Brenham looking, playing the part of contender in Texas

If you're looking for a team to hang your hat on for a state championship run out of the Houston area this season, you may have to follow the map northwest along U.S. Highway 290 to Brenham. That's where the state's No. 2 Class 4A team resides and so far, the Cubs have the look and feel of a team poised to make a title run.

The 2009 Class 4A Division II finalists continued their strong start to the 2010 season with a 34-10 road win over Waller on Friday.

Waller was the same place where the Cubs suffered their only district loss of 2009 and they returned to sparkling new Waller ISD Stadium for the second time with redemption on their minds. While their effort wasn't perfect, it was enough to pull away from a solid Waller team that has the look of a playoff contender.

"No question (there was a fire in our bellies)," Brenham coach Glen West said. "There was a fire in my belly and all of our coaches' bellies. It wasn't an angry (motivation). It's the fact that we really respect these guys and know that they can play. This is the one team last year that shut us down."

Quarterback Ty Schlottmann was clinical in his execution, throwing only one incomplete pass in the first half as the Cubs (5-0, 2-0 District 17-4A) built a 21-10 lead. Behind their veteran quarterback, a second-year starter at running back (Troy Green) and a fast, athletic defense, it has become clear that if healthy, the Cubs are the team to beat in Region III.

ELKINS SNAPS HIGHTOWER STREAK
The balance of power in District 23-5A football may be shifting after Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City) defeated Hightower 45-33 on Saturday. The win was Elkins' first over Hightower in seven years and it snapped Hightower's 25-game winning streak against Fort Bend ISD opponents. Both teams are 4-2 but Elkins is now 1-0 in District 23-5A's Zone A.

KLEIN COLLINS SURVIVES
The Dekaney (Houston) Wildcats played fellow District 13-5A foe Klein Collins (Spring) much tighter than they did a season ago, but the Tigers were still able to come out victorious, edging the Wildcats 28-21 on Saturday. It was a battle of unbeaten teams in 13-5A and Dekaney's star junior running back, Trey Williams, didn't disappoint, compiling 212 rushing yards on 30 carries against a fast, athletic and stout Klein Collins defense. But the Tigers scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions late in the game on long touchdown passes from Tyler Stehling (an 84-yarder to Marquise Cardinal and a 56-yarder to Shane Rhodes) to seal the come-from-behind win.

PRIVATE SCHOOL BATTLE GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE
After suffering two losses to Episcopal in 2009, Kinkaid (Houston) earned some redemption with a 21-19 win over the Knights on Friday in a rematch of the 2009 Southwest Preparatory Conference championship game. Kinkaid held Episcopal to just 178 offensive yards and held off a furious Episcopal rally from a two-touchdown deficit to secure the win.

VOLLEYBALL MILESTONE FOR LEONARD
With a sweep over Goose Creek Memorial on Tuesday, Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu) coach John Leonard earned his 400th career victory. Barbers Hill defeated the Patriots 25-12, 25-17, 25-11 in a District 19-4A match. For the season, the Eagles are 25-8 (7-1 in 19-4A) and Leonard's career mark is 400-206.

TOP PERFORMERS
Derrick Lair, Alief Taylor (Houston) - The senior running back had 21 carries for 339 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-0 win over MacArthur.

Jeffery Bogan, Cy-Woods (Cypress) - The junior running back had 217 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries in a 35-14 win over Jersey Village. He also had three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown, giving him 256 offensive yards.

Kevin Robertson, Northland Christian (Houston) - The senior receiver caught seven passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-28 loss to Concordia Lutheran. He also had a 13-yard touchdown run.

LOOKING AHEAD
Key games coming up in Week 6:

Lufkin (6-0) vs. The Woodlands (5-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Woodforest Bank Stadium - Both teams are undefeated and ranked in the state’s top 10. It will also mark the likely return of Woodlands running back Daniel Lasco from an ankle injury.

Friendswood (6-0) at La Marque (5-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Etheredge Stadium - Right now they appear to be the top two teams in District 24-4A as both are unbeaten. This could decide the district title.

Klein Collins (Spring) (5-0) at Tomball (5-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Cougar Stadium - One team (Klein Collins) was expected to be undefeated at this point while the other (Tomball) has been a pleasant surprise.

RECRUITING NEWS
The Woodlands senior guard Wes Cole verbally committed to Hartford. Cole averaged a team-high 14 points per game for the Highlanders in 2009-10, helping them to a 27-6 record and a Class 5A Region II quarterfinal appearance. ... Clear Springs (League City) senior guard Teris Bourgeois verbally committed to Central Connecticut State. He is a two-time all-district selection. ... Fort Bend Austin (Sugar Land) junior guard Nicole Blaskowsky verbally committed to Iowa State. She averaged 17.8 points per game last season and was an all-district selection. ... Channelview senior guard Ashley Bettis verbally committed to Stephen F. Austin. She was one of the Falcons' leading scorers last year and was an all-district pick.

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 or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/skhanjr. You can also join him, Jenny Dial and other writers from around the state in a weekly high school football chat at noon on Wednesdays at www.chron.com/hs.