Texas high school football is back in full swing as we enter week 2. The week’s game in Houston, Texas, is the Katy Tigers (1-0) vs the Atascocita Eagles (1-0). Both Katy and Atascocita won their week 1 games. Katy beat The Dickinson Gators by 41-37, Atascocita beat The Lamar Texans by 35-7, and this matchup is always heated and competitive. These two teams played on week 2 of the season for the past three years. In 2022, Katy won with a score of 35-28, and in 2023, Atascocita won with a score of 42-34. In the 3rd matchup, this yearly rivalry is now tied up 1-1. Who will take the lead and be up 2-1?
1st Half
Atascocita received the 1st kickoff of the game with possession. Atascocita threw an interception in the first two minutes of the match, putting Katy on offense. Within a few plays, Katy reached Atascocita’s red zone, and running back #2 Tremayne Hill got a 17-yard rushing touchdown. Atascocita, back on offense, could not move the ball and had to punt it back to Katy. The Tigers took advantage of this opportunity to extend their lead, and quarterback #15 Gunner Nelson threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver #8 Cade McCall, making the score 14-0.
In the 2nd quarter, Katy is back on offense after the defense stopped Atascocita. Katy was holding strong until they fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Atascocita. This proved poorly for Katy because this resulted in a 22-yard touchdown pass for Atascocita from quarterback #14 Cardae Mack to wide receiver #4 Cj Toney. Katy lost possession again after going three and out on offense, having to punt it back to Atascocita. It was a tough drive, but Atascocita’s quarterback, Cardae, connected with CJ again for a 33-yard touchdown pass. This resulted in Atascocita tying up the game 14-14. Katy got back into the action with four minutes left in the 2nd half. They reached the red zone in two minutes and almost scored, but Atascocita’s defense held them off, and Katy had to kick a 17-yard field goal. Katy ended the half with a big sack. The score was 17-14, with Katy in the lead going into the 2nd half.
2nd Half
Katy received possession 1st for the 2nd half, and Atascocita’s defense locked down The Tigers, and they almost immediately punted it to Atascocita. On their 1st play of the half, Cardae threw a beautiful pass to wide receiver #8 Brodrick Malone that was an 80-yard touchdown pass, which led to Atascocita finally taking the lead in this game with a score of 20-17. After a failed 2pt conversion, Atascocita kicked off to Katy, and with them behind, Katy fought hard to take back the lead. After a 5-minute drive, Katy reached the red zone. Quarterback Gunner Nelson connected with wide receiver #8 Cade McCall again with a 19-yard touchdown pass, taking back the lead. This back-and-forth game was at a standstill for the rest of the 3rd quarter, and Katy fumbled the ball, leading to Atascocita recovering the ball again. This ended the 3rd quarter with Katy in the lead with a score of 24-20.
In the first minute of the 4th quarter, Atascocita’s quarterback Cardae kept the snap and rushed in himself for a 6-yard touchdown. Katy gained back possession, but unfortunately, they could not move the ball at all and had to punt it back to Atascocita. With ball possession, Atascocita scored another touchdown with running back #6 Tory Blaylock, extending their lead 34-24. Katy had no presence in the end zone for the 4th quarter and Atascocita scored one more touchdown before the game’s conclusion. The final score of the game is 41-24 Atascocita is now 2-0 in the season and 2-1 in this matchup against Katy.
Next week
Katy will play against the Morton Ranch Mavericks (0-2), and Atascocita will travel to Austin, TX to play against one of the best teams in Texas, the Westlake Chaparrals (2-0).
