It’s no secret that wins have been hard to come by at Houston Sam Houston over the years.
However, the Tigers may be turning the corner under second-year head coach Charles Brown III.
Despite Brown III and his staff not arriving until June last season, the Tigers still managed to earn two victories, knocking off Northbrook and Aldine in non-district play. It was the most victories Sam Houston had earned in a single season since 2012.
I love my guys they WILL fight and I truly appreciate them!! 40-34 Sam Houston Tigers Win!! 2-0 #WeWILL #MightyTigers #LOVEmyguys @SHMSTC @KenishaSpears3 @APGonzalez_HISD @AndrewJMonzon @MrCoachShepard @CoachHamp2 https://t.co/TCUA26E96F
— Coach Charles Brown III, MS (@CoachCharlesBr1) September 11, 2021
Brown III and his players believe there’s more to come.
“It was cool [winning those two games],” Brown III said. “I think if you talked to the players, they’d agree with me that they underachieved [last season] based on what they’re capable of. I’m excited to see them grow and see them really strive to reach maximum level.”
Now, the next task for Sam Houston will be snapping their 99-game district winless steak that dates all the way back to 2003 (the Tigers football program was discontinued in 2008 and 2009).
But Brown III said the district winless streak isn’t his program’s main focus. Instead, he said his players just need to focus on getting better.
“I think the better we get, the better opportunities we have of breaking that streak,” Brown III said. “We’re not trying to necessarily do it intentionally, just letting it come. Instead of focusing on that and then being disappointed if it doesn’t happen, we’re just focusing on getting better every day.”
On the field this year, the Tigers are expecting returning starters Helberto Garza and Andrew Castro to anchor the offensive line.
Behind them, the Tigers have to replace quarterback Anthony Rice, who graduated after earning second team all-district honors a year ago.
Brown III said he expects sophomore Trevan Williams to step in to the role, and he is looking for “big things” out of the young signal-caller. Williams will have some experience alongside him in the backfield as last year’s district Offensive Newcomer of the Year Howard Smith returns at running back.
Defensively, the secondary will be the strength for the Tigers.
Both Saul Skipper and Jamarcus Toliver, who was Sam Houston’s Athlete of the Year last year, return after earning all-district honors last season.
“We’re looking to them to anchor our defense from the secondary and really lead us into making things happen on that side of the ball,” Brown III said.
Congratulations to @ToliverJamarcus for being awarded @SHMSTC Athlete of the Year!
He is a young man of great character, a leader on campus, basketball court and on the football field! 🐯🏀🏈 #EarnYourStripes #WEWILL @TigerHoopsHMSTC @tigers_houston @CoachCharlesBr1 pic.twitter.com/KecRBTdRB6
— Michael Shepard (@MrCoachShepard) June 20, 2022
In district play, the Tigers will face the same seven Houston ISD opponents in District 18-6A play. And with the season fast approaching, some already believe that this could be the year that the long winless streak gets broken.
Here are my predictions for District 18-6A:
1. @LamarTexansFB
2. @FootballHeights
3. @BellaireHigh
4. @WestsideFB_HISD
5. #SamHouston
6. @WestburyFB
7. @ChavezFootball1— Darren Jackson (@darrenjackson25) July 24, 2022
But even with excitement building as the 2022 season nears, Brown III said he and his Tigers will continue to stay focused on the task at hand each day.
“Day-by-day, brick-by-brick, that’s what we’ve been doing since we got here,” Brown III said. “We’re going to continue to do that and let the chips fall where they may. But we absolutely have high expectations for this season.”
#Wewill @CoachCharlesBr1 @SHMSTC @CoachHamp2 pic.twitter.com/knFfM9iAb2
— Sam Houston Tigers Football (@tigers_houston) July 12, 2022
2022 Sam Houston Tigers Football Schedule
(Bold designates District 18-6A Matchup)
8/27 vs. Northside
9/3 at Wisdom
9/10 vs. Aldine
9/17 at Pasadena
9/24 at Westbury
10/7 vs. Chavez
10/13 at Lamar
10/21 vs. Bellaire
10/27 at Heights
11/3 vs. Westside
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