One of the biggest weeks in Texas High School Football history got kicked off Thursday night in Katy, as the Katy Paetow Panthers (6-1, 5-0) took on the Katy Tigers (6-1, 5-0), in a battle for first place in district 19-6A. After winning state in 2021, Paetow jumped up to the 6A ranks, where they won a combined seven games the past two seasons and after losing week one to Langham Creek, it looked like they were heading on that same path. Since then, they have rattled off six straight wins, and put themselves in position for a possible district title but on the other side, you have the district power that is the Katy Tigers. Since their week two loss to Atascocita, Katy has just been classic Katy, using the run game and tough defense to stifle their opponents and continue their dominance in district play, now making it 105 wins in their last 106 district games. Katy was looking to make it 106 wins in 107 district games and all but wrap up another district title, while Paetow was looking to shake up the district and put themselves in position for that district crown.
Game Recap
This game would be dominated by the Katy defense, as Paetow only got into Tiger territory three times all game.
After Paetow punted to open the game, Katy got the scoring started on their first drive, capping off a seven-play drive with a six-yard touchdown pass from Gunner Nelson to Joshua Smith. Paetow got the offense going on their next drive, but eventually stalled, failing on fourth down inside Tiger territory and Katy would take advantage. After a couple chunk plays put the Tigers inside the Paetow five-yard line, Nelson would sneak it in from one-yard out to put Katy up 14-0 with 2:38 left in the first.
The Paetow offense got some points on the board on their next drive. The Panthers used a 12-play drive to get deep into Katy territory, but eventually had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Omar Yaghi, to make it 14-3. On the ensuing Katy drive, Paetow’s Jaeden Spelmon forced a fumble deep in Panther territory, and it was recovered by Kobi Fears to give Paetow the ball back, but they failed to do anything with it as they had to punt. Isaiah McMillian received the punt and returned it 47 yards down to the Paetow 17-yard line. Two plays later, Cade McCall took the end-around eight yards to the endzone for the touchdown. That put Katy up 20-3, which is where it would stand at the half.
Katy opened the second half with the ball and engineered a classic Katy drive, using a 14-play drive and chewing 7:19 off the clock. The drive would eventually end in the endzone on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Ricky Fox to put Katy up 27-3. On the next Tiger drive, Tony Manuel found the endzone on a 7-yard touchdown run, for his first varsity touchdown of his career. A late 29-yard field goal by Giovanni Moreno put the Tigers up 37-3, which is where it would stand at the final buzzer.
Katy continues its dominance in district with a 37-3 win over Paetow, and is now one win away from its 15th district title in the last 16 years.
Katy Stats
QB Gunner Nelson (SR): 13/15, 182 yds, 2 TDs, 5 carries, -10 yds, TD
RB Aqualis Jordan (JR): 18 carries, 94 yds, fum
RB Tony Manuel (SO): 8 carries, 40 yds, TD
RB Joshua Smith (SR): 2 carries, 6 yds, 2 recs, 36 yds, TD
WR Israel Olotu-Judah (SR): 4 recs, 79 yds
WR Cade McCall (JR): 4 recs, 48 yds, 1 carry, 13 yds, TD
TE Jon Stephens (SR): 3 recs, 47 yds
TE Ricky Fox (JR): 1 rec, 13 yds, TD
DL Adam Carter (SR): 2 Sacks, 1 TFL
LB Jeremiah Smith (JR): 4 TFLs
DB Jacob Hilton (SR): PBU, INT
Katy Paetow Stats
QB Jackson Farrar (SR): 7/17, 116 yds, INT, 5 carries, -7 yds
RB Terrence Johnson (SR): 21 carries, 23 yds
WR Joshua Scott (SR): 3 recs, 56 yds
WR Tyler Washington (SO): 2 recs, 41 yds
DL Nicholas Elko (SR): 2 Sacks
DL Brandon Brown Jr (SR): Sack
LB Kobi Fears (SR): FR
DB Jaeden Spelmon (JR): FF, 2 PBUs
Next Week
Katy will look to clinch the district title as they face off with playoff hopeful Katy Tompkins (4-3, 3-2), as Paetow will look to get back into the win column, as they continue to fight for second place in the district, against Katy Taylor (2-6, 1-5).
