GAMES
RANKINGS
RUN THIS TOWN: "Air Jordan" shoots its shot against super-power Katy; photo gallery
The most recent Katy ISD school is making big waves as the Jordan Warriors are on the cusp of making its first postseason appearance.
Sure, it’s early, but coach Mike Rabe’s crew is in year two of varsity play and looks the part.
The Warriors are 4-0; 2-0 in district play and will have a huge challenge this week against the legendary Katy Tigers.
“I loved the opportunity of opening up a new school,” Rabe said of taking the Warrior job. “I was hired to take over rebuild jobs in the past, and this was something new.
“I don’t know if I would do it again, though,” he laughed. “Did I mention it was during a pandemic?”
Rabe is no-nonsense leader with a simple culture.
“It’s really six things,” he said. “Commitment and consistency, first. Holding each other accountable is key, while attitude and effort are pillars to success. Finally, you just have to go out and execute.”
Pretty simple, right? Especially when you have great kids and a ton of talent.
“These guys were thrust on varsity at an early age,” he said. “They are really passionate about the game and have just matured physically and mentally over the past three years. It’s been really rewarding to watch.”
Leading the "Air Jordan" offense is QB Colin Willetts, who has thrown for over 1,100 yards and 12 scores. He has some serious weapons. Junior RB Chad Gaspar is a national recruit with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Baylor, Oregon and Wisconsin positioning for his eventual commitment.
The receiving corps is special. Zechariah Sample is committed to Arizona State and has over 300 yards and five receiving scores. He also plays cornerback.
National recruit Andrew Marsh is just a junior but is arguably the best 2025 WR in Texas. He has nearly 500 yards receiving. VanKieth Brown transferred from Paetow and has double-digit offers, and Deacon Stanfield has committed to Houston Christian University.
“Colin has received varsity coaching for four years,” he said. “He understands the offense and executes very well. Our skill position athletes can go out and make plays. They are really fun to watch, while our offensive line has developed really well with another offseason.
“We are really explosive on offense, but we just take what the opponents are giving us. Our coaches make great adjustments during the game, which makes us tough to defend,” he said.
On defense, Jordan welcomed Katy transfers Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu, Dallas-Patrick Alo-Suliafu, Jeremy Alo-Perry and Rocky Alo-Perry to Warrior-nation over the offseason… the Polynesian Pipeline.
Zion Jones is the QB of the defense at safety, while Brayden Coffie controls the linebacking box for the Warriors, according to Rabe.
As Jordan is on the eve of the “Katy Game”, Rabe steadies his message.
“We don’t treat any game differently on any given week,” he said. “We focus on our football team as we try and get better every day. The rest will take care of itself.”
Come on coach, it’s the “Katy Game”.
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.”