Two goals for Tigers

By Tyler Tyre, Times Sports Editor
Posted 8/25/21

“The defensive line has done a good job of growing up,” Joseph said. “We’re going to be okay at those positions. We just have to get all of them ready.”

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Two goals for Tigers

Posted

Win district, win state.

It’s a new year, but the expectations don’t change for Katy High and this year is no exception.

The Tigers didn’t achieve their first goal last season but turned in a historic playoff run in route to the schools ninth state championship to achieve their second goal, beating teams by an average of 41.6 points per game in the Class 6A, Div. II playoffs.

Now, the focus is on 2021, and reclaiming the District 19-6A title after not finishing first for the first time in 12 years.

“We understood that we were beaten, but we weren’t defeated last year,” said Katy High head coach Gary Joseph. “Sometimes you worry too much about winning streaks and keeping that alive, when the focus just needs to be on winning ballgames. They learned from it and moved on and they know that they have to prepare and be ready for each and every team they play in district. We respect all of them and you have to respect the work they all put in as well, because once you do, you aren’t going to do things halfway. So now we’re going to go out and do what we can to try and win a district championship again this year.”

The Tigers bring back 24 lettermen, including five offensive starters and six defensive starters and feel good about what they have up front on both offense and defense, despite having to replace some key players.

“The defensive line has done a good job of growing up,” Joseph said. “We’re going to be okay at those positions. We just have to get all of them ready.”

Caleb Koger returns for his junior season after passing for 1,552 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore as does Seth Davis, who rushed for 1,755 yards in his sophomore season. Katy has talent at the receiver position with Nic Anderson, an Oregon commit. Caleb Webb and Dylan Erickson will lead the offensive line, and Joseph has been especially impressed by Webb’s leadership.

Defensively, linebacker and USC commit Ty Hana will again lead a unit that held opponents to under 12 points per game last year and Carson Marshall, who was elected a team captain, will help anchor the linebacking unit. Hamilton McMartin will be a leader in the secondary.

“They’ve done a really good job of using the summer to improve,” Joseph said. “We do have a little bit of experience back, but there’s some that are inexperienced and unsure of themselves. We have to get to the point where they have that confidence because I don’t want them being unsure. You have to be able to play this game with a lot of confidence and be decisive. That’s the biggest thing we have to work on.”

Katy High will open the season Aug. 27 against Clear Springs at Legacy Stadium, with the team’s first district game coming Sept. 23 against Seven Lakes.

Joseph is working to make sure the players are ready for that first district game and thinks the teams non district schedule will get them prepared.

“There’s really three different seasons within the one,” Joseph said. “You have non district, district and then the playoffs. We have set up some games with some really tough non district teams and for me that allows us to create depth. Last year we had guys battle with COVID-19, then we had injuries and we were able to overcome that because our kids had gotten enough reps where they understood what they were doing, and they got better because they got to play in a game. That’s what non district is about is giving those guys opportunities and creating the depth for everything.”

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