Katy players were excited on Monday.

Players were flying around, whistles we’re blowing, coaches were instructing and it was a reminder of just how close the season is.

The Tigers took the field for their first day of practice and flew around Monday. Going from drill to drill and working to get better every step of the way.

The captains set the tone, coming out and showing everyone the level they needed to be at and the rest responded with a strong day of practice.

“We know how important it is for us to come out here and lead by example,” said senior tight end Luke Carter. “When the guys come out and see our mentality and know they have to bring that mentality and mindset that we have to come into the season with. This is where everything starts, you can’t come out slow and sluggish, so we made sure to come out, set the tempo and start getting ready for this season.”

The intensity has been building inside the Tigers locker room since last December. Katy wants to come out and prove itself this year and make a statement, and that’s what everyone has been working towards since the offseason hit.

“How last year ended really just fueled us,” said senior safety Jed Olotu-Judah. “That’s the second time we’ve been eliminated in the state semifinals and so this year we want to get back there and get over the hump. We’ve gotten so close and it’s really motivated us, especially the seniors because we know this is our last shot to win state.”

The important thing for Katy is that the players and team as a whole continue to grow and gain chemistry. Katy head coach Gary Joseph knows that the team will need time to get to where it’s a well-oiled machine.

“It’s a growing process and until they get confident in what they’re doing the intensity is going to vary because they’re figuring things out.” Joseph said. “The biggest thing is to have leadership to depend on and thankfully, I think we have pretty good leaders in this group. We need more, but that will come and once the leadership is there and the kids get confident in everything they’re doing, then that intensity will come as second nature.”

Now it’s about continuing to get better as a team and being ready for the regular season opener in two weeks. The Tigers are already taking steps forward, but Katy knows it will need to be at a different level once the season gets here.

“We have a chance to be a really special team,” Carter said. “We’ve had a lot of guys step up who need to on both offense and defense. Offensively we have some huge guys back on the offensive line and our skill position guys are ready. We’re getting the program headed in the right direction and we’re ready to set the tempo from the intrasquad scrimmage and going on after that.”