| Your quick study in high school football entering Week One:
BEST OF THE LOT
Cypress Falls at Westfield , 7 p.m. Thursday, George Stadium: The Eagles, who were held to less than 100 yards passing in last week’s 28-20 loss to Bryan, seek to win their second consecutive game in this series that dates to 2004. Prior to last year, Westfield had defeated Falls by an average of 17 points in three wins.
Falls ran into a buzzsaw of a defense last week – Bryan’s lone interception set up a touchdown and QB Kolby Gray’s lost fumble late led to the game-winner. The Eagles were held to 237 yards; Gray was limited to 46 yards in the second half after 150 in the first.
Westfield is seeking a fifth straight season of not only a district championships, but 10 wins and a playoff run at least three rounds deep.
North Shore at Eisenhower, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Thorne Stadium: After a 10-6 win against Katy to open the season, North Shore wants to keep its 71-game regular-season winning streak and tie the state record. After being shut down against Hightower, Eisenhower has to find its offensive spark (along with its running game), or it will be a long night for the Eagles. They netted only 100 yards rushing – yards that will be equally tough to come by this week – and committed four turnovers.
North Shore’s defense, which returned slightly more experience than the offense, was sterling the entire game against Katy. LB Daniel Salinas remains a star, but look out for LB Kerrick Brown and DB Larry Stephens among others to make big plays.
Katy at The Woodlands, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Woodforest Stadium: After a tough loss to North Shore, Katy looks to bounce back against the Highlanders, whom the Tigers have beaten the last three years. But coming off a 42-0 shutout of Cy-Fair, The Woodlands look really tough and will be looking to put Katy to an 0-2 start.
If Highlanders QB Andy McCloud or any of his skill players have another big night – McCloud accounted for well more than 200 total yards last week – it may be a sign lofty goals are attainable for The Woodlands. Despite the struggles of its offense, Katy’s defense made big play after big play last week. DB Kyle Hirschfelder was seemingly all over the field, as was LB Sam Holl.
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Strake Jesuit at Clear Lake, 7 p.m. Friday, Veterans Memorial Stadium: Teams among the favorites in what should be two highly-competitive districts (18-5A and 24-5A) clash. Only an early rash of penalties stopped the Crusaders from blowing out St. Thomas. Their run defense was solid, which could work well against a Falcons team that rushed for more than 300 yards last week against Aldine but passed for less than 30.
Cypress Springs vs. Cinco Ranch, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Berry Center: The Panthers surprised some people in their 20-3 win against Katy Taylor last week; their offense thrived on speed and athleticism. But Springs faces its first true test in the Cougars, who got a goal-line defensive stand to beat San Antonio Reagan at the Alamodome last Saturday. The loser of this game certainly can still have a great season, but the winner could gain some big momentum.
A&M Consolidated at Cypress Woods, 6 p.m. Saturday, Berry Center: The Wildcats make their much-anticipated varsity debut against perennially competitive A&M Consolidated. The Falcons, who are reloading at most positions but should have a strong secondary and receiving corps, opened with a 26-3 loss to Round Rock McNeil.
Memorial at Jersey Village , 6 p.m. Saturday, Pridgeon Stadium: This game might take only two hours and have a final score along the lines of 14-7. Falcons RB Jammell Alfred rushed for more than 200 yards in last week’s loss to Deer Park, and likewise the Mustangs love grind-it-out, time-consuming drives. This year, though, they probably will have a potent passing game behind QB Davis Miller.
OUR PICKS TO CLICK
Dave: North Shore RB Alex Tillman. Position mate Tracy Woods grabbed the headlines last week, rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Mustangs’ 10-6 win against Katy, but Tillman put on a solid show too by rushing for 70 yards. Gut says the North Shore coaching staff will find a way to highlight Tillman against an Eisenhower defense eager to redeem itself.
Chad: Pearland RB Kasey Carrier. He was held in check for most of the Oilers’ win against Madison last week, but he still rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns. I expect to see those numbers rise Thursday night against Fort Bend Kempner at the Rig. Carrier has big-play capability, and against a Cougar team the Oilers have beaten three times in the last two years, I see a big night for Carrier.
QUOTABLE
Among other gems in North Shore coach David Aymond’s post-Katy press conference was this:
“I was sort of glad to see them make some mistakes. I thought they weren’t human for a while. Those people don’t make mistakes now. … I’m glad they did. We made a few.”
NUMBERS ARE FUN
8: More first downs for Cy-Fair (15) than The Woodlands (7) in the Highlanders’ 42-0 win against the Bobcats.
TV/RADIO COVERAGE
Thursday
Cypress Falls at Westfield, 7 p.m. (KTBU-Channel 55)
Kempner at Pearland, 7 p.m. (KTRK-Channel 13.2; Comcast channel 314)
Lake Travis at Austin Westlake, 7 p.m. (FSN Houston/Southwest)
Friday
Cypress Ridge at Klein, 7:30 p.m. (KBME-AM 790)
Katy at The Woodlands, 7:30 p.m. (KFNC-FM 97.5)
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