Sunday, December 14, 2014

Katy comes back in overtime to down Cibolo Steele; 27-20 and earn trip to state title game

Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2014 All Rights Reserved
By Robert H Kelly 
Copyright 2014 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (December 14, 2014) The Katy Tigers scored a single touchdown and extra point in overtime and as a result, downed the Cibolo Steele Knights by the score of 27-20 at NRG Stadium in Houston. With the win, the Tigers advanced to the UIL Division II-6A championship game next Saturday, Dec. 20, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Katy will face Cedar Hill in the title game for the third year in a row. The Longhorns punched their ticket to the title game by overwhelming Spring Westfield 64-33. 

Steele kept the game close and tied the score at 20-all late in the fourth quarter, forcing the game into overtime. Rodney Anderson scored the game-winning touchdown on a eight-yard romp and kicker Kris Perez added the extra point for the win.

Perez put the first of Katy’s points on the scoreboard at the 8:46 mark in the first quarter with a 45-yard field goal. Kyle Williams pulled down a Garrett Dolan 10-yard pass for the first touchdown of the game. Perez’s PAT gave Katy an early 10-0 lead.

The Knights responded with their our score with 3:56 left in the first quarter on a seven-yard run by Bryson Denley and a Caleb James kick. Katy came back in the second quarter with another touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Dolan to Garrett Dorion to close out the half and take a 17-7 lead into the locker room.

The Tigers were plagued with turnovers; three to be exact, which had the potential to derail Katy. Head coach Gary Joseph stated in a post-game interview with the press:

"I knew it had a chance to be a close game, but credit them.  How many times are we going to turn the ball over? Every time we've done that, we've struggled. We just can't do that, but to be able to win after you do it is a great thing for us and for our kids."
Steele came back in the second half and scored 13 unanswered points to give the Knights a 20-17. The Tigers responded with a 25-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to tie the game and send it to overtime. Katy will be making their 13th trip to the state championship game. They have won the state title seven times.

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