Katy had its season cut short last year.

The Tigers suffered their earlier playoff exit since 2001, falling in the area round of the playoffs to Cy-Fair in what was a successful season, but a season that no one inside the Katy clubhouse was satisfied with.

Katy still comes into this season with very high expectations and the first goal always remains the same, win district and take it from there. Katy has done that in each of the past three seasons, that will be the focus going into the season and the Tigers certainly have the talent to do it.

“We had a lot of guys grow up this spring and summer and even with it being the smallest senior class we have had in 25 years, we have guys stepping up and wanting to compete,” said Katy head coach Gary Joseph. “That time that UIL allows us has helped immensely because it’s given us time to get these younger guys more reps. We’re a young team, but that’s not an excuse and I think these guys have the talent to do a lot of things. You have to find a way to grow and these guys have been doing that.”

The Tigers return a younger team with inexperience in some spots, but they return plenty of talent as well and leadership that will help guide the younger players in the right direction.

On offense, Patrick McMath will lead the offensive line and Tremayne Hill will be one of the main driving forces of the offenses, returning from a tremendous season where he for over 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns. Gunner Nelson showed some very good signs during his junior season, throwing for 19 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards and will be expected to take another step heading into this year and both Israel Olotu-Judah and Cade McCall are playmakers in the pass game.

“You have to have that balance as an offense and we have a lot of people who can make plays for us,” Joseph said. “We do so much off play action and because of that we get kid in one-on-one coverage, the key is they have to win that. We have players that can be really good at that this year and that’ what you hope for. People only look at us running the football because we’ve had success with it but we always throw it around as well. The biggest thing for us this year is just being consistent in the pass game as well.”

Defensively, Jeremiah Smith will lead things going into his junior year after already having a season where he had 88 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore. Adam Carter will be a difference maker on the defensive line (as well as in the punting and kicking game) and Jacob Hilton will anchor the secondary after a strong junior year last season. Isaiah Coughran is youngster that could make an impact. He got some snaps as a freshman last year and is may earn a larger role on the defensive line as a sophomore.

“We have two young guys on the line with Adam Carter this year and some older guys that will play as well and we like the depth we have there,” Joseph said. Having Carter and Jeremiah back in our front seven is really important. Jeremiah can give us an advantage against pretty much whoever he plays against. There’s one senior and returning starter in the secondary, but that’s why you have to use this early season to grow.”

Katy will put itself through a gauntlet to start the season, going up against a reigning district champion Dickinson to start the season before facing Atascocita, a team that went four rounds deep in the playoffs and beat Katy last year.

That tough schedule will prepare the Tiger newcomers as to what’s expected at this level, before Katy starts off district play against Morton Ranch, Cinco Ranch and Seven Lakes in the first three weeks. The goal never changes at Katy, winning district is the main focus and that will be echoed by the coaching staff from the first day of practice until the end of the season.

“You need to be ready to go when district starts so we really wanted to face high quality competition early,” Joseph said. “It forces you to grow up quick and that’s what we’ll need out of this group. Our staff has been there and knows what it takes, but it’s a matter of the kids facing these high-quality teams and figuring out what it takes from them, cause there’s not a lot of time before it’s the games that matter. I’m looking forward to it and it’s never something that we will shy away from.”