KATY—Paetow’s encore to its 2021 state championship season began much like many probably expected it to on Friday night.
That Panthers defense, full of elite Power 5 talents, including the No. 1 player in the state? Incredible. As advertised, if not better.
The offense, full of question marks and uncertainty? Very much T.B.D.
Paetow’s defense won the Panthers their season-opener against Conroe at Legacy Stadium, 14-3. Both offensive touchdowns were scored by defensive players.
Paetow, making the move from Class 5A-Division I to Class 6A, registered nine sacks—seven in the first half—for minus-48 Conroe yards.
Senior linebacker Alex Kilgore, a SMU commit, scored Paetow’s first touchdown on a 2-yard burst less than three minutes into the second quarter for the game’s first points. The Panthers didn’t reach the end zone again until senior defensive end D.J. Hicks Jr., a five-star recruit and the No. 1 player in Texas for the Class of 2023, hauled in a six-yard toss from senior quarterback Koby Truehill almost midway through the fourth quarter.
It was the first win as a head coach for Lonnie Teagle, previously the offensive coordinator at Denton Ryan who took over after B.J. Gotte left for Pearland High in the spring.
“It’s been kind of crazy,” said Teagle, a Missouri City native. “Everything’s kind of been a whirlwind. But I’m soaking it in. I’ve learned over my career that you have to enjoy them all. It wasn’t pretty. I wish things could have been better in some areas but it’s all good.”
On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Paetow senior linebacker Daymion Sanford, a Texas A&M commit, sacked quarterback Javarious Hatchett for a seven-yard loss.
It only got worse from there for Conroe.
Paetow had six more sacks in the first half. Hicks had two, junior defensive lineman Loghan Thomas—a four-star recruit—had two, and senior defensive linemen Rodney McDonald and Jarra Anderson each had one.
“We blitzed a little. We played coverage a little. We did a lot,” Kilgore said. “Our D-line got after it. I love seeing them eat. The ’backers, we still have a lot to work on, but we still did good. DBs (defensive backs) covered when they needed to cover. Everybody just did their job.”
Kilgore and Hicks excelled on both sides of the ball.
Used situationally as a power back, Kilgore scored his first career offensive touchdown and was beyond exuberant on the sidelines in celebration.
“I was pumped,” said Kilgore, who had 65 yards on eight carries. “I think you could see it. Hopefully the coaches will use me a little more there (on offense).”
Hicks, who is not foreign to playing both ways, took in a nice toss from Truehill with a little more than seven minutes in the game.
“I know I can do it, and whatever I need to do to help the team, I’m going to do it,” Hicks said. “If it means scoring a touchdown, I’ll go do it.”
In all, Paetow held Conroe to 211 total yards, 223 passing. The Tigers had minus-12 rushing yards on 27 carries as Hicks and senior defensive lineman Stephen Green added to the sack total in the second half.
“We have so many good players that nobody can get double-teamed,” said Hicks, who had three sacks and a fumble recovery. “Double team me, and somebody else will make a play. Double team somebody else, and I’ll make the play. I’m freed up a lot more. It’s really a T.O.E. (Team Over Everything) thing. We really have a bond. We’re really all brothers out there.”
As dominant as the defense was, the Paetow offense was another story.
The Panthers struggled to generate any rhythm moving the chains. Truehill started the game, threw interceptions on Paetow’s first two drives, and then rotated with sophomore backup Brock Nichols the rest of the way.
Truehill completed five of 11 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown to two interceptions and rushed for 29 yards on three carries. Nichols completed two of four passes for one yard.
The Panthers punted three times and turned it over on downs twice.
“We didn’t have real good field position tonight,” Teagle said. “We made some mistakes offensively and took some chances in the kicking game, but we have a lot of faith in our defense. They held up. I was very proud of the way the defense responded.”
Offensively, Paetow is different than in past years under Gotte. The Panthers are running a lot more spread and not as much under center.
Teagle said using Kilgore, Hicks and even Thomas on offense was out of necessity.
“We’re still trying to figure some things out on offense,” Teagle said. “The offense is always a little behind (at the start of a season). We’re coming in with new systems and it’s a new transition and we’re trying to work things out. Our guys were resilient and played hard. The offensive line played great, and we’re going to continue to lean on them.”
Paetow’s battle cry this season is “Something2Prove.”
The Panthers heard whispers all offseason about how they would find things considerably tougher in their new classification 6A, particularly in their new 19-6A district that features state power Katy and regional power Tompkins.
“We knew how everybody felt about us winning the 5A state championship, so the motivation has been to prove it,” Kilgore said. “Prove why we won. Prove why we deserve to be where we are. Prove why our defense is good.”
The challenge has been accepted. Friday night was step one. Even despite the myriad of offensive issues, a win is all that matters, Teagle said.
“I challenged myself, I challenged my coaching staff, and I challenged our kids to keep the championship culture that was developed here going,” Teagle said. “It’s still a very young school and we’re still building tradition. It’s our job to protect that.”