There were a number of amazing games in every sport throughout the Katy ISD school district. But with football season fast approaching we have decided to take a look back to last year to some of the most exciting games from the 2021 high school football season.

From in district matchups to playoffs, the Katy ISD schedule was full of tight knit games and here are five of the best games that we saw last year.

5. Tompkins 18, Magnolia 6

Tompkins played host to a very eventful season opener against Magnolia last year, that came all the way down to the wire and was decided by a huge play by the Tompkins defense.

The Falcons took a 12 point lead in the second quarter, highlighted by a 31-yard fade pass for a touchdown from Cole Francis to Josh McMillan and a four-yard touchdown run by Collin Marshall to give the Falcons a commanding lead heading into the half.

Magnolia got back into things in the third quarter behind a strong run game and trimmed things to a one score game.

Magnolia then drove the field again late in the game, getting the ball down to the one-yard line in the fourth quarter, but Bryce Shaink made a game saving interception after Sean DuBose forced an errant throw by getting pressure on the quarterback. Tompkins was able to put things away on the next drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Marshall.

The win was a strong start to a great season for Tompkins, which made it to the third round of the playoffs before falling to North Shore.

4. Cinco Ranch 55, Morton Ranch 16

Cinco Ranch clinched a playoff berth while Gavin Rutherford broke a nuber of single game Cougar records in a win over Morton Ranch last year in what was an extremely dominant performance.

It was the defining moment in a turnaround of the Cinco Ranch program, as they went from winning one game over two years to a playoff appearance.

Rutherford threw for 423 yards and six touchdowns in the win, breaking Cinco Ranch records for both passing yards and passing touchdowns in a game in the win, while Seth Salverino had 192 yards receiving on five catches and Fischer Reed had five catches for 115 yards.

Morton Ranch’s Santana Scott had 109 yards rushing to go with 29 yards receiving while Josh Johnson threw for 85 yards and rushed for 95 more.

3. Seven Lakes 21, Morton Ranch 18

An extremely important game for both Seven Lakes and Morton Ranch’s playoff hopes came down to the wire and ended in a last second win for Seven Lakes in what was one of the most thrilling in-district matchups the district saw all year.

Scott Stanford played hero for the Spartans, as he ran in a 1-yard score out of the wildcat formation with 22 seconds left to win the game after Grayson Medford had driven the team down the field as time was running out.

It had been a back and forth affair, as Seven Lakes took a 14-6 lead in the first half, but Morton Ranch came roaring back in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns in the last six minutes of the game to take the lead, before Seven Lakes mounted its last minute comeback.

Barrett Hudson had 105 yards on the ground in the game to lead Seven Lakes, while Medford rushed for 81 yards and threw for 67 yards and Michael Amico rushed for 55 yards and two touchdowns. Morton Ranch’s Santana Scott had 116 yards rushing and 98 yards receiving, and Josh Johnson threw for 137 yards.

2. Katy 34, Summer Creek 31

Katy faced a stern test in its Class 6A Region III Final game against Summer Creek, as the Tigers built up a huge lead but had to hold on for a three-point victory to advance to the state semifinals.

Seth Davis was a force for the Tigers, as he scored three touchdowns in the first half and Katy raced out to a 27-7 lead. But Summer Creek answered back in the second half. The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns in the span of 12 seconds in the third quarter to trim the lead before Dallas Glass ran in a 51-yard touchdown to keep Katy two scores up.

Summer Creek scored another touchdown and then kicked a field goal with six minutes left in the third quarter to trim Katy’s lead to three.

Summer Creek got the ball back late in the game with a chance to go ahead, but Broderick Johnson and Malik Sylla sacked Summer Creek’s quarterback on a fourth down to seal the win.

Davis ended the game with 234 yards rushing while Glass had 82 yards on the ground and Caleb Koger threw for 90 yards.

1. Paetow 27, College Station 24

There couldn’t have been another game for our No. 1 spot.

It was one of the best, if not the best game in high school football all year, and it came in a state championship game to make things even more exciting.

Paetow and College Station were both powers all year, and it was evident in the state title game as it was back and forth the entire affair.

College Station got on the board first with a huge 80-yard touchdown pass before Bryan Del Cid tied things in the second quarter. College Station took the lead again before Gene Kendall tied things late on in the first half as the two teams went into the half tied at 14.

Both teams traded scores again in the fourth quarter, with CJ Dumas scoring on a one-yard run and College Station answering back with a long touchdown run to take things to overtime.

Collee Station got a field goal on its first possession and Paetow faced a fourth down inside the ten-yard line, which the Panthers converted, and Jacob Brown then scored the game winning touchdown on a run one play later.

Brown finished the game with 112 yards rushing, while Dumas threw for 165 yards and Kole Wilson had 94 yards receiving.