Game Impressions:
Early-season syndrome was in effect on the artificial turf at Rhodes Stadium Saturday night as both Katy and North Shore suffered key turnovers and kicking or snapping challenges.
Katy’s offense started tentative with the passing game only moderately successful against perhaps the best secondary in the city. North Shore notched two interceptions in the game, and the first was a strip-takeaway near the Mustang goal line by Saturday’s brightest North Shore star DB Alton Demby just before halftime.
After red-zone opportunity Katy failed to convert against a solid Mustang defense, the Tigers drive deep again and try a field goal. A poor snap, however, turns the kick into a scramble left by Tiger Hunter Smith. The Mustangs smother him, and North Shore players and coaches celebrate along the sidelines in the second quarter.
Moments later, the Katy defense comes alive with DE Michael Bray getting a hand on North Shore QB Keenon Gibson’s collar as a pass is thrown away in desperation. Punter Demby pulls down a high snap after tipping the football – and then runs unsuccessfully upfield. Katy’s Colten Sommers made the crucial stop.
Katy then begins the only scoring drive of the contest. Tiger QB Michael Stojkovic connects with WR Greg Morris for Katy’s longest pass reception inside the 10-yard line. Morris receives one of many huge hits in the game – this one from North Shore Kendrick Ruben. Stojkovic completes the drive with a short pass to RB Tyler Chapman for touchdown. The PAT makes it 7-0 with 2:34 remaining before halftime.
How does North Shore respond? As a championship-caliber team should, the Mustangs’ Demby blazes a trail 102 yards up the right side, taking the ensuing kickoff to the house to tie the score before halftime.
In the third quarter, the turnovers continue – including four in a row as the third period concludes, but neither team capitalizes on several scoring chances.
Katy began to control the momentum in the second half when RB Donovonn Young and starting RB Will Jeffery kept the running game fresh against a larger North Shore line. Young hurdles a defender on one of his first rushes while subbing for Jeffery. Both made a serious impression while playing.
Offensively for North Shore, RBs Tracy Woods and Tim Cornett ran well at times, but the Mustangs could not find consistency on the ground. QB Gibson threw some nice passes to White. Katy’s second, however, was never burned deep despite the speed North Shore brought to the receiver positions.
This game could easily have gone to overtime if not for a pivotal sack by Katy’s Zach Okruhlik that included an intentional grounding call on North Shore QB Gibson. With a painful third-and-44 position from its own 24-yard line, North Shore tried to punt with a minute left in regulation.
However the deep snap sailed over Demby’s head and bounced several times while skipping through the end zone for the decisive safety in the 9-7 Katy victory. Demby then made his only poor play of the night by leveling nearby Tiger defender Colton Vix after realizing the tie and North Shore’s tremendous regular-season winning streak had slipped away.