Katy aims to even score against Cedar Hill
Tigers lost two out of three meetings to Longhorns in trilogy of finals from 2012-14
The Katy-cedar Hill state championship trilogy ended six years ago, but there is plenty of carryover into yet another meeting at AT&T Stadium in Arlington with a state title on the line.
Junior receiver Nic Anderson hopes to join brothers Rodney and Ryder Anderson as a state champion at Katy.
Rodney played in the first three title games against Cedar Hill in 2012-2014, leaving school with a triumph in 2012 but letdowns in 2013 and 2014.
“I’m sure he wants us to beat them just to set the score straight,” Nic said of Rodney with a smile at practice this week.
The Bowlings also can identify with wanting a little payback. Senior linebacker and safety Shepherd Bowling’s older brother, Kyle, was on Katy’s 2012 and 2013 teams. After the state semifinal win over Buda Hays, Shepherd said the family connection certainly provides incentive.
In a UIL state championship weekend that also features the “Dodge Bowl” between Austin Westlake and Southlake Carroll and Aledo’s quest for state title No. 10, the Katy-cedar Hill rivalry’s fourth meeting in the span of a decade brings its own intrigue.
The faces have changed, evidenced by Nic Anderson, Shepherd Bowling and others. The game between these two teams remains the same.
Cedar Hill is as dynamic as ever. Just swap all-time great receiver Damarkus Lodge for quarterback Kaidon Salter, who has signed with Tennessee, as the Cedar Hill star to watch this time around.
Katy is still Katy — tenacious defensively and possessing a strong running game. Instead of Adam Taylor or Rodney Anderson leading the way at running back, it’s brothers Jalen and Seth Davis punishing opponents.
There aren’t any surprises about what either team brings to Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at Arlington.
“When you have people like Damarkus Lodge and those receivers they had the year before, they’re as talented as they were then,” Katy coach Gary Joseph said. “I think the biggest thing for us is you can’t let talent beat you. … It’s basically the same. It’s going to be a game where we can’t get put back on our heels. We’re going to have to sit there and make some plays. We’re going to have to contest throws, and secondary-wise, we’re going to have to step up. I think we’re capable of it.”
Facing elite dual-threat quarterbacks such as Salter is nothing new for Katy. The Tigers have seen their fair share of Tompkins’ Jalen Milore (Alabama). They beat North Shore’s Dematrius Davis (Auburn) last season and Shadow Creek’s Kyron Drones (Baylor) in the postseason this year as well.
Salter will come with his own challenges, though.
He’s thrown for 2,500 yards and 31 touchdowns and totaled 1,000 yards and another 14 scores on the ground. Cedar Hill’s only loss is as impressive as any of its wins — the Longhorns (12-1) lost to Duncanville by 14 in November.
Perhaps the intensity from the previous three games carries over to the fourth. The average margin of victory in Katy and Cedar Hill’s 2012-2014 games was eight points.
Led by Taylor’s 277 yards and five touchdowns, Katy won 35-24 in 2012. Cedar Hill rallied from a 14-point deficit to win the 2013 game 34-24. Another Cedar Hill comeback awaited Katy in 2014. The 23-20 Cedar Hill win came on Brooks Ralph’s 25-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.
The respect ran deep between the programs then and does now. Former Cedar Hill quarterback Justin Mcmillan was on all three of the teams to previously face Katy.
He calls Katy the most difficult opponent he played against during his high school career.
“They study their film,” Mcmillan said. “I can name eight of them still to this day.”
In regard to facing Salter, Katy junior linebacker Ty Kana said: “It’s that competitive edge. That’s what drives us as athletes. Going up against a premier quarterback like that is exciting for sure.”
Not lost this weekend are the Cedar Hill and Katy legacies at stake. Cedar Hill is going for its fourth state title, pushing it up the ranks of Dallas-fort Worth’s elite programs.
Despite North Shore’s recent dominance, Katy is still in its own class in Houston.
No UIL team has played for a state championship more times than Katy’s 15. If Aledo loses to Crosby on Friday night, a Katy win over Cedar Hill would tie the Tigers with Aledo and Richland Springs for most UIL state championships at nine.
Of course, legacy is the furthest thing from Joseph’s thoughts right now.
“It’s about the here and now,” Joseph said. “It’s about the present. Right now, the final accomplishment is trying to win a state championship.”