Katy Taylor lost the District 19-6A championship in 2016 on, gulp, the first game of district. That would probably happen to any team that has to play perennial power Katy in that slot.
The Taylor Mustangs won their next six regular season games and then won a shootout over Fort Bend Kempner, 60-42, in the first round. Taylor lost to a tough Cy Ridge team, 55-28, in the Area Round, giving the Mustangs a record of 9-3 on the season.
The Mustangs were able to beat teams by running the ball down their throats. Junior running back Ean Beek rushed for 2,401 yards — or 200 yards a game — behind a beefy and athletic offensive line.
The successful season was a much-needed welcome after missing the playoffs in 2015. Now, the Mustangs will look for more this Fall.
Key Losses
OL Conner Hay, TE Camron Horry, DB Ethan Beek
Hay was a huge offensive lineman who helped pave the way for a 2,400-yard back and a Mustangs offense that ran the ball for more than 280 yards a game. Horry was a big target at tight end who also blocked for Ean Beek, and Ethan Beek was an all-district performer in the secondary.
The Mustangs also lose quarterback David Perkins to graduation.
Key Returners
RB Ean Beek, DT Max Wright, LB Ben Montgomery
Beek was almost unstoppable last season while rushing for 2,401 yards and 20 touchdowns. He averaged 200 yards a game and rushed for more than 100 yards nine times last season. He was a no-brainer pick for first-team all-district.
Montgomery recorded 89 tackles and caused a fumble last year as a sophomore. Wright (6-5, 270) is a big run stopper who had 70 tackles and an eye-popping nine sacks as a junior. Wright even carried the ball 19 times on offense and scored two rushing touchdowns.
Verdict
It’s hard to bet against a team that has a speedy, shifty, accomplished back like Ean Beek.
The Mustangs will have an old-school look as they did last year — a strong running game and stingy defense. That kind of clock control should lead the Mustangs to yet another playoff appearance.
And yes, the district championship could be on the line again when Taylor meets old nemesis Katy in the fourth week of the season.
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