Manvel vs Katy: Is third time a charm?


MANVEL — The Class 6A Region III Div. II finals match-up of the No. 2 state-ranked Katy Tigers (13-0) and the Manvel Mavericks (11-2) is going to take place on Friday, Dec. 4 at RNG Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

For the third straight year, the two teams will face one another with the winner advancing to the 6A Div. II state semifinals.

While Manvel has been able to dominate most teams in the Houston area, the Mavericks have had a hard time with the Tigers.

The two times the two teams have played for the Region III Div. II title, the Tigers have won 56-14 in 2013 and 45-17 in 2014.

Manvel, which boasts as many as 15 players who have pledged to or are expected to pledge to Division I colleges, returns many players from last season's team. The Mavericks were expected to hang with Katy the last two years, but were well behind by the middle of the third quarter in both games.

The Mavs are led by third-year starter quarterback D'Eriq King who TCU pledge. Running back D'Vaughn Pennamon has committed to Mississippi and wide receiver Reggie Hemphill has committed to Texas. The trio are some of the ones that the Tigers will have to focus on defense.

King is the engine of the Manvel offense as he has put up video-like numbers over the past three years.

The elusive King has thrown for 8,270 yards and 124 touchdowns with 15 interceptions while rushing for 2,744 yards and another 50 TDs.

Back-up quarterback Kyle Trask, who has committed to Florida, has hit 42-of-58 for 732 yards and 10 TDs with no INTs.

Last year, King was held to only 16-of-31 passing for 127 yards and 15 carries for 54 yards and one score in the lopsided loss.

The Tigers will once again have him on the radar, but they will also have Pennamon as a priority as well. The speedster has 100 carries for 1,457 yards and 21 TDs this season.

Manvel has a stable of receivers in Kaylon Stokes (28-652-6 TDs), Hunter Hagdorn (23-508-9 TDs), Hemphill (23-478-6 TDs), Sean Dykes (26-459-13 TDs), and Arik Bennett (15-234-3 TDs).

Katy's offense has plenty of weapons including senior running back Kyle Porter (145-1,415-27 TDs), quarterback Garrett Doiron (117-of-170 for 2,124 - 25 TDs - 3 INTs), wide receiver Tony Mullins (58-1,000-11 TDs), and wide receiver JC Angulo (32-724-12 TDs).

Katy unveiled freshman running back Deondrick Glass who has gained 430 yards and scored nine TDs in only three games.

The Tigers defense has been the one that has been most impressive as they given up 38 points in 13 games. They have shut out nine opponents this season including 14 interceptions.