Katy and Galena Park North Shore give Greater Houston area a 1-2 punch; DeSoto is top Dallas-area team at No. 3.
Even by the high expectations of Katy football fans, the Tigers' 2012 edition is piling up some eye-opening numbers in a 4-0 start.
Katy (4-0), the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Texas Top 25 Rankings and No. 9 in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25, has scored 196 points and allowed only 50 — an average winning margin of 36.5 points.
Coach Gary Joseph's team seems determined to erase the memory of a surprising third-round playoff exit in 2011.
In a couple of weeks, the Tigers could be celebrating another milestone with the school's 500th football victory. Beginning with the birth of the football program in 1939, Katy's overall record is 498 wins, 267 losses and 18 ties.
Katy has produced several NFL players, the most prominent being Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.
DeSoto (5-0) sits in the No. 3 spot behind fellow unbeatens Katy (4-0) and North Shore (5-0).
File photo by Kyle Dantzler
,
Ricky Bickham and
Alex Fisher topped 100 rushing yards in a 62-24 grinding of Morton Ranch (Katy) in a District 19-5A opener. The Tigers visit 3-1 Mayde Creek (Houston) on Saturday.
2. North Shore (Houston, Texas) (5-0)Seniors
Micah Thomas and
Jared Pendleton rushed for three touchdowns apiece in North Shore's 59-7 rout of Channelview. After an open date, the Mustangs will host 5-0 Memorial (Port Arthur) on Oct. 12.
3. DeSoto (5-0)After being held to 20 rushing yards on 11 carries in the first half, Oregon pledge
Dontre Wilson broke touchdown runs of 79 and 42 yards in the second half of a 40-7 leveling of South Grand Prairie. Coming off an open date, the Eagles will face 3-2 Timberview (Mansfield) on Oct. 12.
4. Steele (Cibolo) (5-0) Junior
Justin Stockton, a veteran of two state championship games, rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-14 dousing of San Marcos. After an open date, Steele will travel to 3-2 Corpus Christi King to begin play in District 28-5A on Oct. 12.
Colby Mahon, Coppell
Photo by Neil Fonville
hooked up with
Cameron Smith for touchdown passes of 35 and 23 yards, the latter the game winner in overtime, in a
27-24 thriller over Allen. After an open week, the Cowboys open play in District 5-5A on Oct. 12 with a road game at 3-2 Hebron.
6. Allen (4-1) Kyler Murray rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns to help spur a second-half comeback, but it wasn't enough in a 27-24 overtime loss to Coppell. After an open date, the Eagles begin play in District 10-5A with a road game at 4-0 Plano East on Oct. 12.
7. Abilene (5-0)Receiver
Grant Alexander, sidelined for the first four games by a shoulder injury, raced 64 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the Eagles' 35-6 win over Central (San Angelo). On Friday, Abilene, now 3-0 in District 2-5A, faces 4-1 rival Cooper (Abilene).
8. Carroll (Southlake) (3-1) Kenny Hill, a Texas A&M commit, threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns in the Dragons 59-0 blanking of Central (Keller) in the District 4-5A opener. On Friday, Carroll hosts 1-3 Timber Creek (Fort Worth).
9. Bowie (Arlington) 3-1 Don Jerry rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-3 blasting of Weatherford in a District 3-5A opener. The Volunteers host 1-3 Paschal (Fort Worth) on Thursday.
10. Westfield (Houston) (5-0)Emmitt Raleigh rushed for 274 yards on 38 carries to lead the Mustangs to a 44-17 rout of previously-unbeaten Atascocita (Humble). After an open date, Westfield will host 1-4 Spring on Oct. 12.
11. Skyline (Dallas) (3-1)The Raiders reeled off 21 points in just 1:16 of game time to pull away from Jesuit (Dallas), 56-24. Quarterback
Devante Kincade threw three touchdown passes to give him 12 for the season. Next is a road game at 3-1 Lake Highlands (Dallas) on Friday.
12. Fort Bend Bush (Richmond) (4-0)Defense has been strong so far for Bush. No opponent has yet reached double digits in points, including a most recent 33-6 victory over Fort Bend Kempner (Sugar Land). On Thursday the Broncos host 2-2 rival Fort Bend Travis (Richmond).
13. Dawson (Pearland) (4-0)Running back
James White, a Texas A&M commit, rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns to lead Class 4A power Dawson to a 44-3 victory over Santa Fe. The Eagles host 3-1 Texas City on Friday.
14. Mesquite (5-0) Marco Rodriguez kicked four field goals and three extra points in the Skeeters' 33-7 win over Longview in a District 12-5A opener. Up next is a Friday road game against 4-1 Heath (Rockwall).
Raymond Bolden, Trinity
Photo by Jeff Napier
After a couple of slips in a difficult non-district schedule, the Trojans recorded their 46th consecutive district win in a 6-5A opener, 31-16, over Heritage (Colleyville). On Friday, Trinity hosts 3-1 MacArthur (Irving).
16. Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) (5-0)Lawrence Mattison rushed for 174 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-6 dethroning of King (Corpus Christi). After an open date, the Rangers travel to 1-4 San Marcos on Oct. 11.
17. Cypress Falls (Houston) (4-0)Bryce Peters rushed for 340 yards and two touchdowns in a 60-33 leveling of Jersey Village (Houston). Up next is a date with 2-2 Langham Creek (Houston) on Thursday.
18. Port Arthur Memorial (Port Arthur) (5-0)Ricky Fisk rushed for 157 yards and four touchdowns and threw for another score in a 42-35 triumph over Deer Park. The Titans host 1-4 Channelview on Friday.
19. Sachse (5-0)Quarterback
Kent Myers at the halfway point of the regular season has thrown for 1,605 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 453 yards and seven scores. The Mustangs will face a road test against 3-2 Lakeview Centennial (Garland) on Thursday.
20. Clear Creek (League City) (5-0)Junior quarterback Jarrett Hildreth completed 23 of 32 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-5 paddling of Clear Lake (Houston). On Saturday, the Wildcats host 2-3 Clear Falls (League City).
Shane McCarley, Manvel
File photo by John Godwin
threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns to lead the newly-promoted Mavericks to their first Class 5A district victory, 35-14 over Memorial (Pasadena). On Friday the Mavs host 2-2 Alvin.
22. Midway (Waco) (4-0)In their first Class 5A district game, the Panthers rolled over Ellison (Killeen), 46-6, as Stephon Free overcame an early fumble to rush for 121 yards. On Friday, the Panthers entertain 3-1 Temple.
23. Midlothian (5-0)The Panthers defense picked off four passes and held Grand Prairie's offense to 86 yards in a 66-0 thrashing. After an open date, Midlothian hosts 2-3 Mansfield on Oct. 12.
24. Lancaster (4-0)Nick Harvey rushed for 163 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown run, to help the Tigers rally to a 28-20 win over Legacy (Mansfield) in the District 15-4A opener. On Friday, the Tigers host 3-1 Waxahachie.
25. Tyler 4-1Tyus Bowser's 37-yard fumble return for a touchdown broke a 10-10 deadlock, helping the Lions outlast Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (Mexico) 20-10. After an open date, the Lions begin District 16-4A play at 1-4 Corsicana on Oct. 12.
On the bubble: Brandeis (San Antonio) 4-1,
Centennial (Frisco) 4-0,
Dekaney (Houston) 3-1,
Plano East (Plano) 4-0,
Franklin (El Paso) 5-0,
Lake Highlands (Dallas) 3-1,
Lake Travis (Austin) 4-1,
Bell (Hurst) 4-0,
Martin (Arlington) 2-2,
Nimitz (Houston) 4-1
