On the heels of a dominant second half, the Tigers get a decisive win over Falls, 49-20. Katy outscored the Eagles 35-6 after halftime. The score was tied 14 apiece at half. Katy won the opening toss and deferred. Falls took the ball and scored on its first possession thanks to an explosive TD run by #16 Eric Manual. Katy struggled with keeping sound gap integrity early, and Manual exploited a Tiger defender not filling his gap to find daylight. All it takes is one player not being in his gap to spring an explosive.
The Tigers responded with a drive to tie it at 7. Katy got lucky that a forced pass to the flat was not picked off and returned for 6. Falls defenders had hands on the ball, but couldn’t make the play.
Katy missed a field goal on its next opportunity to score, and it appeared to be a partial block as it landed well short of the goal posts. Falls suckered Katy on a playaction to get the safety to bite hard on the run, and then popped a pass over the top to Manual. The Katy player couldn’t recover from biting on the run. Once again, all it takes is one player out of position.
Both teams settle in
The Eagles scored their second touchdown on a run from #3 Chase Ferrell. Ferrell went into an orbit motion from the slot into the backfield, but stopped next to the QB as opposed to continue the motion to the other side. Katy’s corner, when Ferrell was the only player to his side, was flipping sides of the field when he saw the orbit motion. Ferrell took the handoff from the QB and cut back into the space the corner had just vacated giving Falls a favorable numbers situation and an untouched run to the house. 14-7, Eagles.
I thought it was interesting Katy was flipping the corner against the orbit because that’s something I haven’t seen the Tigers do much of over the years (having the corner follow that type of motion). I would have attacked that a lot more from those formations with Ferrell if I was Falls based on the way Katy elected to play that particular formation and action.
Katy again drove deep into Falls territory, and the drive stalled after a tight end dropped a wide open pass from Gunner. Falls had a chance to extend a multiple score lead and this was Katy’s most vulnerable spot in the game.
Smith landed a huge hit on the Falls QB next series as it looked like he wanted to throw another playaction pass deep. McCall drew a pass interference on a deep post attempt by Katy, and then Izzy scored on a pump and go from Gunner. Izzy was interfered with on the play, declined. The game went into half tied at 14.
Going into halftime
Cy Falls was winning more of the physical battles in the first half against the Katy running game. Katy struggled to line up properly against Falls’ formations and pre-snap motions, which led to a loss of gap integrity. The Eagles did not do anything in this game they hadn’t done previously, so Katy would have prepared against it. Sometimes stuff hits different under the lights than in scout team.
Katy received the ball out of half and scored on three running plays. Joshua Smith popped fullback trap for a 35 yard TD. Katy came out in its traditional under center formations after spending more time in the pistol early in the game. The pistol did not serve Katy particularly well and the quick hitters under center did a lot of damage in the second half. I think the pistol has potential, and I’ve seen the Tigers execute a few nice things from it.
This formation is difficult to master with just a casual approach because it requires full development. It is designed to emphasize misdirection and quarterback runs. The jet series (where a receiver or slot back motions across the formation) is extremely effective from the pistol also. It does give the running back a bit better view in the ground game and changes the picture somewhat for the defense. In this game, Katy seemed to allow more penetration from the Eagles in it.
The tide starts to turn
With Katy leading 21-14, Falls hit back immediately after a tipped ball from Hilton landed in the hands of #3 Ferrell (roll eyes) who took it in for a TD. Katy was flagged for PI on the play, declined of course. Katy still led 21-20 after a failed conversion by Falls.
Katy’s Hawgs continued playing with a renewed physical mentality and sprung Hill for a huge gain. He was caught from behind, but J Smith punched in his second TD of the game. I loved his carry before the TD where he carried several Falls defenders down to the 2 and had his Hawg teammates push him forward also. This play was a good summary of Katy’s second half adjustments, more quick hitting and more physical. Katy’s conditioning and superior physicality dominated the second half.
Leading 28-20, Cousins landed a massive hit on the Falls QB as he went to pass and his MLB partner Garrelts picked off the wayward pass. Katy started on the Falls 26 and Hill punched in to put Katy ahead 35-20.
Next series for Katy defense, sophomore DL Terry Brister chased the Falls QB down the line and tackled him short of the first down to force a punt. Gunner hit Izzy for another big catch with a declined pass interference. Katy scored on a playaction pass to TE Fox from the jumbo set. The Tigers led 42-20. After another stop, Katy scored its last points after Quay Jordan broke a big run into Falls territory and then finished the drive off with a TD from close in to set the final margin of 49-20.
How the Tigers pulled away
Cy Falls had some talented players and made their presence felt with the big plays they were able to make until Katy had enough and took total control after Falls scored its last points on the tipped ball catch and run.
It was very nice to see an emphatic response from Katy after the game had the feel of being a dogfight going into half. Katy’s physicality and quick hitting runs made a huge difference. The defense started imposing its will also. Katy was blowing the Falls defense completely off the ball after halftime when it struggled to move the point of attack in the first half. The Hawgs, running backs, and Joshua Smith at fullback deserve a lot of credit for taking control of the football game in addition to the big plays Gunner and Izzy made in the pass game.
The physically superior team has a great chance of success in the state playoffs and that’s the main lesson for Katy to carry forward into Thanksgiving week preparation. I thought Katy needed to be very physical with this Falls group going in, but I didn’t know whether they had it in the locker or not based on how the season has gone. The playoffs reveal which teams have the extra gear and which ones don’t, and I think the second half in this game was a great illustration where Katy showed it has a little something in the tank for the playoffs after all.
You know I’m fired up for what’s next on RED Friday, and the preview post is already in the works.
Photo courtesy of Michael Slone.
