By Terry Carter
District 19-6A football action is heating up as the last few weeks of play approach. This weekend unbeaten Katy vs. second-place Cinco Ranch will highlight the battles on Friday at 7 p.m.
However many other battles will help determine the four elite schools that reach the 6A postseason this fall. Here is a run down of some of the games:
TOMPKINS (5-2, 3-2) VS. MAYDE CREEK (2-6, 0-6)
DATE/SITE: Thursday, 7 p.m. at Rhodes Stadium
- Tompkins has been solid on defense most of the year and has speed in the backfield. So the Falcons hold the advantage in this contest with the Rams. Tompkins scores points in a hurry once the Falcons grab the momentum. Mayde Creek will need a defensive showing tonight.
- OFFENSE: Tompkins QB Chris Gilbert is solid (60 percent completion rate) passing, but it’s not the Falcons’ true strength. Gilbert and other runners can sprint to the end zone with a solid offensive line blocking. Mayde Creek’s Carldell Beard connects on 42 percent of his passes, but he will catch defenses off-guard. Beard has thrown for about 740 yards, more than twice what Gilbert has posted. Both teams feature multiple QBs and passing threats.
- RBs: Caleb Blocker leads Tomkins with 436 rushing yards, three TDs; he is one of just few RBs averaging more than 100 yards per game in this district. RB Caleb Komolafe is another backfield threat. The Rams feature Jeremiah Hill with 331 yards, three TDs and RB Eric Nelson with 200 yards rushing.
- PAETOW (3-4, 2-3) VS. SEVEN LAKES (1-6, 1-4)
DATE/SITE: Thursday, 6 p.m. at Legacy Stadium
- Both teams need a win here and are considered outside shots at the postseason, but anything is still possible with two more weeks to play after this weekend. The Panthers played well last weekend, falling to second-place Cinco Ranch in the second half. They will be hungry to post another win. The Spartans have suffered a down football season so far and could use a spark now with Katy and Cinco Ranch remaining on the Seven Lakes schedule as November nears.
- OFFENSE: Paetow relies on a balanced attack with 476 passing yards from QBs Koby Truehill and Brock Nichols, as well as 561 rushing yards as a team. Standout LB Alex Kilgore leads the rushing stats for season, but he is the top tackler and spends most possessions focused on defensive stops. Seven Lakes RB Barrett Hudson is averaging 70 yards per game, and RB Jake Farris (63.1) is also moving the sticks. Spartan QB Tanner Perez has connected on seven TDs while throwing for 1,028 yards, which is fourth-best in 19-6A.
- DEFENSE: DE David Hicks Jr. and Kilgore have contributed a healthy percentage of 14 team sacks and tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Running against the Panthers is tough. The Spartans are a solid defensive unit with four team sacks and four hurries.
-
- Paetow DE DJ Hicks Jr. (0) and teammates will need to be active on defense to battle Seven Lakes. (Photo by Terry Carter/UDPhotos)
-
- Cinco Ranch defenders Walker White (4) and DE Robert Marbach (91) seem to have Paetow’s Alex Kilgore (46) trapped, but Kilgore is a powerful runner. He broke loose for 40+ yards on this play last week. (Photo by Terry Carter/UDPhotos)
