Katy Tigers named to the 11th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard

MaxPreps is pleased to announce that the Katy Tigers have officially been named to the 11th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, which is in its 11th year honoring football.

This is one of the most prestigious team awards in all of high school sports and it is an exclusive honor reserved for the top 100 teams nationwide. In order to be eligible, a team must win a state championship and be highly ranked in the MaxPreps National Rankings. For football, only 50 of the country's best are invited and with nearly 17,000 competing varsity teams. This puts the Tigers ahead of 99.9 percent of their opponents!

After capturing the 2015 state title, Katy High School's football squad did not just finish among the most elite teams in the nation — the Tigers finished as the most elite team after being named the 2015 National Champion and the 2015 Xcellent 25 National Champion. The team rose to the top after its last three wins over Manvel (35-17), Steele (38-0) and Lake Travis (34-7) with an unfathomable combined score of 107-24.

On Dec. 19, in their state-record 14th state final appearance, the Tigers overwhelmed the Lake Travis Cavaliers at Houston's NRG Stadium and captured the UIL 6A Division II championship to top off their perfect 16-0 season.

The school's football program is now eight-time Texas State Champion (59, 97, 00, 03, 07, 08, 12, 15), 15-time state finalist and three-time National Champion (07, 12, 15). With eight state titles, the Tigers are now tied with Celina and Southlake Carroll for the most in Texas history.

Under the leadership of head coach Gary Joseph, the 2015 National Football Coach of the Year, the Tigers also had a remarkable regular season en route to the 2015 UIL 6A Division 2 playoffs. Utilizing an overpowering defense and irrepressible offense, the team outscored its opponents 469-18 in 10 consecutive wins.

The team, who is traditionally known for its solid defense, finished the season with one of the highest –scoring offensive units in the state. Over 16 games, Katy's offense scored an astounding 778 points while its defense posted 10 shutouts and allowed just 62 points for a profound 716-point differential.

The Tigers have unquestionably earned the national title and based on the MaxPreps computer rankings, they finished ranked No. 3 in the nation, No. 1 in the state, No. 1 in Division 6A, No. 1 in Region III, No. 1 in the Southwest Region, No. 1 in the top 25 composite rankings, No. 1 in the Texas top 25 and No. 1 in the Xcellent 25.

These incredible season achievements have earned the Katy Tigers an invitation to the 11th Annual Tour of Champions.

Please join us as we celebrate with the football team, coaching staff, students and fans on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. during the enrichment assembly in the performing arts center.

For more information about the Tour of Champions, please visit the MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.

To view the Katy Football photo galleries, click here.