On the Saturday after Thanksgiving at NRG Stadium, two schools from Humble ISD, an old face to the playoffs and a new face, will meet two different Katy-area schools with the hope of moving within one game of the state tournament.
The familiar face, the Atascocita Eagles, clinched their fifth straight berth in the regional semifinals on Saturday with a convincing win. They jumped in front of Dickinson early and often, leading by 32 at one point and cruising to a 46-27 victory.
The Eagles wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as D.J. Murchinson began the scoring with a 39-yard pick six; a two-point conversion made the score 8-0.
Four minutes later, the Eagles had tacked on two more touchdowns on a Dylan Robinson reception and a Quincy Thompson run. At one point, early in the third, the Eagles led 39-7.
The Eagles will meet Katy Tompkins at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Meanwhile, the newer kids on the block, the Humble Wildcats, hadn’t seen the playoffs since 2011 and hadn’t won a playoff game since 2010. But last Saturday against George Ranch, they found their second playoff win in as many weeks, 28-21 over George Ranch.
Though they trailed George Ranch at one point 13-0, Humble got momentum going in the second quarter on a touchdown run right before halftime by X’zavier Sidney.
Though down six, Humble carried the momentum into the second half, as they scored two touchdowns in the third quarter; the first was a touchdown from Dexter Wyble to Tavian Coleman for a 14-13 Humble lead.
Later, the Wildcats struck again on a double pass from Harper to Robert Williams, III. This touchdown, a 42 yarder, gave Humble a 21-13 lead.
Though the Longhorns would tie it early in the fourth, the Wildcats responded again; a 65-yard pass to Damarcus Crosby set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Sidney which ended up being the winning margin.
The Wildcats will face Katy Taylor at 6 p.m. Saturday at NRG.