Class 6A Division I

Friday

Katy (9-1) vs. Alief Elsik (2-8) 6:30 p.m. at Legacy Stadium

Last year: Did not play

• Katy will take on Alief Elsik in the bi-district round in a matchup of old district foes.
  The Tigers enter the game on an eight game win streak and have shown some very strong things during district play, but the Tigers did have a slip in their final district game, allowing Mayde Creek to stay in the game for three quarters and not showing the Tigers typical offensive prowess.
  Katy will look to get back on track in the game with an offense that has been led by a balanced rushing attack where Tremayne Hill and Aqualis Jordan both have accumulated over 700 yards this season. Hill has had a nose for the endzone, rushing for 16 touchdowns, while Jordan has rushed for five scores on the year. Gunner Nelson has thrown for over 1300 yards on the year and 18 touchowns, while Israel Olotu-Judah and Cade McCall have combined for over 1000 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns.
  They will go up against an Elsik team that has managed only two wins this season and is 2-8 overall. The Rams have averaged 22 points per game and have allowed 37 points per game this year. They are led by defensive end Onyedikachi Ikowo and quarterback Kaden Mendenhall.
  For Katy this is a game they should expect to dominate starting off the payoffs. The Tigers will look to get back on track and know they cannot underestimate an opponent after struggling against Mayde Creek.

Paetow (7-3) at Fulshear (10-0), 7 p.m. at Traylor Stadium

Last year: Did not play

• Paetow earned a spot in the playoffs for the first since moving up to Class 6A and will get the hardest matchup of any Katy ISD team in the playoffs as they will go up against an unbeaten Fulshear team.
  The Panthers have relied on an explosive ground game on offense all year that has been led by Terrence Johnson, who has been on a tear throughout district play. The senior has rushed for over 1,100 yards in total to go with 14 touchdowns to lead the Panthers, while Jackson Farrar has gone over 1,000 yards passing and has thrown 10 touchdowns. The Panthers struggled in their last game out but got valuable experience against a playoff level team against Jordan and will be trying to bounce back this week to keep their season going.
  Fulshear has been dominant this year, averaging 49 points per game and allowing just 17 points per game and the Chargers offense has shined all season. Ryland Forks has thrown for nearly 1400 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Patrick Broadway II has rushed for over 1600 yards and 21 touchowns, Zane Smith has rushed for over 900 yards and 15 touchowns and Damarius Froe has rushed for over 800 yards and eight touchowns. Mike Brown and Brayden Kennedy both have over 400 yards receiving on the year as Fulshear has been a force.
  Paetow will need to have one of its best games of the season both offensively and defensively, but the Panthers are ready for the test and excited for the playoffs.

Class 6A Division II

Thursday

Jordan (8-2) vs. Richmond Foster (4-6), 6:30 p.m. at Legacy Stadium

Last year: Did not play

• Jordan heads into the playoffs for the second straight year in search of its first playoff win. The Warriors will have that chance going up against a Richmond Foster squad that has struggled this year and comes in as underdogs.
  The Warriors have the advantage in this game and come into the matchup having won their last two games. Jordan quarterbacks have combined to throw for nearly 1,900 yards this year and 16 touchdowns, while Zion Jones has rushed for 643 yards and 12 touchdowns, Beau Bryant has rushed for 619 yards and six touchowns and Tanner West has rushed for 357 yards and seven touchowns. Andrew Marsh has led the way receiving with over 800 yards and and nine touchowns, while West and Landon Williams both have over 300 yards receiving and three touchdowns on the year.
  Foster has four wins on the year and comes off a loss last week before heading into playoffs. Kaleb Lawson and Riley Blanton have split time at quarterback for the Falcons and Addison Ojaku has been a force for Foster on both offense and defense.
  Jordan will look to build on a strong regular season and earn the teams first playoff victory despite being down some key pieces and they should have a strong chance agains this Foster squad.

Friday

Tompkins (6-4) at Strake Jesuit (7-3), 7 p.m.

Last year: Did not play

• Tompkins makes its sixth straight playoff appearance and is looking to get back to the area round for the first time since 2021 as they face off against Strake Jesuit in the first round of the playoffs.
  The Falcons have gotten hot down the stretch of district play, winning five of their last six games and a lot of that has been on the back of their strong run game. Ethan Meadows has become a force for Tompkins and has rushed for nearly 1,200 yards through the regular season along with 18 rushing touchdowns along with three receiving touchowns, while Justin Thierheimer has thrown for over 1600 yards and 14 touchdowns, with Bisi Bello leading the way receiving wise with 563 yards and three TDs, while KJ Madison, Carter Young Meadows and James Mayes all have caught two or more touchdown passes. The Falcons defense has been improving as well and will need to be at its best this week.
  Strake Jesuit will be no pushover in the first round though. The Crusaders are led by John Hebert on offense and the junior running back has been exceptional this year. Already he has rushed for over 2,700 yards and 28 touchdowns and that opens up space for Bryson Easley, who has thrown for 834 yards and 11 touchdowns, but also seven interceptions. Heger Davis leads Strake in receptions with 271 yards and four TDs as Tompkins will have to make their first priority stopping a strong Strake Jesuit run game.
  It has the makings of an entertaining game and one Tompkins definitely has a shot in despite being on the road. The Falcosn run defense will have to be at its best while they will look for more of the same in their balanced attack on offense.