sophomore, the fullback Zuehlke (#44) was heavily featured in this game beyond what we’d seen in the first games. I liked seeing his involvement and the ability he showed as a pass catcher. George and Zuehlke being as good as they are as pass catchers gives this offense a great opportunity to expand further and start exploiting the field more in the deep vertical areas. George and Zuehlke might be the best pass catching tandem Katy’s had in a long time in the flat area. They are auto chain movers.
Look the Running Backs
The established identity of this team on offense clearly is the running back stable and the Hawgs with the fullbacks in the flat area passing wise. The Hawgs are doing a great job right now, and I’m looking for Katy to continue building on this through the end of the regular season and enter the playoffs with a high level of confidence. Yes, the passing game still needs to develop quite a bit in order for Katy to put its best foot forward in the playoffs. Even the most dominant running teams need the passing element in the playoffs. Katy lacks a drop back pass element in the offense and relies almost entirely on playaction, which becomes the main issue when defenses slow the running game like Dickinson did in game 1.
Katy has a bye week to work on things before a backloaded district schedule starts up on October 10th, first with Taylor, but afterwards with four teams in contention for the district championship and playoff positions.
What is Region Three Looking Like?
In Region 3, 23-6A, the dominant force in the local playoffs in recent years, has had an interesting start to the season. Summer Creek and CE King look like they are the best two teams in the district so far with North Shore and Atascocita trailing in the third and fourth positions. King just beat Cita 70-55. Dickinson remains undefeated at 5-0. Ridge Point and Pearland (great job by our man BJ Gotte) are undefeated and looking like strong teams this season.
Memorial has been the surprise standout of the season so far out of 17-6A. They are 3-1 overall and 1-0 in district after getting a big win over Cy Falls (only loss was a close defeat to Pearland). If I had to label Region favorites in each division right now, I would say Ridge Point/Dickinson in Division 1 and Summer Creek Division 2. Should Katy end up in Division 2, the chances of a Joseph v Haack second round would be very high.
So who’s going D1?
However, I think Katy’s chances of going Division 2 are less today than they were before this last weekend because Cinco struggled with Taylor and Paetow lost a key result to Mayde Creek. I don’t know how the district is going to finish because I think teams are very closely matched, but I would have Cinco more outside than in. Katy, Jordan, Mayde Creek, Tompkins, and Paetow are the five teams battling for four spots in my opinion.
Tompkins has lost to Jordan and Paetow, so their game against Mayde Creek next is massive for them. If they lose to Mayde Creek, Tompkins also will be more outside than in. Cinco and Paetow both have to finish top 4 in order for Katy to be Division 2, and I don’t see that happening based on the results and my eye test so far. Ultimately, D1 or D2 doesn’t impact Katy’s path much in my view. Katy will encounter the same make or break point in either around the third round.
