Desperation turns into good preparation

Manvel’s plea for scrimmage gets answered by Katy

Manvel coach Kirk Martin was desperate.

He wanted a game, or at least a scrimmage, before tackling Pearland next week, but after several plans fell through, he took the only course of action left to him in the social media age – Twitter.

“Manvel is looking for a game or scrimmage next week Thursday or Friday,” Martin Tweeted on Sept. 1.

“Will travel Could even join for 3 way scrimmage kmartin@alvinisd.net.”

‘Beating the bushes’

Martin said he never expected to find himself, or his top-ranked Class 5A team, in such a precarious position, pleading for games on Twitter, but Tropical Storm Harvey turned everyone’s bestlaid plans upside down, and he felt having some type of competition was important enough to exhaust every avenue.

“I was beating the bushes,” Martin chuckled.

“I was trying to find our kids a game because I didn’t want to go three weeks without any type of competition and then roll into a real game.”

Three days later, Katy coach Gary Joseph answered Martin’s plea.

Now, the two powerhouse programs, which collided three consecutive years in the regional finals — with the Tigers winning all three — will meet in a stirring scrimmage at 6 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium.

Martin hopes the matchup creates a little excitement — right when Houston needs it.

“Lots of folks will show up who wouldn’t normally show up to a scrimmage because it’s us playing,” he said. “Katy is deserving of every ounce of recognition they’ve ever got, and we’re trying to get to where they’re at.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but I’m excited to get to play against those guys.”

A strange series of events made the unlikely reunion a reality.

Harvey’s arrival washed away every Week 1 game in the Houston area, including the Mavericks’ rematch with Crosby. But the Mavericks, who didn’t have spring football, were able to complete their scrimmages with Brenham and Dekaney, so after weathering the storm, they were hoping to play.

North Shore wasn’t ready — although Mustangs coach Jon Kay was able to pick up a scrimmage with Alief Taylor late this week — so Martin made plans to play Clear Brook when it looked like La Porte wasn’t ready. Then the Bulldogs were cleared to play, only Saturday instead of Friday.

While still hoping for a game, Martin talked to Westfield coach Matt Meekins about a scrimmage, but before calling back to finalize a plan, Meekins agreed to scrimmage C.E. King — 30 minutes earlier.

So, after scrimmages with Clear Lake, and then Shadow Creek and Alvin, fell through, Martin was at whit’s end.

“I told our guys we’ll scrimmage ourselves and help somebody else with this hurricane relief, and that’s what we’ll do this week,” Martin said.

Still, Martin made two more Twitter pleas Saturday.

And Joseph, who tweeted for the first time in five years last week, praising his community’s response to Harvey, was paying attention.

“Monday morning, we’re practicing,” Martin said. “We’re in the weight room, actually, lifting, and my phone rings and it’s Coach Joseph. He says, ‘Coach, are you still looking for a scrimmage?’ and I said, ‘Yes sir.’”

Joseph sent over a proposed format. Martin quickly agreed.

They’ll go 15 plays with their first-string players, then 12 with backups, 12 more for starters, and 10-12 for the most inexperienced players, with some simulated kicking mixed in, during the controlled portion, then play a 10-minute live quarter and 15-minute second quarter with a running clock.

It’s a win-win-win for the Mavericks.

They avoid going three weeks without any action before opening in Week 3 and test themselves against an elite 6A foe — the Mavericks are in 5A now — and then put that knowledge to use this season.

“They beat us three years in a row in the (state) quarterfinals, and we didn’t get to fix anything after those games were over,” Martin said.

“We packed up our stuff and started basketball.”

Happy to help

Joseph is content to downplay the suddenly electrifying exhibition.

He was happy to help Martin after Klein ISD cancelled athletic activities, scrubbing his scrimmage with Klein Collins, but for him it’s only a glorified practice that helps his team prep for The Woodlands.

The only game plan is to take in the Mavericks’ speed, then leave the field healthy.

“I felt like, with us and our kids, to sit there and throw our quarterback, who hasn’t played a down of varsity football, in against The Woodlands was going to be an injustice to him,” Joseph said. “If it was going to have to be, it was going to be, but I’m thankful Katy ISD (allowed scrimmages).

“Our kids wanted to get back and do something. That, more than anything else, is why I felt it was important.”