The North Shore vs Katy game was an event. Televised on ESPNU, the game had national attention and was tending on Social Media.
So, what did we see and learn? Katy is still Katy.
North Shore was the No. 2 team in the country as ranked by USA Today, but Katy has eight titles. These are the H-Town brands in high school football. North Shore dominated the first half and Katy flipped the script in the second half playing keep way from the 'Stangs with a ball-controlled offense and aggressive defense to win 24-21.
North Shore... North Shore... North Shore. That's all Katy has been hearing since last December's state title game. Well, Katy's coaching staff had their guys prepared (not shocking) and the Tigers were juiced for this game. It showed in the end result.
Vintage Katy, wearing down North Shore's defense in the summer heat.
"#WEST SIDE... #WEST SIDE... #WEST SIDE!" could be heard pouring out of Katy's locker room after the game.
-- Say hello to the next big-time RB at Katy – Ron Hoff from Irmo, South Carolina. He STOLE THE SHOW in front of a national audience. He's a beast at 5-foot-10, 200-pounds. Katy fans, think Donovan Young of 2011. He's gonna have a big year and rushed for 220 yards and a score. And Katy's OL look solid again. Punishing
-- Keep away… In the second-half, Katy ran 24 plays to North Shore's 3 in the third quarter. How? Katy's OL pushed around North Shore's DL in the second half.
-- Somebody better come and get Katy WR Jordan Patrick. He's a straight up playmaker and had nearly 200 yards receiving. A smidge undersized, but this guy is a big-play waiting to happen.
-- At 6-foot-6, Katy tight end Fernando Garza is a stud. Great blocker. He's a major DI prospect in the Class of 2021. Weird thing is that he might be a better pitcher in baseball. Imagine that coming at you on the mound.
-- Hit of the night… Katy OL Dakota White completely obliterated Stout on an interception return.
-- Katy had a missed field goal and one blocked.
-- North Shore DB Upton Stout (Utah State) had two interceptions in the first half. Great ball skills.
-- ESPN's No. 1 prospect Zach Evans of North Shore had a 25-yard score up the middle right at the ESPNU scissor lift. Made for tv moment. The most impressive score in the first half was North Shore's John Gentry's 81-yard run. He got the edge and beat all of Katy's angles for the score.
-- North Shore WR Shadrach Banks did not play due to a broken bone is his foot. He will be out for a few more weeks.
-- Up next for North Shore is Ridge Point on KUBE 57 next Thursday night. Katy faces Atascocita.
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Having spent some serious time inside in the Galena Park ISD over the past two decades, having written a book about their 2003 State Title Team, it was a homecoming of sorts.
Checking in with AD Vivian Dancy to pick up my pass, I noticed a ton of envelopes with tickets inside. The names on the list… Vince Young, Andre Johnson and a cast of local celebrities.
Catching up with former North Shore DE Cory Redding, who starred at the University of Texas and was the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year, he looks like he could still run after QBs in the NFL. He played 13 years in the league. His brother Chris played at Arizona.
Also in attendance was Dajleon Farr, the nation's No. 1 tight end in 2005. He signed with the University of Miami and played two years, before transferring to Memphis.