Tigers vs Tigers

The Katy Tigers play A&M Consolidated tonight in probably the toughtest matchup in 5A football this week. This is going to be a major test for Katy. This game will be a benchmark to see how much we need to improve and if we are ready now to make a run for the State Championship. Even though we are at home, A&M consolidated is favored. It is our Homecoming Game, which can be a distraction factor. To our advantage, it is a sell out. We will fill up our side and probably a third of the other side. My guess is that there will probably be over 10,000 Katy fans and 3,000 A%M fans. On a night like this, I wish we had a bigger stadium!

Tiger squads offer each other tough uphill test


By LARRY BOWEN
Eagle Sports Writer

Jim Slaughter and Gary Joseph wanted their football teams to get a decent workout in their final games before district, something like a bike ride over rolling hills with the neighborhood kids.

What they got looks more like a mountain stage against Lance Armstrong.

Third-ranked A&M Consolidated will play eighth-ranked Katy at Rhodes Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m.

CONSOL FOOTBALL

MATCHUP: A&M Consolidated at Katy

RECORDS: Consol (2-0), Katy (2-0)

RANKINGS: No. 3 Consol, No. 8 Katy

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Rhodes Stadium, Katy

Consol (2-0) and Katy (2-0) both have Tigers as mascots, and both teams - or at least both coaches - would have preferred to play less powerful opponents in their last game before starting league play.

The latest University Interscholastic League realignment produced the matchup. Both teams landed in seven-team districts and needed an extra nondistrict game.

"It would probably be better if it wasn't a knock-down, drag-out right before district play," Slaughter said, "but no one else was interested in playing us.

"When I called [Katy athletics director] Rusty Dowling back and said we'd play, he told me if it was any consolation, Gary Joseph said the same thing about trying to find anybody besides A&M Consolidated. That made me feel a little bit better."

Both programs made long Class 5A playoff runs last season. Consol reached the Division I semifinals, losing to eventual state champion Euless Trinity. Katy lost to Southlake Carroll in the Division II championship game.

"We're not going to dodge anybody, but you hate to have to play people twice in a season, too," Joseph said.

With Consol in Region II and Katy in Region III, the only time the teams could meet again this season would be in the state final.

This is the second consecutive Top 10 matchup for Consol. Last week, the Tigers hosted Austin Westlake in a game that was tied 7-7 when it was canceled early in the second quarter after Westlake lineman Matt Nader collapsed and had to be revived on the sideline.

Moments after the game ended, Slaughter told his players that their former teammate Ed King had been killed in a car wreck. Many of the Tigers attended a memorial service for King on Tuesday night, and the team went to his funeral on Wednesday.

"Coming off the week that we've had, I think having this game really helps to get us back into full concentration on playing good football," Slaughter said.

"We've had really good workouts. There were times [at Wednesday's practice] when I felt like the kids' minds were somewhere else, and I fully understand."

Consol officials plan to honor King by putting decals on the players' helmets.

Both coaches said they want to get plenty of players into the game to prepare for the start of district play. For Consol, backup quarterback Dominic Preston will see action after having his first opportunity end after one play because of last week's cancellation.

"We definitely want to win the game, but we've already made up our mind that we're going to take a look at a lot of kids," Slaughter said. "We have to get kids ready for district."

Katy was off last week, so Joseph was in the stands to watch Consol and Westlake. Both teams produced impressive scoring drives on their first possessions.

"I really felt like Consol was going to end up taking control of the game, because I didn't think there was any way [the Westlake] quarterback could stay that hot," Joseph said. "I was very impressed with the Consol offense. [And] those linebackers are as good as anybody we'll play."

Slaughter said Katy reminds him of the Katy team that beat the Tigers, 21-17, at Reliant Stadium two years ago.

Katy's balanced offense features running back Aundre Dean and receiver Michael Fuda.

"It's a typical Katy team," Slaughter said. "They're not going to beat themselves. That game two years ago was a pretty good example: They wait for you to make mistakes and then jump all over it. I guess people could say the same thing about us."

Joseph said he is concerned about Consol's stable of running backs. With seniors Daniel Palmer and J.J. McMurry getting into shape after preseason leg injuries, the Tigers averaged 6.4 yards per rushing attempt against Westlake.