America's best high school football defense? Katy takes 10 shutouts into Texas title game vs. Lake Travis

Video: Paddy Fisher's highlights vs. Cypress Ranch High

On the snap of the football, 11 red and white-clad Katy (Texas) defenders move as one with the precision of a choreographed dance step. In an instant, escape avenues for the opponent are cut off and the noose begins to tighten around the possessor of the football.

Disciplined defense is a Katy trademark. A case can be made that in this offense-heavy era, no one in Texas is doing it better.

In its fourth-consecutive state championship game, Katy (15-0) will meet 15-0 Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) for the Class 6A Division II title in an 8 p.m. Saturday kickoff at Houston's NRG Stadium.



MaxPreps will have live scoring updates from the game Saturday

Katy is ranked No. 3 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard and Lake Travis is No. 5.

Great defense has been a hallmark of one of Texas' most storied football programs for a couple of decades. But even judged against Katy's high standard, the accomplishments of the 2015 season are eye-opening.

In 15 games, the Tigers' defense has:

* Recorded 10 shutouts.
* Allowed only 55 points (3.7 per game).
* Permitted six touchdowns (three by rush, three by pass).
* Created 36 turnovers (19 fumble recoveries, 17 interceptions).
* Scored 28 points (four touchdown returns and two safeties).

Counted among the shutout victims is 14-1 Cibolo Steele in a state semifinal, 8-5 Friendswood in a regional playoff as well as 9-2 Cinco Ranch (Katy) and 8-5 Strake Jesuit (Houston) in District 19-6A play.



All of those shutouts are a byproduct of players being in the right spot.

"We have to play that way,'' said head coach Gary Joseph. "We aren't overly blessed talent-wise, but our coaches do a great job pushing our kids to succeed. Defense is important to our guys. They don't play for us unless they are team players.''

This particular Katy defense figured to be a cut above based on returning experience. For a core of defensive starters, the championship game will be their 48th varsity game.

"We've got five kids that are three-year starters on defense,'' said Joseph, defensive coordinator at the school before taking over as head coach in 2004. "They were starters in a state championship game as sophomores.''

That group includes linebackers Paddy Fisher and Jovanni Stewart, defensive backs Collin Wilder and Travis Whillock along with nose tackle Joey Woodring.

Leading tackler Fisher (middle linebacker) and top interceptor Whillock (strong safety) have orally committed to Northwestern. Free safety Wilder, a four-year starter for the Tigers, is pledged to the University of Houston. Stewart has multiple college offers and two fumble returns for touchdowns this season.



Defensive end Michael Matus has made an impact as a sophomore. Corey Bethley, a 260-pound junior lineman, was named District 19-6A's top newcomer last season.

"We've got a little more depth this season,'' said Joseph. "When we had injuries early in the year, we had guys come in and do a good job and that helped us create depth.''

Katy's defensive continuity is not lost on Lake Travis' Hank Carter. Before becoming head coach in 2010, Carter was the Cavaliers' defensive coordinator.

"Their defense has a great plan,'' said Carter. "Coach Joseph's system is excellent. They have big kids that can run. They play very close to the line of scrimmage and it always starts with a dominant defensive line. They will be a challenge for us.''

Carter's team will attack with run/pass balance.

Junior quarterback Charlie Brewer has followed in the footsteps of older brother Michael Brewer (Virginia Tech), throwing for 3,254 yards and 41 touchdowns. In 348 attempts, he has been intercepted only three times.



Cade Green is Brewer's favorite target with 64 catches for 1,056 yards and 13 touchdowns. The receiving corps includes tight end Cade Brewer (touchdown leader with 14) and the versatile Maleek Barkley (629 rushing yards, 688 receiving yards). All three are juniors.

The Cavaliers' top running back, Abe Willows, was lost to a season-ending injury in Week 8, but Barkley and Santiago Villegas (927 yards, 13 touchdowns) have not missed a beat.

Joseph said Lake Travis' talent and balance is comparable to state quarterfinal opponent Manvel.

"But I'd say Lake Travis executes better,'' the coach said.

The championship game appearance for Katy is a state-record 14th. No other school has exceeded 11. But in the last two seasons, Katy has come up short in its bid for the school's eighth state title, losing in championship games to Cedar Hill 34-24 in 2013 and 23-20 last year.

In 12 seasons under Joseph, the Tigers have a 167-14 record with state titles coming in 2007, 2008 and 2012. Katy's overall total of seven state titles is one shy of the state record of eight held by Carroll (Southlake) and Celina.



"Katy is used to winning,'' said Carter.

The same could be said for Lake Travis. From 2007-2011 the Cavaliers captured five Class 4A titles in succession. This will be the first title game for the Cavaliers since promotion to the top classification in 2012. In Carter's six seasons, Lake Travis is 76-8.

With a game to go, Joseph stops short of calling this year's defense the school's best.

"I don't have a problem calling them one of the best,'' the coach said. "I hope I can say they are the best after Saturday.''