InstantNewsKaty.com

Three Katy ISD teams have advanced to the next round of the high school football playoffs after they all notched convincing first round wins.

District 17-5A champion Cinco Ranch dominated Alief Taylor 50 – 14 Saturday night at Tully Stadium, while Katy overran Stratford 42 – 7 earlier in the day at Tully and Katy Taylor topped Memorial 17-3 Friday night at Rhodes Stadium.

Cinco Ranch’s defense forced eight Taylor turnovers while the Cougar offense exploded for 462 yards in the team’s first-ever bi-district contest as a district champ. The Cougars racked up for 34 points in less than five minutes late in the second quarter to take a 50-0 lead at halftime.

Starting Cougar quarterback Shane Ros went 12-for-24 for 221 yards and three touchdowns while backup QB Matt Smith contributed two completions on two attempts for another 20 yards.

The Cougs’ Adam Hirtz rushed for 126 yards on 12 attempts and found the end zone twice.

Cinco Ranch will face Eisenhower in the area round of the playoffs next Friday at Rhodes Stadium.

Earlier in the day, Katy trounced the Stratford Spartans after making the playoffs on a loss for the first time since 2004. The Tigers took control of the game with a withering running attack that racked up 379 yards.

The Tiger offense eventually totaled 501 yards while the defense held Stratford to 233 total yards and only a single score early in the second quarter.

Quarterback Parker Ray was 8-for-13 for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

Michael Webber led the rushing game for the Tigers with 163 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. Will Jeffery added 139 yards on 14 carries, also with two scores.

The victory game Katy its 12th straight first-round playoff win. The Tigers will take on Humble next Friday at Turner Stadium in the area finals.

Katy Taylor also won its bi-district game, topping Memorial 17-3. It was the Mustang’s first playoff win since 1986.

After falling behind 3-0 in the first quarter, Taylor’s Steven Sartory found the end zone on a one-yard run with just over eight minutes left in the first half. Sartory went on to rush for 108 of the Mustangs’ 190 total yards.

Taylor’s Joshua Thomas scored on a Memorial fumble in the third quarter while Marshall Bond nailed a 35-yard field goal into a stiff wind with 7 minutes left in the fourth to top off the scoring.

The Mustangs will take on Lamar next Saturday afternoon at Delmar Stadium.