Just in case there weren't enough surprises for fans' tastes through seven weeks of Greater Houston-area football, Tomball provided another on Friday night.
The Cougars, who had yet to win a District 13-5A contest and had won only one of their first seven games, provided the shocker of Week 8 by taking down Dekaney 29-28.
Dekaney, which is just a second-year varsity program but had a 3-1 district mark, boasts one of the state's top sophomores in running back Trey Williams.
Williams, who had rushed for at least 200 yards in each of his last four games, was held to 189 yards on 24 carries and just one touchdown.
Tomball coach Tommy Kaiser was pleased with his team's defensive effort against one of the area's rising young stars.
"The defense did a nice job of containing him," Kaiser said. "He got good yardage but we made him work for it. Our defense has steadily improved throughout the year. They have become better disciplined in gap control and trying to contain and taking care of their responsibilities. There weren't any special things that we did other than just our defensive players played their positions well and tried to make him work for everything he got."
Meanwhile, Tomball's senior receiver, Jordan Leslie, shined the brightest on the night, catching 13 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Leslie, who is one of Greater Houston's top receivers and was an all-state selection as a junior, caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 1:09 left.
"He loves to get the ball when the game's on the line and he had those opportunities (Friday) night," Kaiser said. "He made some outstanding catches in crowds and some where he took a lick."
North Shore unleashes the wrath
This has not been a conventional season for North Shore. After going eight seasons without losing a regular season game, they've done something that hasn't been done since 2000 - lost two games in a season. Losses at Katy and at Port Arthur Memorial have made the Mustangs lose a little of their luster when it comes to local and statewide perception.
However, last week, the Mustangs pulled off one of those convincing wins that they have become so accustomed to over the years.
North Shore (6-2) pulled out all the stops in its district battle with Baytown Sterling, crushing the Rangers 68-13.
It was the first big-time performance for junior quarterback Keenon Gibson, who entered his first varsity season with high expectations. Gibson was 9-of-10 passing for 211 yards with six touchdown tosses. Gibson also ran for two touchdowns in the win.
Riding high at the 'Ridge
Willowridge football is no stranger to success. A high school that is home to a player like Thurman Thomas and has a state championship to its credit (Class 4A, 1982) clearly has a rich tradition and history. The Eagles were once one of the Houston-area's best teams, a perennial power.
The Eagles fell on hard times in recent years. As their enrollment numbers dropped to below 5A levels (the Eagles currently compete in Class 5A), it became more and more difficult for them to compete well with other 5A schools.
Enter head coach Keeath Magee. After spending two years turning around Westbury, one of Houston ISD's programs, he's beginning to do the same at Willowridge.
After the Eagles won just one game between 2007-2008 and started the season with four consecutive losses (which extended their losing streak to 18 games), they have finally found a winning formula under Magee, winning four straight games and clinching their first playoff berth since 2002.
The Eagles (4-4) who play Fort Bend Austin this week, will play Hightower for the district championship on Nov. 6.
Look who's in first
The Galveston Ball Tornadoes didn't enter the season with much expected of them from outsiders. With Hurricane Ike tearing through the Galveston community in 2008, many residents left the island and that has translated to a drop in enrollment at the historic high school.
So much so that Ball will almost certainly drop from Class 5A to Class 4A when the University Interscholastic League's biennial realignment takes place in February.
With a new head coach in former Nimitz and Beaumont Central skipper David Suggs, the challenge was clear though not easy - Suggs began the season with just 35 players on his varsity roster, which is unusually small for a 5A school.
The Tornadoes (5-3, 4-1 District 24-5A) haven't allowed that to stop them though, as they have a winning record through eight games and are currently tied with for first place in the district with Clear Springs.
Yates' redemption tour
The Yates Lions fell on hard times last season, suffering injuries and struggles, scrambling just to make the playoffs and keep their state-record playoff-appearance streak alive at 32 consecutive years.
No such drama this year.
The Lions beat Sharpstown 21-13 on Friday to clinch a spot in the postseason and inch closer to a District 21-4A championship. The Lions will head to the postseason for a 33rd consecutive season.
TOP PERFORMERS
Amy Davault (Jersey Village volleyball): The junior had 57 kills in two wins last week over Cy Creek on Tuesday and Cy-Fair on Friday.
Jordan Leslie (Tomball football): The senior receiver caught 13 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-28 win over Dekaney. His final catch, a 10-yard touchdown reception with 1:09 left, set up the game-winning two-point conversion by Matt Marfisi. Leslie also recorded a 24-yard punt return.
Bryan Miller (Foster football): The senior linebacker recorded 14 tackles, four for losses, and blocked Lamar Consolidated's game-winning field-goal attempt in the Falcons' 10-8 win over the Mustangs on Friday.
Cameron Nwosu (Klein Forest football): The senior linebacker recorded 18 tackles in the Golden Eagles' 31-17 win over Klein on Friday.
Caroline Young (Brenham volleyball): Young had 19 kills, three blocks and three aces in a five-game victory over Montgomery to clinch the District 18-4A championship.
Deauntre Smiley, Lufkin
Photo by Greg Pierson
-- Districts from all across the area are holding their district cross country meets. The deadline to run district meets is Oct. 31 and the regional meets will be held on Nov. 7. The state cross country meet is Nov. 14.
-- The top football game in the area this week is The Woodlands vs. Lufkin. Since these teams began sharing the same district back in 2004, this game has often decided who eventually won the district championship and that will likely be the case again as both are undefeated in District 14-5A coming into the game. The Woodlands (8-0) is ranked No. 3 in the state and Lufkin (7-1), though not state ranked, is on the cusp of the top 10 and its only loss came to No. 8 Tyler John Tyler. Since 2004, The Woodlands has not defeated Lufkin (the Highlanders are 0-5)
-- The state volleyball playoffs begin on Monday. Houston has several teams that could prove to be contenders for a state title in November. College Park (27-7) and The Woodlands (31-7) are the top two teams in the area and both will be contenders in Class 5A Region II. Cypress Woods (27-5) could also contend in Region II. In Region III-5A, Stratford (26-6) and Cinco Ranch (31-5) are at the top of what is a deep and apparently wide open field.
RECRUITING NEWS
La Porte senior point guard Drew Parker has verbally committed to North Carolina-Greensboro. The 6-2 Parker is considered one of Texas' top point guards in the Class of 2010...North Shore running back Tim Cornett, who is a senior but in his first varsity season as a starter, is still waiting on his first offer despite running for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns on just 99 carries (11 yards per carry). He did take an unofficial visit to Houston, watching as the Cougars defeated SMU 38-15 at Robertson Stadium.
-Sam Khan Jr. is a reporter who covers Greater Houston area high school sports for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach him at sam.khan@chron.com.
