By George Slaughter
The Taylor Mustangs’ deep run in the high school playoffs must be a nice way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the school’s opening.
Taylor High School opened in November 1979. Its football team, making its first-ever Class 6A, Division II quarterfinals appearance, plays Cy Creek at 2 p.m. Saturday at NRG Stadium. The Mustangs are the home team.
Coach Chad Simmons’s Mustangs are 8-5. Last week Taylor defeated Humble, 35-14, to advance to Saturday’s matchup. The Mustangs defeated Houston Memorial (21-14, on November 23) and Fort Bend Elkins (51-41, on November 16) in their previous playoff matchups this season.
In the Humble victory, Taylor junior quarterback J Jensen III went 13-of-17 for 163 yards and three touchdowns. An interception by Taylor sophomore cornerback Hollis Robinson, in which he returned the ball to the Humble, set up the first of Jensen’s touchdown passes.
Robinson wasn’t the only one with an interception for Taylor in the game. Junior defensive back Trevor Woods also had an interception, and he returned it for a 90-yard touchdown that firmly established Taylor’s momentum in the game.
Taylor’s leading rushers against Humble were junior running back Casey Shorter, who had 13 carries for 71 yards, and senior running back C.J. Tolbert, who had 18 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Cy Creek coach Greg McCaig’s Cougars are 9-4 and won the District 17-6A championship this season. Last week they defeated Strake Jesuit, 45-33, to advance to Saturday’s matchup. Previous playoff wins came against Mayde Creek (35-14, on November 21) and Westside (41-21, on November 14).
The Cougars have a strong passing attack led by senior quarterback Julian Uwadia, who has gone 200-of-321 for 2,773 yards and 37 touchdowns against five interceptions. Three of his top receivers are senior Legend Grigsby (47 catches for 792 yards and 11 touchdowns), senior Cogan Derousselle (39 catches for 750 yards and 10 touchdowns), and senior running back Eddie Jimerson (39 catches 447 yards and four touchdowns).
Jimerson is also the Cougars leading rusher, with 117 carries for 652 yards and seven touchdowns.
Presale tickets are $6 for students, $13 for adults. Tickets at the gate are $15. Seating is general admission, with Taylor on the west side of the stadium and Cy Creek on the east side. Parking is $15.
The Cy Creek-Taylor winner will face the winner of the Austin Westlake-San Antonio Brandeis game. The Chaparrals play the Broncos at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.