Tigers’ tight win extends district winning streak
Quick take
In the week leading up to the game, Jordan players were confident. They made it known on social media that, not only were they ready for Katy, they felt they were better.
The fact some local media outlets ranked the precocious Warriors ahead of the vaunted Tigers only fueled them.
In the end Friday night, however, once the clock hit zeroes at Legacy Stadium, Katy proved once again that it is Katy, overcoming anything and everything thrown its way for a gutsy 42-35 win over Jordan.
The No. 8 state-ranked Tigers improved to 5-1 overall and take over first place in District 19-6A at 4-0. The No. 25 stateranked Warriors dropped their first game of the season and are 4-1, 2-1 in district.
“It was an emotional game,” Katy coach Gary Joseph said. “Our kids probably bought into the distraction and everything and tried to win the game at one time instead of just playing football. I told them at halftime to take a deep breath. We were better than that (first half ). Once we regrouped in the second half, we did what we were supposed to, came out and scored, got a stop and then we started playing our game.”
Junior quarterback Gunner Nelson scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard keeper with 5:04 left in the game.
Nelson accounted for five total touchdowns. He completed 9-of-14 passes for 138 yards and four touchdowns.
Highlights
Jordan scored on its fourth play from scrimmage to open the game. Junior running back Chad Gasper sprinted 55 yards up the middle, untouched, for an easy score.
After a Katy punt, the Warriors struck again on a direct snap to sophomore Jeremy Alo-Perry for a 1-yard plunge.
Katy got on the scoreboard 16 seconds into the second quarter on a 9yard catch by sophomore receiver Cade McCall.
The Tigers knotted it up on a 41-yard pick-six by sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Smith with 5:33 left in the first half.
Jordan made it 21-14 at the half on a run by Gasper.
Jordan began its final drive from its own 25-yard line with 5:04 left. It converted a fourth down on a 16-yard Andrew Marsh reception. But Willetts threw incomplete on the next fourth down to turn it over on downs with 2:48 left.
Katy ran out the clock the rest of the way.
What it means
Katy extended its district game win streak to 21 games. The Tigers are 2-0 against the Warriors after winning last season’s inaugural meeting 70-21.
The win puts Katy as the only undefeated team left in 19-6A play.
Jordan is tied with Cinco Ranch for second place. Each team has one loss in district play.
Up next
Katy plays Paetow at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Rhodes Stadium.
Jordan plays Cinco Ranch at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Rhodes Stadium.