Updated to reflect cancellation of the Fort Bend-Elkins and Taylor-George Ranch bi-district games.
By George Slaughter
Three of five Katy-area teams begin their football playoff quests this weekend. The coronavirus pandemic will keep the other two teams from playing until next week.
Officials have cancelled the Taylor-George Ranch and the Fort Bend Elkins-Katy games, both set for Friday, due to coronavirus cases on the George Ranch and Elkins football teams.
Both games will be counted as “no games,” meaning that Taylor and Katy get no victories, and George Ranch and Elkins sustain no losses. The team records remain unchanged. Taylor and Katy are treating the “no games” as bye weeks.
Taylor, 7-2, will next week face the winner of the Heights-Cypress Creek game. Meanwhile, Katy, 8-1, will next week face the winner of the Memorial-Lamar game.
George Ranch finishes its season with a 5-3 record. Elkins finishes with a 2-5 record.
The other three Katy teams—Tompkins, Seven Lakes, and Paetow—are all set to play Friday. Here is a preview of those games.
Class 6A, Division I
Fort Bend Travis Tigers vs. Tompkins Falcons
The Falcons, District 19-6A champions for the first time in Tompkins history, host the Tigers at 6 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium.
Travis comes into the game with a 4-4 record. Tompkins is 8-0.
Tigers quarterback Anthony Njoku has completed 25 of 41 passes for 228 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Anthony Njoku has 19 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Falcons quarterback Jalen Milroe has completed 49 of 76 passes for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns. Running back Marquis Shoulders has 71 carries for 670 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sherman Smith has 61 carries for 481 yards and five touchdowns.
The winner will play the winner of the Cy-Fair-Westside playoff game.
Seven Lakes Spartans vs. Fort Bend Ridge Point Panthers
The Spartans, who qualified for their playoff spot in the final week of the regular season, visit the Panthers at 7 p.m. Friday at Rhodes Stadium.
Seven Lakes comes into the game with a 3-5 record. Ridge Point is 5-2.
Spartans quarterback Cristian Beltran has completed 36 of 69 passes for 502 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Nick David-West has 56 carries 379 yards and four touchdowns.
Panthers quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. has completed 30 of 69 passes for 480 yards and six touchdowns. Running back Keith Jackson has 20 carries for 194 yards and four touchdowns.
The winner will play the winner of the Bellaire-Jersey Village playoff game.
Class 5A, Division I
Paetow Panthers vs. Baytown Lee Ganders
The Panthers, District 10-5A champions, visit the Ganders at 7 p.m. Friday at Stallworth Stadium.
Paetow has an 8-1 record. Lee is 7-2.
Panthers quarterback C.J. Dumas, Jr. has completed 32 of 67 passes for 512 and three touchdowns. Running back Damon Bankston who has 68 rushes for 585 yards and seven touchdowns.
Ganders quarterback Christian Olige has completed 60 of 98 passes for 975 yards and 14 touchdowns. Running back Ja’Kenan Davis, who has 81 for 501 yards and four touchdowns.
The winner will play the winner of the Canyon-Pflugerville playoff game.