The last two years have been so close for Katy.

Two years ago the Tigers rolled their way through the playoffs before facing the gauntlet that was Westlake in the state semifinals. They followed it up last year by making it to the state semifinals again and being seconds away from taking it to overtime before falling to a field goal with no time remaining.

All that has done is fuel the fire for every returning Tiger through the spring and summer.

For Katy, everything is about getting back to the state title game and winning their 10^th state championship and being so close the past two years has only made the returners more hungry.

Katy returns the most letterman in the district, bringing back 27 members of last years state semifinal team, with five offensive starters and four defensive starters back to lead the team.

Offensively there are big shoes to fill at running back and quarterback.

There will be a number of players that will step up to fill Seth Davis’ shoes at running back. Chase Johnsey is a big body that can play both the fullback and running back position, while Romel Jordan will spearhead the running attack. Gunner Nelson has taken the reigns at quarterback and has looked very good leading the offense.

“The biggest thing I try and remind them of is that you just need to be the best version of yourself,” Joseph said. “No one is going to be Seth Davis out there and that’s not what we are asking of them. If they can be the best of who they are then we can succeed with that. We may not get those same plays we did with Seth, what might have been a 50-yard gain for him might be a 20-yard gain now, but that’s perfectly fine. We are going to be effective running the ball and that’s what we’re preaching, be effective, do your job first and things will come from there.”

Coen Echols will anchor the offensive line while Luke Carter and Israel Olotu-Judah will be big weapons in the pass game. There will be a quarterback battle to determine that spot but the Tigers offense looks to be in strong hands heading into the season.

Katy will also have some huge playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Dakyus Brinkley will be a huge presence on the defensive line along with Tyler Willis. Nathan Hall will lead the linebacking unit while Jed Olotu-Judah will be an important player in the secondary that will help lead a young back end, but Joseph and the coaching staff have put in a lot of work with the younger players and have seen lots of gains in the spring and summer.

“It’s been all about building that trust for the defense,” Joseph said. “We’ve been working on that all spring and summer because if you don’t trust the guy next to you, then you try to do to much and it leads to mistakes. It’s extremely important that they all trust each other. Some of them have been through more, and those are the guys who have started leading and helping those younger guys because they know what it takes, but it’s a process to get there.”

Katy will have a hard schedule to start the year, facing Clear Springs and Atascocita right out of the gate before facing Tompkins in a tough district opener. The Tigers always put an emphasis on facing high quality opposition early in the season and this year is no different, as the Tigers try to go for another district title before making a playoff run.

“It’s a challenge, but a challenge that players need,” Joseph said. “it can be a good and a bad thing because when those bright lights go on, it can be intimidating, and then when you add a tough opponent to that it can change things for those guys going through it for the first time. But you have to do it because the pressure and intensity you play with on those nights can’t be replicated, we have to go through that to be ready for district.”