TIGERS MISSION

State champs return to practice, seek to regain district title

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 8/9/21

“It’s on our mind every day,” said senior safety Hamilton McMartin. “It wasn’t a good feeling losing our district championship last season so that’s something we are definitely striving for. We all want that and are pushing every day.”

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TIGERS MISSION

State champs return to practice, seek to regain district title

Posted

Katy High may be reigning state champs, but the team is as motivated as ever.

The Tigers come off a season in which they did not win a district championship for the first time in 12 years, and the team is determined to get back atop District 19-6A.

“It’s on our mind every day,” said senior safety Hamilton McMartin. “It wasn’t a good feeling losing our district championship last season so that’s something we are definitely striving for. We all want that and are pushing every day.”

The Tigers took the field for the first time this season Monday at Tiger Stadium for their first practice.

It’s a new year with new leaders and new faces on the team, but at Katy High, the expectations remain the same.

“We have to go out and perform at our best every practice,” McMartin said. “The intensity was there today, people were flying around and I was just impressed with the amount of intensity we had. We have to keep that momentum going.”

Katy High went through conditioning to start the day and then went into drills as the Tigers got reacclimated to practice.

Head Coach Gary Joseph was happy with what he saw from the team on Monday.

“It’s been great because we had a good summer and it’s good to finally get them back for more than an hour,” Joseph said. “We gave them a week off before we started so they could get their legs back and they did really well today. They have to learn how to grind a little bit now and getting them that repetition is a big thing. They’re learning what to do and it’s always exciting to get started.”

Katy will return starting quarterback Caleb Koger and running back Seth Davis, who was named the offensive MVP of the Class 6A, Division II state championship game.

Davis played an important part on last year’s team, but will truly take over as the lead back this year with the graduation of his brother, Jalen Davis.

“I’m just listening to my coaches and trying to be prepared,” Davis said. “They told me that my brother led me and that now I’m ready to take over at that spot. I know I’m ready now, he taught me everything I need to know about how to play on the varsity level and I’m just ready to go and show what I can do.”

Davis has a good relationship the offensive lineman on the team and said the group has looked great throughout the summer.

“There were some new guys in the spring, but they really put that work in,” Davis said. “They’ve got way better and they’ve been so good in the summer, I’m glad I get to run behind them.”

Joseph is taking things day by day, pushing the group to get better in every practice.

“It’s just about getting our timing back down and understanding what we are doing and why we are doing it,” Joseph said. “That’s the biggest thing for us right now. It’s not what the coaches know, it’s what the kids know, and we have to get them to understand why they’re doing this stuff. Once they get that down, we’ll be OK.”

Davis is amped and ready for the season to start.

“I love it, I love football season and I was so happy to put the helmets on today,” Davis said. “I can’t wait to put on full pads and I can’t wait for our first game.”