Gutsy effort keeps Tigers’ streak intact
Seven Lakes was a wellprepared team.
Standout running back Braeden West was suited up for his second game since returning from a shoulder injury in the season opener, and the stout defensive line was up for the challenge. Katy was undermanned.
Star tailback Rodney Anderson missed his third consecutive game with an injured foot, and nose tackle Cody Gessler and top wide receiver Andy Coonrod both missed their second game.
Still, the Tigers won — for the 45th consecutive time in the regular season.
JoVanni Stewart blocked a punt and an extra point in the first half, and Kyle Porter broke a 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, lifting Katy to a 17-12 victory in a battle of unbeaten teams Saturday at Tully Stadium.
“It was a really close game, but we were expecting a dogfight,” Tigers defensive end Tim Wilkerson said. “We weren’t expecting Seven Lakes to lay down for us. We knew they were geared up for this game.”
Katy improved to 7-0 and 4-0 in District 19-5A in a homecoming game originally scheduled for Rhodes Stadium but moved to Tully because of a blown transformer that turned off the Friday night lights. School’s best start
The Spartans, enjoying their best start in school history, fell to 6-1, 3-1 in the closest loss to the Tigers in eight years of varsity play. But second-year coach Lydell Wilson took no comfort.
“We came to win the football game,” Wilson said. “We didn’t win the football game, so we’re disappointed.
“But hey, there’s next week, and we’ve got to play next week.”
Katy had only 58 total yards on 20 plays in the first half but led 7-6 at halftime thanks to Stewart.
His blocked punt set up Kiley Huddleston’s 12-yard scoring pass to Logan Otte for a 7-0 lead, and his blocked extra-point try preserved the Tigers’ advantage after West’s 20yard scoring run.
“The kid’s got some talent,” Katy coach Gary Joseph said. “He’s a young kid, and he’s getting better.”
The Tigers adjusted well in the second half. After forcing a three-and-out to start the third, Porter found a gaping hole on the first play and ran 43 yards for a 14-6 lead.
Manny Mendoza pushed Katy’s advantage to 17-6 with a 30-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.
The Spartans closed the gap to 17-12 with a 10play, 97-yard drive capped by West’s second diving touchdown, this from 2 yards out, but Randolf Turnbull’s two-point pass fell incomplete. Drive derailed
They had one last chance, and Turnbull completed a pass to the Tigers’ 16 with about five minutes left in the game, but the play was nullified because of an illegal receiver downfield, and Katy hung on.
“That’s killer,” Wilson said. “It is what it is. They made the call, and we’ve got to live with it.”
Porter finished with 97 yards on 26 carries. He also fumbled three times but lost none. The Tigers managed only 206 total yards and 10 first downs to Seven Lakes’ 230 yards and 14 first downs.
“It was good for our kids to be extended and pushed a little bit, and credit to them,” Joseph said. “They came out and played well. We’ve got to do a better job executing.”