No. 3 Katy makes strong case for national title in dominating Texas championship performance

Video: Highlights of Katy's Jon Letter

Class 6A Division II: Katy 34, Lake Travis (Austin) 7

There was no 11th shutout, but the Katy defense left an unmistakable stamp on the Class 6A Division II Texas state championship.

The defense forced turnovers that turned into the game’s first touchdowns, putting the Tigers on course for a 34-7 victory over Lake Travis (Austin) Saturday night before 43,718 at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Careful not to call the defense the school’s best ever before the game, Katy coach Gary Joseph had no qualms afterward.

“I can say this is the best one I’ve had in 34 years at Katy High School,’’ said Joseph, who was defensive coordinator before becoming head coach 12 seasons ago.

Linebacker Paddy Fisher, one of five three-year starters on defense, returned a fumble 12 yards to the Lake Travis 5 early in the second quarter to set up the first of three touchdown runs by Kyle Porter.

Just 18 seconds later, sophomore defensive end Michael Matus returned an interception 41 yards for a score to boost the Katy lead to 17-0.

The season accomplishments for the Katy defense include 10 shutouts, five touchdowns scored while allowing only 62 points (3.9 per game) and seven touchdowns.

Katy (16-0), No. 3 nationally in MaxPreps Xcellent 25, now shares the Texas record, along with Celina and Carroll (Southlake), for state championships with eight.

Lake Travis (15-1), ranked No. 5, managed to nick the Tigers for a seventh touchdown on Charlie Brewer's 12-yard pass to a diving Cade Green 20 seconds before halftime to close within 17-7. But the Cavaliers echoed the thoughts of many other opponents after going scoreless in the second half.

“They are the best defense we’ve seen this year,’’ said Lake Travis coach Hark Carter. “They run to the football and tackle so well. Hats off to them.’’

Lake Travis’ 25 rushing plays netted 23 yards.

Strong safety Travis Whillock, a three-year starter making his 48th start, led the Tigers with 12 tackles. Fisher was next with nine. JoVanni Stewart accounted for two of Katy’s four sacks.

Porter began to wear down what had been a stingy Lake Travis defense in the second half and finished with 188 rushing yards.

Kris Perez kicked field goals of 48 and 30 yards.

For Lake Travis, playing in its first state championship game in the highest classification, Brewer completed 17 of 28 passes for 172 yards. Green had seven catches for 116 yards.

Class 6A Division I: North Shore 21, Westlake 14

Written off by some after a 1-3 start to the season, North Shore (Houston) completed a storybook finish Saturday evening at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Thanks to an alert defensive play by K'Lavon Chaisson and a blocked field goal by teammate Eric Monroe, the Mustangs defeated No. 10 Westlake (Austin) 21-14 in overtime for the Class 6A Division I Texas state title.

Chaisson, a 6-4, 220-pound junior defensive end, slipped past a blocker and knocked the ball free from Westlake’s Kylen Granson on the game’s final play to seal the victory. Granson, sprinting to his right, appeared to be setting up to attempt a halfback pass near the sideline on fourth-and-goal at the North Shore 3.

Monroe ensured the game would go to overtime when he broke through inside containment to block a 32-yard field goal attempt by kicker Ryan Rees with eight seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied at 14.

“If it wasn’t for our early-season adversity, I don’t know if we would have had the guts to finish this,’’ said North Shore coach Jon Kay.

The victory was the 12th in succession for North Shore (13-3), ranked No. 8 in MaxPreps Texas Top 25.

Westlake (14-2), No. 10 nationally in MaxPreps Xcellent 25, stayed in the game with special teams play. The Chaparrals blocked a field goal and a punt, the latter leading to a touchdown that tied the game at 14 near the end of the third quarter. Steven Rioux got his hands on the punt and Matthew Sams scooped and returned 41 yards for a score.

North Shore took a 14-7 lead on a 95-yard fumble return by senior linebacker Andrew Hyicinth earlier in the third period. A hit by strong safety Jacory Nichols caused the fumble.

Maciah Long, orally committed to Kansas, scored the other two North Shore touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, on a pair of one-yard quarterback sneaks. Long rushed for 82 yards and completed 6 of 12 passes for 46 yards.

Westlake quarterback Sam Ehlinger, a University of Texas pledge, carried 29 times for 82 yards and completed 14 of 28 passes for 219 yards. The Chaparrals out-gained North Shore 315-274.

Granson scored Westlake’s only offensive touchdown on a 16-yard second-quarter run that opened the scoring.


Class 5A-DII: Cedar Park 22, Lone Star 6

Mac McCaskill spearheaded a suffocating defensive performance in Cedar Park's 22-6 win over Lone Star (Frisco) for the UIL Class 5A Division II Texas state championship Saturday afternoon at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The 6-1, 220-pound senior middle linebacker recorded 16 tackles and a pair of sacks for a defense that limited to two field goals heralded Lone Star quarterback Jason Shelley and company. Shelley, sacked six times, was under constant pressure.

“We needed to slow down their quarterback because we know he’s a great player,’’ said McCaskill, named the defensive MVP afterward.  “Losing in this game last year drove us all off-season. This is a great feeling.''

Said Cedar Park head coach Carl Abseck: “Our defense has been rock solid all year long. This group of kids has fought and fought. Today they got it done.’’

Leading only 7-3 late in the first half, Timberwolves’ pass rusher Jordan Diver knocked the ball free from Shelley. McCaskill returned the fumble 20 yards for a touchdown and 14-3 lead at the break.

Early in the third quarter, when Lone Star turned a fumble recovery into  a first-and-goal at the Cedar Park 4, the defense made a goal-line stand to force the Rangers to settle for a field goal.

Despite a couple of drops, Cedar Park sophomore quarterback Mak Sexton completed 21 of 31 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

Cedar Park (16-0), No. 5 in the MaxPreps Texas Top 25, is a two-time state champion, having won the school’s first state title in 2012. The Timberwolves were denied by Ennis 38-35 last year on a 36-yard touchdown pass in the final 20 seconds.

No. 13 Lone Star (14-2) became the first Frisco school to reach a state final. Shelley, a junior, completed 14 of 38 for 227 yards.