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Upstart Jordan stuns Paetow, goes to 2-0 in 19-6A
KATY—After three weeks of District 19-6A play, only two of nine teams are unbeaten.
One is Katy. That’s nothing new. The perennial state power Tigers have twice as many state championships (four) as district losses since 2008.
The other is Katy Jordan.
Wait, huh? Jordan?
Yes, those precocious Warriors playing their inaugural year of varsity football are making some serious noise in one of the more competitive districts in the state. And nothing was louder than Friday’s 41-13 smacking of Paetow at Rhodes Stadium.
Jordan is 3-1 overall, 2-0 in district play. Paetow dropped to 3-2, 2-1. The Warriors led 14-7 at the half and outscored the Panthers 27-6 in the second, with Paetow’s second touchdown coming on the final play of the fourth quarter as the clock hit zeroes.
“These kids have taken football seriously since the day they walked onto campus,” coach Mike Rabe said. “They’ve wanted to be good. They want to prove they could compete in this district. They’re doing it.
“They work and grind every day and do whatever we ask them to do. They’ve earned a victory like this.”
\u201c.@JHSWarriors_FB coach Mike Rabe was awarded a Gatorade bath outside the locker room after tonight\u2019s 41-13 win over Paetow. #txhsfb @KatyISDAthletic @JHSWarriors_ABC @JordanHSAthlet1 @JhsWarriors\u201d— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1663990639
Jordan coaches devised a smart game-plan. Players executed it.
Offensively, the Warriors negated Paetow’s size, talent, speed and strength in the defensive front seven as junior quarterback Colin Willetts managed an impressive game.
Willetts completed 10 of 18 passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns and was only sacked once for a two-yard loss. His only mishap was a fumble in the first half recovered by Paetow’s Alex Kilgore that led to the Panthers’ first score.
Otherwise, Willets got rid of the ball quickly, almost always made the right read and kept the chains moving. He was supported by an opportunistic running game anchored by sophomore Chad Gasper (18 carries, 93 yards, TD) and a workmanlike offensive line of Tegan Marroquin, Nick Washington, Jovanni Melchor, Josh Mahoney and Jackson Conley that, though vastly undersized, won the battle of the trenches against a Paetow defensive line led by five-star recruit David Hicks Jr., the No. 9 overall prospect in the country, and three-star recruit Jarra Anderson.
“We knew we were the underdogs,” said Willetts, who completed touchdown passes of 25, 64 and 18 yards to Andrew Marsh, Zechariah Sample and Connor Babin, respectively. “We practiced all week, had a bye week and took the opportunity to get better. Our game-plan tonight, we executed it. Our O-line did very well against, probably, one of the best defenses in Texas. They gave me time to throw the ball and the receivers were making great plays for me.”
\u201c.@JHSWarriors_FB junior QB @willetts_colin talks about tonight\u2019s 41-13 win over Paetow that puts Jordan 3-1 overall, 2-0 in 19-6A. Willetts completed 10 of 18 passes for 112 yards and three TDs. #txhsfb @KatyISDAthletic @JordanHSAthlet1 @KPRC2RandyMc @JhsWarriors\u201d— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1663990536
Once the Warriors figured early on that drop-back passing would not lead to much success, they adjusted by rolling Willetts out of the pocket more. It generated time and cleaner looks by forcing the Paetow defense to move, whether vertically or horizontally.
“It gave him some time to where he can have some vision down the field,” Rabe said. “He executed it well. He really looked comfortable when he could escape a little bit.”
Defensively, the Warriors were just as intentional.
Linemen Tosin Odulate and Jason Lee invaded Paetow’s backfield early and often. Linebacker Nicholas Olinger had a 26-yard pick-6 early in the third quarter, pushing Jordan’s lead to 27-7.
Sample, a two-way dynamo, provided a couple of crushing hits, one that led to a fumble. Against a Paetow team that prides itself on being physical, Jordan was the punishing aggressor.
\u201cWOW. Crushing hit by @JHSWarriors_FB\u2019s @SampleZechariah on Paetow RB Damyrion Phillips in the flat. One of the best hits I\u2019ve seen this year. #txhsfb @JordanHSAthlet1 @JHSWarriors_ABC @KatyISDAthletic\u201d— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1663978671
“There wasn’t anything defensively I didn’t like tonight,” Rabe said. “They did a really good job. We have a good defensive coaching staff with kids who have bought in. It was really fun to watch them operate.”
Jordan held Paetow to 219 total yards and 3.1 yards per play. The Panthers ran for 59 yards on 29 carries and completed 16 of 41 passes (39 percent).
“We understood they have a lot of good offensive powers,” said Odulate, who had two sacks and two tackles for loss. “The quarterback has a strong arm. The running back is good as well. They have a big offensive line. We had to beat them in the pass game. We had to shut down the run, and I think we did a really good job of that. Our defensive front, the front seven, really did a great job.”
\u201c.@JHSWarriors_FB senior DL @todulate44 talks about tonight\u2019s 41-13 win over Paetow. Odulate had two sacks and a couple tackles for loss in leading a defense that held Paetow to 219 total yards and 3.1 yards per play. #txhsfb @KatyISDAthletic @JhsWarriors @JordanHSAthlet1\u201d— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1663992193
Coming into the game, Rabe noticed his players were poised, calm. Confident. Even-keel. He did not get the sense that they were nervous or intimidated by playing a distinguished program like Paetow.
“I was really surprised by that,” Rabe said. “You would think you would run into that with an inexperienced team but there was none of those nerves or anxiety. They prepare really well, so they’re really confident in what they’re going to do when they come out on the field.”
Odulate said players hear the disrespect about Jordan football. They are aware of everyone dismissing them. They heard all summer about how Class 6A football would eat them alive. How they’re nothing more than the new kids on the block.
And all Jordan has done in response is win. Demonstratively, at that, with its three victories coming by an average of 35 points per game.
“People thought we’d be 0-10,” Willetts said. “Just keep watching.”
VYPE Football 2020 Preview: District 19-6A
Welcome to the 2020 football season. What a weird offseason it was for everyone. There was not a summer camp circuit for player to go showcase their talents at. In-person recruiting came to a screeching halt and the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected everyone.
But VYPE has still done what we have always done when it comes to previewing Texas high school football here in Houston. With that said - here is the District 19-6A Preview!
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE 2020 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW MAGAZINE
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PRESEASON RANKINGS
Katy
Morton Ranch
Seven Lakes
Cinco Ranch
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
Most Valuable Player
Jalen Milroe, Tompkins
Offensive MVP
Julius Loughridge, Mayde Creek
Defensive MVP
Trevor Woods, Taylor
Breakout Player of the Year
Bobby Taylor, Katy
Sleeper Team
Morton Ranch
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SINCE 2015, KATY ISD HAS PRODUCED A STATE CHAMPION AND MULTIPLE STATE SEMIFINALISTS. THE DISTRICT IS MUCH MORE THAN A ONE-TEAM SHOW, CONTRARY TO POPULAR OUTSIDE OPINION. IT'S AS COMPETITIVE, TOP TO BOTTOM, AS IT HAS BEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME AND THIS SEASON WILL BE NO DIFFERENT.
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KATY TIGERS
The Katy defense this season is "loaded". Six players hold high-DI offers – seniors S Dalton Johnson (86 total tackles, 2 fumbles caused, 2 INTs), CB Hunter Washington, LB Shepherd Bowling and juniors S Bobby Taylor, LB Ty Kana (95 total tackles) and DE Malick Sylla. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Sylla has sky-high potential is a national recruit. Offensively, senior QB Bronson McClelland (1,689 passing yards, 20 TDs) is a heady signal-caller with an impressive arm, but he'll need unproven talents like senior Taylor Saulsberry and junior Nic Anderson to lift a receiving corps void of varsity experience. Senior back Jalen Davis (946 yards, 12 TDs) will get the majority of the carries in 2020.
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KATY TAYLOR MUSTANGS
Taylor is riding high after a storybook 2019 campaign.
Six offensive starters and seven defensive starters return off the state semifinalist squad, highlighted by dominant senior linemen Bryce Foster (6-foot-5, 300-pounds) and Hayden Connor (6-foot-6, 325-pounds; Texas commit). Others to note are senior ballhawk S Trevor Woods (165 tackles, 8 sacks, 5 INTs) and senior bulldozing RB Casey Shorter (1,369 yards, 15 TDs – Army-commit). Senior QB J Jensen (2,049 yards, 17 TDs) is a natural leader with a strong arm. Sophomore WR Keaton Kubecka is someone to keep an eye on. Senior K Renan Baeta is money, making 18 of 24 field goals last season (with a long of 48) and 48 of 50 point-after attempts.
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KATY TOMPKINS FALCONS
Tompkins only returns two offensive starters from last year's program-best 11-2 team, but the Falcons still have arguably the most talented player in the district in senior QB and Alabama-commit Jalen Milroe (2,689 yards and 29 TDs; 300 yards, 7 rushing TDs) calling the shots. Senior RB and Tulsa-commit Marquis Shoulders (1,050 rushing yards, 13 TDs) had a breakout year last season as a No. 2 back. The offense will be aided by two key transfers, shifty senior RB Sherman Smith and speedy junior WR Joshua McMillan II. Defensively, Tompkins will be stout. Senior DB Colby Huerter (96 total tackles, INT, fumble caused, fumble recovered) is a playmaking stat-stuffer and he'll lead a unit that features junior LB Temisan Aliban (78 total tackles, 2 fumbles caused), senior S Dru Polidore (46 total tackles, 2 INTs) and senior LB Kobee Madriz (93 total tackles, INT).
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MAYDE CREEK RAMS
The 2019 campaign was a banner one for Mayde Creek. The Rams went 9-3 and won their first playoff game since 1997. However, it's a new start for Mayde Creek in 2020. Head coach Mike Rabe departed to take over Jordan High and in is former Alief Taylor leader Brian Randle. Randle has four offensive starters and two defensive starters returning, including senior RB Julius Loughridge (1,527 yards, 14 TDs), versatile senior QB/WR Donte Jones (3 passing TDs, 7 rushing TDs, 2 receiving TDs), senior 6-foot-2 WR L'Den Skinner and senior S Joseph Kinyock (101 total tackles, 4 INTs). Mayde Creek's offense will get a boost with move-in Jace Wilson (Furman-commit) from Del Valle. The dual-threat Wilson was the District 25-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2019 after passing for 2,526 yards and scoring 31 total touchdowns. The Rams also have one of the top long snappers in the Houston area in 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior Max Dietz. The Rams are young at some key positions and overall depth is a concern, but there is more than enough to compete for another playoff spot.
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MORTON RANCH MAVERICKS
Morton Ranch has gone 5-5 each of the last two seasons, heartbreakingly on the brink of the playoffs each time. This year, the Mavs could break through. The Mavs return six offensive starters and five defensive starters. The rocks at the core are senior QB Jaymarcus Wilson, a dynamic dual threat; senior 6-foot, 205-pound LB Sam Hampton; and junior RB Karsten Christopher. The offensive line is buoyed by senior high-DI prospect Aaron Sessions (6-foot- 6, 285-pounds). Be on the lookout for 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore DE David Hicks, who has the potential to cause havoc against any offensive front with his athleticism and size. Coach Ron Counter likes his team's senior experience, but it will be balanced with promising sophomore talent, such as RB Santana Scott.
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SEVEN LAKES SPARTANS
The Spartans return four offensive starters and three defensive starters from a 4-6 team. Senior QB Cristian Beltran (1,273 yards, 8 TDs) has the benefit of a year's experience of varsity under his belt, and he'll have help in senior RBs Milton Jones (805 yards, 12 TDs) and Nick David-West (364 yards, 4 TDs). The offensive line, anchored by senior 6-foot-5, 240-pound tackle Sam Treadaway, is young. Defensively, Seven Lakes will be led by senior LB Adam North (44 tackles) and senior DL Hayden Pratt. Six of Seven Lakes' defensive front seven graduated from last season, so senior LBs Kane Stroman and Jeremy Foster are expected to step up and contribute.
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CINCO RANCH COUGARS
The Cougars went winless in coach Chris Dudley's first year at the helm of the program. Cinco Ranch returns 10 total starters off that team. The Cougars' marquee talents are 6-foot-5, 305-pound senior OL Ethan Onianwa, a Rice-commit who also had offers from Baylor, Arizona and Arizona State, among others. Junior LB Kasey Murry (72 tackles, 5 sacks) will lead the defense. Senior QB Evan Dunn and senior RB Caleb Leapheart showed promise in spurts last season. Dudley says he will have more depth and more athleticism at skill spots, but with only 21 returning lettermen, this season is another one of growth.
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