#8 North Shore Mustangs |  Preseason Top 25 Home |  #6 RR Stony Point Tigers

Coach: Gary Joseph
Mascot: Tigers
Region: 3
District: 19-5A
2010: 13-1 D1 Regional Finalist (L Pearland, 35-38)

PROGRAM

Program: Katy won its 25th district championship and has advanced to the playoffs every season since 1990, including at least four playoff games per season since 2001.  The Tigers have been one of the state’s top two or three programs for the better part of a decade and a half and show no signs of slowing down.  Over the last five seasons, they rank first in three of the four program statistics above. Head coach Gary Joseph took over the program in 2004 after serving as a longtime defensive coordinator and secondary coach.

OFFENSE

Returning Starters: 6

Unit Rankings
Backfield: 
Receivers: 
Offensive Line: 

Key Players
QB Brooks Haack, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
RB Adam Taylor, Junior (’10 1st All-District)
WR Jordan Thompson, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)

Players to Watch
RB AJ Henry, Junior (5’10 185)
RB Ricky Bickham, Junior (5’6 160)
OL Aaron Sowell, Junior (6’0 270)
OL Cole Gessler, Senior (5’11 270)
OL Cameron Glover, Senior (6’3 260)
OL Jared Holcomb, Junior (6’0 250)
TE Stein Spiller, Senior (6’0 190)

DEFENSE

Returning Defensive Starters: 5

Unit Rankings
Defensive Line: 
Linebackers: 
Secondary: 

Key Players
LB Brandon Ebrect, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
LB Bo Brown, Senior  (’10 1st All-District)
DB Ivan Garcia, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)

Players to Watch
DL Cory Lyons, Senior (6’1 245)
DL Jake Miller, Senior (6’1 220)
DL Jake Grode, Senior (6’3 215)
DL Matt Dimon, Junior (6’2 230)
LB Jacob Blomstrom, Sophomore (6’0 210 4.7)
DB Drake Dowling, Senior (5’6 155 4.5)
DB Quinn Atwood, Junior (6’1 175 4.7)
ATH Kyle Fulks, Junior (5’9 155 4.3)

SCHEDULE

THE BOTTOM LINE

Offense: Junior running back Adam Taylor (6’1 210) exploded onto the scene as a sophomore posting 1531 yards and 20 touchdowns as a backup to Illinois bound running back Donovonn Young.  Senior quarterback Brooks Haack (24 tds, 5 ints) has already started in sixteen games, six playoff games, 2009 Division 2 state championship, and 2010 Division 1 regional final. Three offensive line starters from last year’s record setting group returns.  The concern for this group lies on the perimeter.  The Tigers will need to find answers at wide receiver outside of Jordan Thompson.

Defense: Similar to the offensive line, Katy’s run defense has been it’s strength for a long time.  Only a handful of opposing backs can say they’ve gotten the better of this unit since the late 90′s…Jamaal Charles, Clear Lake’s option attack, and the Sims cousins.  The front seven will be the strength once again with five starters back and newcomer sophomore LB Jacob Blomstrom.  The question mark will be the secondary once again.

Overrated if: The offensive line doesn’t stay healthy.  Depth is thin on the line and out wide.  Offense doesn’t find an effective balance.  Secondary doesn’t find effective cover guys to replace last year’s starters.

Underrated if: The coaches at Katy do what they’ve done many times, which is tinker with personnel early until they get the right mix and steadily improve from there.