Katy was tested on Friday.

The Tigers entered Friday knowing how important it would be to earn a win over Jordan this week and how the winner of District 19-6A could be determined by the matchup.

There was pressure, there was noise and there was talent on the other side of the ball, but none of this was new to Katy.

Jordan (4-1, 2-1) gave Katy (5-1, 4-0) everything it had, but in the end, Katy was able to overcome a 14 point deficit, beating the Warriors 42-35 and staying perfect in district play.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Katy junior quarterback Gunner Nelson. “But it’s important not to be happy with it. This isn’t going to be our biggest win of the year. It’s a good one but it’s on to the next.”

Jordan started the day with all of the momentum, scoring twice in the first quarter. Chad Gasper took over on the Warriors first drive, running in a 55-yard score and then they added a second touchdown late in the quarter.

Katy snapped out of its offensive funk going into the second quarter. The Tigers drove the length of the field and scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Gunner Nelson to Cade McCall. But Jordan took over and looked poised to score again before Jeremiah Smith changed the momentum of the game by intercepting a pass and returning it 41 yards to tie the game. Jordan responded though late in the half with another touchdown to take the lead. But after halftime the entire game shifted.

“It was an emotional game and I think our guys got caught up in that at times,” said Katy head coach Gary Joseph. “There were times when we tried to sit there and win the game on one play instead of going out and playing the way they should. I told the at halftime that they just needed to take a deep breath. But once we regrouped in the second half it was a different game. Credit to Jordan, they have a lot of good football players and it was good for our kids to see that.”

Katy came of the locker room and was improved in every facet of the game. The line was making huge holes to run through, the defense was getting stops and the scoreboard started to shift.

The Tiers tied it a minute and a half into the third quarter on a 25-yard pass from Nelson to Colton Sanders and then took the lead four minutes later with another Nelson touchdown pass, this time to Luke Carter. But Jordan kept fighting back from every punch and tied things up on a huge 78-yard touchdown from Colin Willetts to Tanner West.

Katy took the lead in the fourth quarter when Nelson found McCall for their second touchdown connection of the game and after Jordan tied it up again, Nelson took it upon himself to score the last touchdown of the game, running in a 2-yard score. Jordan had a final chance to drive the field and tie things, but Katy’s defense held on to secure the win.

Katy was led in the win by Nelson, who had 138 yards passing and five total touchdowns, and by sophomore running back Tremayne Hill, who rushed for 198 yards on the ground and was exceptional in the second half.

“It’s Tremayne’s time to step up and shine,” Joseph said. “We have a running back who’s going to be out for a couple of weeks, but it’s also given the opportunity for Tremayne to step in and have this chance to grow up. I was thankful that we were run to football in the second half. He’s a hard runner and doesn’t go down with that first hit. We have a lot of confidence in him.”

Katy will play Paetow next, while Jordan will have another tough district game against Cinco Ranch.

“We all just keep growing as a team,” Hill said. “It’s all about that and we keep getting better in practice. The guys are pushing me and it’s all around. The defense gets better, the offense gets better and everyone’s game just keeps going to a higher level.”

Katy 42, Jordan 35

First quarter

J: Chad Gasper 55 run (Wilson Kalvass kick) 10:39

J: Jeremy Alo-Perry 1 run (Kalvass kick) 3:00

Second quarter

K: Gunner Nelson 9 pass to Cade McCall (Hunter Ondrush kick) 11:44

K: Jeremiah Smith 41 interception return (Ondrush kick) 5:33

J: Gasper 1 run (Kalvass kick) 3:58

Third quarter

K: Nelson 25 pass to Colton Sanders (Ondrush kick) 10:38

K: Nelson 3 pass to Luke Carter (Ondrush kick) 6:27

J: Colin Willetts 72 pass to Tanner West (Kalvass kick) 1:09

Fourth quarter

K: Nelson 28 pass to McCall (Ondrush kick) 11:19

J: Gasper 2 run (Kalvass kick)

K: Gunner Nelson 2 run (Ondrush kick) 5:04

Team stats

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Katy: Tremayne Hill, 34-198; Chase Johnsey, 2-14; Gunner Nelson, 2-3-1; Jordan: Chad Gasper, 17-95-3; Tanner West, 7-67; Jeremy Alo-Perry, 1-1-1; Colin Willetts, 2-(-10);

Passing – Katy: Gunner Nelson, 9-14-138-4-0; Jordan: Colin Willetts, 14-26-336-1-2

Receiving – Katy: Cade McCall, 3-44-2; Israel Olotu-Judah, 2-36; Colton Sanders, 1-25-1; Chase Johnsey, 1-19; Oliver Ginn, 1-11; Luke Carter, 1-3; Jordan: Tanner West, 5-196-1; Zechariah Sample, 4-93; Andrew Marsh, 4-37; Colin Willetts, 1-10;