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In an era when point totals are spinning into the stratosphere, the defense of the Katy Tigers still thinks it is the 1960s.

Katy (4-0, 1-0 in District 19-6A) is the No. 2 team in this week's MaxPreps Texas Top 25, has shut out three opponents and allowed only seven points in its other win. The Tigers are holding opponents to 140.5 yards per game and 6.8 first downs.

That kind of stingy defense is not a one-year anomaly. Head coach Gary Joseph's roots are on the defensive side and his Katy teams excel season after season in allowing low point totals and a high number of takeaways.

The Tigers this year are bidding to reach a state championship for the fourth-consecutive season. The school already possesses the record for most state title game appearances with 13, and 11 of them have come since 1997.

Offense may sell tickets, but obviously defense still wins games.


1. (1 last week) Allen 4-0 
Anthony Taylor intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown, part of eight turnovers gained in a 65-0 blanking of Plano.

2. (2) Katy 4-0
Kyle Porter rushed for 186 yards and five touchdowns while the Tigers' defense posted its third shutout in a 52-0 blanking of Mayde Creek (Katy).

3. (3) Trinity (Euless) 4-0
Ja'Ron Wilson rushed for 245 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-32 neutral field triumph over Galena Park North Shore (Houston).

4. (4) Cedar Hill 4-0
Junior Avery Davis threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-21 victory over Coppell.

5. (5) Westfield (Houston) 3-0
Coming off an open date, the Mustangs begin District 15-6A play Thursday against Montgomery.

6. (6) Steele (Cibolo) 4-0
Xavier Martin threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 35-33 win over DeSoto.

7. (7) Skyline (Dallas) 2-1
Running back Da'leon Ward, averaging 129 yards per game, and his Raider teammates come off a bye to face Irving in a District 9-6A opener.

8. (8) Westlake (Austin) 4-0
Quarterback Sam Ehlinger rushed for 255 yards and five touchdowns in a 59-12 rout of Austin High.

9. (9) Lake Travis (Austin) 3-0
The Cavaliers, coming off an open date, begin District 14-6A play at Del Valle on Friday.

10. (10) Atascocita (Humble) 4-0
Daveon Boyd threw four touchdown passes and Patrick Taylor Jr. rushed for three in a 65-7 romp over Nimitz (Houston).

11. (11) Marcus (Flower Mound) 4-0
Workhorse Nate Hopkins carried 35 times for 189 yards and the Marauders' defense allowed only three first downs in a 24-7 victory over Hebron.

12. (12) Manvel 2-1
D'Eriq King threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in a 75-7 blowout of Dobie (Pasadena).

13. (13) Cedar Park 3-0
Jack Grimm rushed for three touchdowns and had seven catches for 89 yards in a 55-24 defeat of Dripping Springs.

14. (14) The Woodlands 3-1
Eric Schmid threw for a touchdown and ran for another in the Highlanders' 21-0 shutout of LaPorte.

15. (16) Judson (Converse) 4-0
Isaiah Gibson threw for two touchdowns in a 24-point second quarter, helping forge a 31-7 victory over Brennan (San Antonio).

16. (17) Pearland 4-0
Ronald Adams rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns in a 64-0 romp over Pasadena.

17. (18) Carroll (Southlake) 2-1
Coming off an open date, running back Lil' Jordan Humphrey and the Dragons visit 4-0 Abilene on Friday.

18. (19) Dickinson 3-0
Coming off an open date, the Gators face Clear Lake (Houston) Friday in a District 24-6A opener.

19. (20) Ryan (Denton) 3-0
After an open date, the Raiders begin District 5-6A play by hosting Central (Keller).

20. (21) Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) 4-0
Josh Adkins threw for four touchdowns and ran for two in a 56-21 rout of Madison (San Antonio).

21. (22) Klein Collins (Spring) 3-0
Coming off an open date, the Tigers will begin District 15-6A play against 3-0 Klein Oak (Spring) Friday night at Klein Memorial Stadium.

22. (23) George Ranch (Richmond) 4-0
Darius Anderson rushed for 194 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-7 victory over Memorial (Port Arthur).

23. (NR) Abilene 4-0
Abram Smith (168 yards) and Immanuel Brown (160) paced a big-play rushing attack that produced a 44-14 victory over L.D. Bell (Hurst).

24. (24) South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) 3-1
Greg Eisworth, an Ole Miss pledge, rushed for three touchdowns and threw to Lawrence Dixon for the game-winner in a 36-30 overtime road victory over Cooper (Abilene).

25. (NR) Lake Ridge (Mansfield) 4-0
Patrick Johnson (fumble return) and Bryson Jackson (interception) scored defensive touchdowns in a 48-27 victory over Lancaster.

Dropped out: No. 15 Galena Park North Shore (Houston), No. 25 Waxahachie.

On the bubble

San Angelo Central 4-0

Cinco Ranch (Katy) 3-0

Crosby 4-0

Cypress Falls (Houston) 3-0

Keller 4-0

Klein Oak (Spring) 3-0

North Mesquite 3-0

Plano East 4-0

Reagan (San Antonio) 3-0

Sachse 4-0