Other than the titans of Class 6A football in Greater Houston, Katy Taylor and Fort Bend Elkins can hang with just about anyone. That's what makes their evenly-matched 1st-round (bi-district) playoff game against each other on Saturday so intriguing, and you can listen to what transpires inside Hall Stadium at vypefortbend.com starting at 12:45PM.
The Mustangs (5-5) and Knights (8-2) are in the UIL's 6A Division II playoff bracket, based on overall student enrollment. In District 19-6A, Katy and Katy Tompkins also qualified for the playoffs, and they have more students than Taylor; and the same is true for 20-6A's Fort Bend Travis and Ridge Point, whose enrollment numbers exceed Elkins.
Therefore, Taylor and Elkins should be more than happy in 6A's Division II. In Taylor's five wins, they outscored their opponents by an average of nearly 27 points (45.2 to 18.4). Their five losses were to a quartet of teams state-ranked by MaxPreps (Atascocita, #26; Dickinson, #23; Katy, #1; and Tompkins, #20) and a district rival, Mayde Creek – which went 8-2, losing only to Katy and Tompkins.
The Knights had an easier schedule. Their only losses were to Travis (ranked #28) and a Ridge Point team that is 27-1 in district games vs. Fort Bend ISD foes over the last four seasons. In all other games, Elkins dominated, outscoring the opposition 46.9-12.4.
Elkins is looking for its first playoff win since the Knights beat Madison 28-20 in the 2016 bi-district round. In the last 10 seasons, they are 3-8 in playoff games including two wins in 2013 when Jonathan Giles was their quarterback.
Taylor has broken even (7-7) in playoff games over the last 13 seasons, including three straight 1st-round wins over Fort Bend opponents: Kempner (2016), Bush ('17) and Dulles ('18).
Bridgeland has wins over Cypress Ranch, The Woodlands and Tompkins
VYPE’s No. 1 team in Class 6A, North Shore, survived a major scare on Friday night against Summer Creek, rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit to escape with a win. It ultimately came down to a blocked field goal to preserve the Mustangs’ undefeated record.
Through seven weeks of football, the picture is becoming clearer — and it’s time for VYPE to reshuffle the rankings.
With more data on the table, the questions get tougher. Who can beat whom? Which teams have faced the most challenging schedules? And which programs still have something to prove?
Let’s break it down.
CLASS 6A: THE CONTENDERS ARE EMERGING
Pearland has made a strong case for itself, dominating its schedule while securing a signature victory over Manvel, which was ranked in the Top 12 at the time. The Oilers are building momentum as the competition heats up.
Bridgeland has also earned its place in the conversation. The Bears edged The Woodlands with a late field goal and took down Cypress Ranch, which was ranked No. 2 at the time. Cypress Ranch now checks in at No. 6, with CE King sitting at No. 7. Don't forget, Ranch and King gave us an instant classic earlier this season, adding another layer to an increasingly competitive race.
Meanwhile, Klein continues to fly under the radar as one of the area's most consistent teams. The undefeated Bearkats have stacked wins over Klein Oak, Magnolia and Klein Cain, giving them a strong résumé as district play intensifies.
The Woodlands is another team trending upward. The Highlanders took care of ranked Willis and dominated College Park, which was ranked at the time. Those performances give The Woodlands a strong argument as VYPE continues to evaluate the contenders.
Tomball beat Klein Collins, which will have huge district repercussions. Tompkins moves into the rankings after a huge win over Jordan.
Two teams that remain difficult to evaluate are Deer Park and Memorial. Deer Park's signature win came against a solid La Porte squad, while Memorial has yet to face a true test. Both have put themselves in the conversation, but tougher competition should tell us more about where they belong.
CLASS 5A: LA PORTE MAKES A STATEMENT
La Porte is beginning to gain serious traction after an explosive second-half performance to take down Port Arthur Memorial. The Bulldogs are making noise at the right time and could be a team to watch as the season progresses.
Fort Bend Marshall and Lake Creek also return to the rankings following solid victories. With district races tightening, both programs have an opportunity to build momentum and strengthen their postseason cases.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS: NO CHANGES AT THE TOP
The private school rankings remain unchanged this week. With the top programs continuing to hold their ground, the next round of matchups could be pivotal in determining whether anyone can break through.
TUNE IN: ON MY WHISTLE
Want to know who VYPE is picking this week?
Watch “ON MY WHISTLE” every week on the VYPE YouTube channel for game predictions, key matchups and the latest conversation surrounding Houston-area high school football.
The season is heating up, the rankings are shifting, and every Friday night brings another opportunity to make a statement. The question now is simple: Who is built to make a championship run?
...
THE VYPE Top 25 Class 6A
- North Shore Mustangs
- Katy Tigers
- Ridge Point Panthers
- Pearland Oilers
- Bridgeland Bears
- Cypress Ranch Mustangs
- CE King Panthers
- Shadow Creek Sharks
- Klein Bearkats
- The Woodlands Highlanders
- Deer Park Deer
- Tomball Cougars
- Memorial Mustangs
- Barbers Hill Eagles
- Manvel Mavericks
- Summer Creek Bulldogs
- Waller Bulldogs
- Klein Collins Tigers
- Langham Creek Lobos
- Fulshear Chargers
- Cypress Falls Eagles
- Fort Bend Travis Tigers
- Cypress Woods Wildcats
- Aldine Davis Falcons
- Tompkins Falcons
...
CLASS 5A TOP 10
- Randle Lions
- Angleton Wildcats
- Montgomery Bears
- Crawford Chargers
- Friendswood Mustangs
- La Porte Bulldogs
- Waltrip Rams
- FB Marshall Buffs
- Lake Creek Lions
- West Fork Gators
PRIVATE SCHOOL TOP 5
- The Kinkaid School Falcons
- St. Thomas Eagles
- Episcopal Knights
- TWCA Warriors
- Lutheran South Pioneers
GAMES
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