Tigers top Mustangs for third year in a row
Cypress Ranch’s wish was written on its runthrough banner — that a third straight season facing Katy in the playoffs was its charm.
The Class 6A No. 2 Tigers proved the matchup still is Cy Ranch’s curse.
Tight end Jacob Lighter supplied two scoring catches as Katy ousted the Mustangs for the third consecutive year, and fourth time in six postseasons, rolling 55-7 in the 6A Division I area round Saturday at NRG Stadium.
“(Defense) prepared well,” Katy coach Gary Joseph said. “They had a whole bunch of kids prepared. Our coaches did an outstanding job of preparing them.
“We knew they were good defensively and we were going to have to play extremely well to have a chance to win the game, and the kids really stepped up, created some turnovers and did some good things.”
The Tigers, who hit 10-0 in Round 2 after losing two non-district games to Hurricane Harvey, will face Atascocita (9-1), winners of eight in a row, in the Region III semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at NRG.
The Eagles won the region last year after North Shore (8-3) ousted Katy in the semis.
A history of dominance
Katy and Cy Ranch collided in the Division I bracket last year, with the Tigers winning 31-14 in the closest contest. The Tigers cruised 59-20 in Division II en route to state title No. 8 in 2015.
They also rolled 70-21 in the regional finals in their 2012 championship season.
If Saturday’s game is any indication, the Tigers are well on their way to collecting a state-record ninth state crown.
Katy, Southlake Carroll, Celina and Richland Springs are tied with eight.
The Tigers held Cy Ranch to 20 yards in the first half, including minus-13 rushing, while forcing three turnovers — all in one two-minute stretch — and recording three sacks. They led 38-7 at halftime. Cy Ranch finished with only 28 total yards (1 rush yard on 28 attempts) and three first downs.
Deondrick Glass opened the scoring with a 44-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
He finished with 181 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries but also lost two fumbles, had a third fumble at the goal line erased by a holding penalty and nearly was stripped for another turnover after a Cy Ranch defender overtook him at the end of a 61-yard run, stopping him 1 yard short of a score.
“I was trying to keep a short-term memory so I could continue,” Glass said.
“It’s not about the last play, it’s about the next play, so you forget about the last play and keep moving on.”
He wasn’t the only back with ball-security issues.
Shemar Bartholomew supplied Cy Ranch’s only points after he stripped Josh Oglesby and went 47 yards for a touchdown.
Responding on offense
Katy countered by scoring twice in less than a minute.
Jordan Patrick hauled in a 43-yard touchdown on a pass from freshman quarterback Bronson McClelland and then quarterback Austin Marshall found Lighter for a 16-yard score 57 seconds later after the first of three straight Cy Ranch turnovers.
Katy produced 457 yards and 19 first downs.
“We still have a lot of things to improve, especially ball security,” Glass said. “Our defense played phenomenal, and our offense played well, but we need to take care of the ball more, read our keys, and we’ll get better every week.