For the first time since 2008, Katy ISD is on the brink of having a new outright district champion.

With Tompkins’ 56-21 win over Mayde Creek on Thursday evening at Legacy Stadium, the Falcons improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in District 19-6A, securing at least a share of the district championship and snapping Katy High’s 12-year stranglehold as the district’s finest.

“I do want them to enjoy that fact, but our core value is we want to finish,” coach Todd McVey said.

Tompkins can take the title outright with a win over Seven Lakes next Friday at 4 p.m. at Legacy Stadium. Just clinching a share of it, however, is a considerable accomplishment for a program that was 0-9 three seasons ago.

“It feels good, but we’ve got one more game before we know for sure,” senior defensive back Colby Huerter said. “We’ve got work to do. Every team’s goal is to go undefeated through district. That’s what we’re doing. We’ve got one more game and we’re not going to celebrate or do anything until that happens.”

Coming off an emotional win over Katy two weeks ago followed by an open week, Tompkins looked rusty and out of sorts as Mayde Creek (4-4, 1-4 19-6A) came out intent on an upset.

The Rams built a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, compiling 183 total yards in the process. And Mayde Creek continued to hang tough, trailing just 28-21 at the half and outgaining Tompkins 241-176 in total yards.

“Quarterback’s great. Running back’s phenomenal. Receivers phenomenal,” Huerter said of Mayde Creek. “They’re top in all the offensive stats. We knew they were going to be trouble, and I’ll admit we underestimated them in the first half. We woke up in the second half.”

The Falcons outscored the Rams 28-0 and held Mayde Creek to 177 total yards after halftime.

Tompkins won the turnover battle with four takeaways to one giveaway. Huerter had two interceptions, including the first pick-6 of his career on a 46-yard jaunt with 1:58 left in the first half. Senior defensive back Dru Polidore had an interception and sophomore defensive back Caleb Kolomafe had a fumble recovery.

Tompkins coaches made all kinds of defensive adjustments at the half. They all worked.

In the first half, Rams senior quarterback Jace Wilson, the district’s top passer, completed 13 of 17 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown to two interceptions. Senior running back Julius Loughridge, the district’s top rusher, had 78 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

The second half was an entirely different story. Wilson completed 11 of 19 passes for 83 yards in the final two quarters, with an interception, and Loughridge compiled 67 yards on 12 carries.

“You don’t win the game in one quarter or two quarters,” said Tompkins senior quarterback and Alabama commit Jalen Milroe, who completed seven of 12 passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 93 yards and another touchdown on seven carries. “You win it in four, or more. That’s what we preached at halftime. We just had to finish the game out. Find a way.

“We definitely found a way.”

Since the Katy win, Tompkins’ profile has grown immensely.

The Falcons are ranked nationally for the first time at No. 25 in MaxPreps’ poll; they are one of just two Houston teams, along with North Shore, to be ranked nationally. They are ranked No. 7 in Class 6A in the state and No. 2 in the Houston area.

“We just have a radar on our back,” Milroe said. “We have to keep competing and working hard in practice. Now teams are going to want to beat us. We’ve earned it, and we know it comes with hard work.”

And it comes from focus, which the Falcons have plenty of.

“It’s good to keep making history, but now we’re on to the next game,” said senior running back Marquis Shoulders, who had 126 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. “Our goal is the playoffs, and first we’ve got to handle Seven Lakes.”