KLEIN – District 15-6A is loaded with traditional Houston powers, including The Woodlands, Klein Collins and a rising Klein Oak.
But the best quarterback-wide receiver combo in the nine-team grouping doesn't call any of them home. Instead, Christian Pack and Michael Phoenix – the top receiver and quarterback heading into Week 5 according to the stats report – pull on the black and gold of Conroe.
Pack and Phoneix, which could be the name of a law firm in the Galleria, have the connection. It's so good that even defenders tipping passes into the air doesn't hinder it.
The duo combined for seven receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone against Klein Cain en route to a 58-55 victory on Saturday.
"It says a lot, those guys started working on this in the offseason, it started as a matter of fact when we came back from Christmas break," Conroe coach Cedric Hardeman said. "I had those 45 seniors in the team room and addressed them. From that day on those guys have prepared and went to work.
"It's a lot of other people behind the scenes. It's the coaching staff, Coach Bomar gets a lot of credit but we have a tremendous staff. From O-Line to receivers to running backs coach."
By the end of the night, the Pack-Phoenix connection racked up nine catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
"Christian Pack, I wouldn't trade any other quarterback for him," Phoenix said. "What we have on the field, we rep in practice all the time. It's nothing new to us."
Before fans had a chance to settle into their seats, cars still circling the parking lot outside Klein Memorial Stadium searching for a spot, Pack and Phoenix went to work. Pack hit Phoenix in stride for a 75-yard touchdown in the opening 13 seconds.
Pack and Phoenix connected later a nine-yard and 41-yard touchdown before the half would end.
"It all starts in practice," Pack said. "It's not luck. It's not just something you can just something you can pull out of your hat. It just comes from hard work."
As far as the season goes, through five games – Pack and Phoenix added to an already impressive resume.
With Pack going 23-for-37 for 371 yards and four touchdowns, the senior is 95 of 144 for 1,305 yards and 16 touchdowns through five games. Pack also has 74 carries for 567 yards and five touchdowns after rushing 25 times for 201 yards on Saturday.
"He's a great kid," Conroe coach Cedric Hardeman said. "As much of the stats he had today, his character and who he is as a kid is beyond that. It's hard to say a kid deserves 600 yards of offense but if there's one kid, it's him. He puts in the work. He sacrifices for the team, he comes every day, he's a great leader and humble.
"I'm just happy for him. Everything he's getting I can be ecstatic."
Phoenix is also in an elite group, leading the district's receivers.
Heading into this week, Phoenix had 30 receptions for 555 yards and eight scores. After Saturday's performance he sits at 39 catches for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns.
"Definitely shows hard work pays off," Phoenix said. "Anything can be accomplished. You just must put the work in. It's from hours and hours over the summer, every day, twice a day just going outside, running routes and throwing the ball. It's like clockwork for us now.
"It looks easy in the game, but nobody knows what we did behind the scenes."
Whatever the duo has done behind the scenes has been working and at season's end could help propel the Tigers back into the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
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