By George Slaughter
The Houston Touchdown Club honored Katy coach Gary Joseph, along with other Katy-area football coaches and players, at its 2020 UIL High School Awards Dinner Thursday night.
Joseph led the Tigers to a 13-1 record and their ninth state championship, which was capped with a 51-14 win over Cedar Hill Saturday. The title is Joseph’s fifth as coach, with the last title coming in 2015. He was an assistant on three of the other Katy state title teams, which were led by coach Mike Johnston.
According to the Houston Touchdown Club website, this is the third time Joseph has been honored as Coach of the Year. He also received the award in 2013 and 2004. Johnston received the award in 1992.
Tompkins coach Todd McVey was named as a Coach of the Year finalist. McVey led the Falcons to a 10-1 record and their first-ever district title, defeating Katy along the way. The win snapped Katy’s 75-district game winning streak and was Katy’s only loss in 2020. The Falcons made it to the regional round of the playoffs.
The club recognized three Katy-area student athletes as finalists for the Offensive Player of the Year award. Recognized were Julius Loughridge, of Mayde Creek High School; Bryce Foster, of Taylor High School; and Jalen Milroe, of Tompkins High School.
Loughridge finished the season with 1,211 yards and 16 touchdowns on 150 carries. The Rams finished with a 4-5 record. Foster, an offensive lineman, is a Texas A&M commit. The Mustangs finished 9-3 and reached the regional round of the playoffs. Milroe, a University of Alabama commit, graduated from Tompkins in December.
The Touchdown Club of Houston is an organization dedicated to the sharing of fellowship through football. The members support football teams at all levels and in different geographic areas.
Mayde Creek coach Brian Randle, second from left, joins 
Julius Loughridge, center, of Mayde Creek High School, is honored as an Offensive Player of the Year Finalist (Houston Touchdown Club photo) 
Katy coach Gary Joseph, center, receives Coach of the Year honors from the Houston Touchdown Club (Houston Touchdown Club photo) 
Bryce Foster, second from left, of Taylor High School, receives Offensive Player of the Year Finalist honors. Coach Chad Simmons, left, and other Taylor coaches joined in the ceremony (Houston Touchdown Club photo)
