Football postgame: No. 15 Katy 52, Cinco Ranch 7
No. 15 state-ranked Tigers earn 16th consecutive win over rival Cougars
Katy, known for a vaunted, prolific, state-championship-caliber run game year in and year out, off a tried-and-true I-formation set, is torturing opponents through the air this season.
That was the case Friday night, as the No. 15 state-ranked Tigers threw for four touchdowns in a 52-7 win over rival Cinco Ranch at Rhodes Stadium.
It was the 16th consecutive win over the Cougars for the Tigers, who improved to 3-1 overall, 2-0 in District 19-6A. Cinco Ranch fell to 1-3, 1-1.
Senior quarterback Gunner Nelson completed four of six passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers. One of those TDs was a 47-yarder to senior receiver Israel Olotu-Judah, who had four catches for 106 yards. Another went to junior receiver Cade McCall on a 73-yard bomb off another play-action. The last went to senior tight end Jon Stephens for a 19-yard haul in the back of the end zone.
The Tigers have lacked big-play ability on the perimeter in recent years, but not this one. Olotu-Judah and McCall are explosive, quick-as-a-hiccup talents with the ball in their hands.
Through four games, Katy has thrown for 14 touchdowns and rushed for 11.
The passing prowess could not have come at a better time as Katy is mixing and matching at running back.
Depth is ailing with injuries to senior London Pilbeam and sophomore MJ Benas. Junior Tremayne Hill, RB1, was banged up in Week 2 against Atascocita and missed last week’s win against Morton Ranch for precautionary reasons before returning this week.
Katy has had to go to a defensive back in junior Aqualis Jordan, and promoted sophomore Fayo George from the junior varsity, for able fill-ins in the offensive backfield. Newcomer Tim Ogunbanjo, a junior, showed plenty of promise Friday with 56 yards on four carries in an appearance late in the second half.
As the Tigers work to find a groove in the ground game, Nelson has been exceptional all year, throwing for 10 touchdowns to one interception. He is completing 64.3 percent of his passes, and connected on throws of 15, 19, 47 and 73 yards, respectively, against Cinco Ranch.
Even junior backup Jakson Franklin got in on the fun when he connected with Olotu-Judah on a 41-yard catch-and-run score in the first half.
The Tigers threw for 212 yards against Cinco Ranch. By loosening the Cougars’ defensive box, it aided the run game, and Hill (116 yards, two touchdowns) and Jordan (113 yards) went nuts.
Overall, Katy outgained Cinco Ranch 525-293 in total yards, but it wasn’t that close. The Tigers held a 322-117 edge in total yards at halftime, when they led 31-0.
Cinco Ranch senior quarterback Charlie Adamoli completed 23 of 39 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked three times and averaged just 7.5 yards per passing attempt.
The Cougars came in averaging 164.7 rushing yards per game. but ran for only 55 yards on 26 carries.
Cinco Ranch entered averaging 5.4 yards per play. Against Katy, it managed 4.5.
Cinco Ranch did not score until Adamoli found junior Drew Tureau on a 23-yard catch for a touchdown with 1:16 left in the third quarter.
Coach Gary Joseph was particularly elated about the Tigers’ two takeaways, which is one more than they had, total, over the first three games.
Olotu-Judah and senior defensive lineman Adam Carter, who had two sacks and was constantly in the Cougars’ backfield, spoke more about the win.
KATY 52, CINCO RANCH 7
SCORING:
First quarter
KHS: Israel Olotu-Judah 47 catch from Gunner Nelson (Giovanni Moreno kick), 9:34
KHS: Cade McCall 73 catch from Gunner Nelson (Giovanni Moreno kick), 3:13
Second quarter
KHS: Tremayne Hill 1 run (Giovanni Moreno kick), 8:14
KHS: Israel Olotu-Judah 41 catch from Jakson Franklin (Giovanni Moreno kick), 6:00
KHS: Giovanni Moreno 22 FG, 0:16
Third quarter
KHS: Jon Stephens 19 catch from Gunner Nelson (Giovanni Moreno kick), 11:47
KHS: Tremayne Hill 16 run (Giovanni Moreno kick), 6:45
CRHS: Drew Tureau 23 catch from Charlie Adamoli (Andrew Reagan kick), 1:16
Fourth quarter
KHS: Fayo George 3 run (kick good), 3:40
Team Statistics
Yards rushing: KHS 37-213, 3 TDs; CRHS 26-55
Yards Passing: CRHS 238; KHS 212
Total Yards: KHS 525: CRHS 293
Passing: CRHS 23-39-0, TD; KHS 7-15-0, 4 TDs
Turnovers: CRHS 2; KHS 1
Penalty-Yards: KHS 4-35; CRHS 0-0
Individual Statistics
Rushing – KHS: Tremayne Hill 15-116, 2 TDs; Aqualis Jordan 12-113; Tim Ogunbanjo 4-56; Fayo George 3-11, TD; Joshua Smith 2-13; Nathaniel Gayhart 1-4. CRHS: Marcus Gadlin III 14-59; Brian McCray 3-6; Brayden Gonzalez 2-3; Charlie Adamoli 3-(-13).
Passing – CRHS: Charlie Adamoli 23-39-0, 238 yards, TD; Davis Roup 0-0-0. KHS: Gunner Nelson 4-6-0, 157 yards, 3 TDs; Jakson Franklin 2-9-0, 55 yards, TD; Noah Thompson 0-0-0.
Receiving – CRHS: Scott Eckel 6-72; Drew Tureau 5-69, TD; Matthew Courtois 3-46; Brayden Gonzalez 4-18; Kellen LeCronier 3-21; Jacob Chevez 1-9; Marcus Gadlin 1-3. KHS: Israel Olotu-Judah 4-106, 2 TDs; Cade McCall 1-73, TD; Jon Stephens 1-19, TD; Ryan Carbone 1-14.