By Tom Behrens
FOOTBALL
Ean Beek, Taylor running back, continued to pile up yardage and touchdowns in the Taylor win over Mayde Creek, 42-28. In the first half, he accumulated 209 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 25 carries. He finished the game with 365 yards and five touchdowns.
Cinco Ranch defeated Foster 36-6. Brant Kuithe scored his first of five touchdowns for the night on a six-yard run and then added an eight-yard run, an 18-yard run, an 16-yard run and a final score from 10 yards out. David Gbenda scored the remaining TD for the Cougars.
Mayde Creek lost 37-20 to Morton Ranch. The team got a solid performance out of senior Keyonte Fiakpui. He earned two touchdowns and 230 yards rushing. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough for the win. Fiakpui has been a consistent playmaker for Mayde Creek, this being his third good game in a row. Mayde Creek’s biggest challenge is to improve on defense. The Rams are giving up an average of 35.33 points per game.
The Katy Tigers are still undefeated, not that anyone expected them to be beaten. The latest win comes over Taylor.
Scoring summary: Katy with Austin Marshall at quarterback demonstrated a potent passing attack. Marshall completed a 14 yard pass to Jordan Patrick for the first Tiger TD. Marshall nails 25 pass to Keshon Rowe for a TD.
Rowe, who normally plays safety and kick returner, got a chance to play offense stepping in for an injured Trey Brown.
Next, Marshall completed a 40 yard pass to Tyler Pullig for his third TD heave. Katy 20, Katy Taylor 0
Marshall continued to fill the air in the second half with more TD passes, giving Jacob Lighter a chance to cross the Taylor goal line on a 25 yard completion. Bronson McClelland got a chance to show he can throw as he completed a 10 yard TD pass to Remington Walker. Seth Small converted all PATs, minus one. Final score: Katy 37, Taylor 0.
The Tiger offense passing offense clicked to the tune of 282 yards, five TDs and 21 first downs.
The Seven Lakes Spartans after losing their first two games, pulled out their first win against winless Tompkins, 28-20. The victory celebration was short-lived as a surprisingly strong Strake Jesuit defeated Seven Lakes 34-13.
“We can’t turn the ball over five times and expect to win a football game,” said Seven Lakes head coach Lydell Wilson in a post game interview. The Seven Lakes Spartans and the Strake Crusaders finished the first half tied at 13-13. Then turnovers replaced Spartan scoring drives while Strake said thank you and scored 21 points, winning the game at 34-13.
NOTABLE GRADS – Jon Duplantier
Duplantier, a Seven Lakes High School alumnus, was named the Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Year. While a Spartan, he played baseball, football and received All-Academic honors. He was chosen by the Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Rice University. In 2017 he compiled an ERA of 1.39 and a WHP of 0.97. He had a combined 12-3 record in 136 innings, allowing only 91 hits. Prospects for 2018 include a chance to become a middle of the rotation starter as soon as mid to late 2018. He throws right and bats left.
Camille Conner
Seven Lake Graduate Camille Conner recorded 32 assists, nine kills and seven digs in her first NCAA match, a sweep of Sam Houston State. She leads Texas A&M with 308 assists to go with 55 kills, 71 digs, 10 aces and 16 blocks. She was honored as SEC Co-Setter of the Week on Oct. 2, following a week highlighted by a 35 assist performance against Georgia.
CROSS COUNTRY
District 19-6A cross country meet takes place this coming Saturday morning at Seven Lakes High School. Three teams will advance to the regionals after the district meet.
The Seven Lakes boys came in first at the Larry Gnatzig Invitational held Oct. 2 at North Harris Community College. At the Cy Woods XC Invite in September the Spartans finished second in team score with Andrew Gandy, Carson Slater, Josh Kuriakose and Gabriel Garibaldi finishing in the top ten overall.
“Junior Josh Kuriakose has been real steady for us this year,” said coach Marvin Rathke. “He went 16:19 at Gnatzig Invitational. At the Texas A&M Invitational the boys finished sixth as a team with Slater clocking at time of 16:32. But, times don’t matter at the District meet; it’s about place.”
The Tompkins’ girls continue their outstanding season, Cinco is loaded with talent, Katy always has the fastest runners in the district. Seven Lakes is improving.
The top three boys and girls teams only will advance to regionals.