By Terry Carter
The final night of the 19-6A regular season football kicks off early on Friday at 5:30 p.m. as Taylor and unbeaten Katy tangle at Legacy Stadium. At 6 p.m. Tompkins and Paetow will collide with the fourth-and-final playoff spot on the line at Rhodes Stadium.
According to the Katy ISD Athletic office, if Paetow wins, the Panthers will join Katy, Cinco Ranch and Tompkins in the postseason next week. Morton Ranch won on Thursday over Jordan, however, and the Mavericks still have a chance to grab a playoff spot.
A Tompkins win ensures that Morton Ranch reaches the playoffs with Katy, Cinco Ranch and Tompkins. Expect Paetow and Tompkins to play this like a state title game with neither team conceding anything.
BI-district playoff plans will be announced as soon as Fort Bend ISD teams complete their games this weekend. Expect Katy to play at Legacy or Rhodes next weekend, and District 20-6A Ridge Point to also host in the first round.
THURSDAY RESULTS
MORTON RANCH 36, JORDAN 33
Morton Ranch (7-3, 5-3) completed its regular season finale with a dramatic 36-33 win over Jordan (5-5, 4-4) on Thursday. Jordan trailed 17-0, but the Warriors rallied for 33 second-half points.
Mavs’ RB Santana Scott scored twice, and Morton Ranch QB Josh Johnson ran for a score and threw for a fourth-quarter TD to pull the Mats ahead 36-35. Jordan QB Colin Willetts passed for four TDs, and both teams registered a pick-6 touchdown as well.
If Tompkins wins over Paetow on Friday, Morton Ranch will qualify for the postseason thanks to their win over Jordan.
CINCO RANCH 56, SEVEN LAKES 17
Playoff-bound Cinco Ranch (7-3, 6-2) stormed past the Spartans (1-9, 1-7), 56-17, as Cougar QB Gavin Rutherford ran for two scores and tossed a pair of TD passes as well. Rutherford has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and 28 TDs this season.
The Paetow Panthers, led by LB Alex Kilgore and a host of D-I prospects, will need their best effort tonight against Tompkins. A Panther win ensures a playoff spot for Paetow. A Tompkins win adds Morton Ranch as the final playoff qualifier with Katy, Cinco Ranch and Tompkins from District 19-6A. (Photo by Terry Carter/UDPhotos.com)