Photo credit Mark Goodman/Katy Times
An unforgettable evening produced several what-ifs. But Katy Tompkins shined with reality.
After recording six interceptions while sophomore and junior running backs Caleb Blocker and Caleb Komolafe ran wild, Katy Tompkins routed and handed Jersey Village its first loss of the season, 42-14, on Friday night at Pridgeon Stadium.
The Falcons (11-1) will face North Shore in the Class 6A Division I region semifinals next Friday at Galena Park ISD Stadium.
Katy Tompkins’ secondary served notice by picking off six passes, including defensive backs Cody Chapman, Tyler Collins, Malik Edwards, Samuel Kalu, and two by Evan Tymon, which resulted in 21 of the team’s 42 points.
“What I liked the most about tonight was everyone on the field did their jobs, and everyone on the sideline did their jobs,” Katy Tompkins coach Todd McVey explained. “It was a complete team effort, and the coaching staff did a great job. I’m really proud of the kid’s response after we went down early and their overall effort.”
Shortly after, it’s front seven of defensive linemen Daniel Aigbogun, Eti-ini Bassey, Sean DuBose, Emmanuel Lawton, Eduwa Okundaye, linebackers Bryce Shaink, and Caden Welsh applied pressure, stuffing the run and making stops behind the line of scrimmage.
The story on offense sided with Blocker and Komolafe, who also started at defensive back. The duo chewed up yards, the clock and accounted for four touchdowns. Blocker’s 197 yards on 22 carries demonstrated the evening ahead of Jersey Village. Komolafe added 12 carries for 104 yards.
Jersey Village quarterback Adam Tran struggled, accounting for five of the six interceptions, which failed to find the spark that led the Falcons to 11 wins against no losses. The unusual night turned into history as the young men dressed in purple and yellow walked toward the locker room after a few words from Coach David Snokhous. It also witnessed its first undefeated season in 30 years.
Still, Jersey Village (11-1) took the opening frame 75 yards as Tran hooked up with junior receiver Quinci Jones on a skinning post pattern to grab the early 7-0 lead, following Antonio Blanco’s kick.
Despite a tough evening, Tran finished 15-of-31 for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Seven of those passes went to receiver Quinci Jones for 120 yards and one touchdown.
Katy Tompkins scored three second-quarter touchdowns to build a 21-7 lead. Blocker fueled Tompkins’ first scoring drive when he rushed for 22 yards and later scored on a nine-yard carry while Andrew Horner’s kick tied the score, 7-7.
“We worry about ourselves and let the rest take care of itself,” McVey said.
Then Tran threw three interceptions on Jersey Village’s next three possessions, and Katy Tompkins took advantage, scoring on two of the three turnovers as Blocker recorded his second score of the day from four yards out. Finally, Katy Tompkins executed a 42-yard drive steaming from Malik Edwards’ 46-yard interception return. Quarterback Cole Francis threw a perfect pass to running back Collin Marshall with no time left in the first half to help Katy Tompkins go ahead, 21-7.
The pressure mounted as Katy Tompkins rolled to its fourth score at the opening of the third quarter. Blocker’s 20-yard carry to the 48-yard line showed Jersey Village nothing had changed. Later on the same series, Komolafe’s 23-yard carry moved the ball to the Jersey Village 11 while a personal foul extended the ball half the distance to the 6 before Katy Tompkins suffered a holding infraction. However, two plays later, Komolafe scored on a 13-yard run, padding the lead, 28-7.
After trading possessions, Tran’s radar picked up sophomore receiver Josh Nunez, who was uncovered racing to the end zone, cutting the lead in half, 28-14, with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
But that would change on the Falcons’ next drive. Blocker, who ran downhill all evening, fired the team up on his 27-yard carry to Jersey Village’s 25-yard line to set up Komofate’s 22-yard touchdown ramble, extending Katy Tompkins lead back to three scores, 35-14.
Jersey Village’s final two possessions ended in turnovers as rotating sophomore quarterback Wyatt Young scored Katy Tompkins’ final touchdown with a three-yard burst to complete the tally, 42-14.