On a rainy Saturday afternoon at Klein Memorial Stadium last Saturday, the Tomball Cougars’ dreams of a perfect season came to an end as the team lost to Klein Cain in a battle for first place.
The game would become the District 15-6A championship, with Tomball coming in 8-0 and 6-0 in district play and Cain coming in 7-1 and 5-1 in district.
The records would be tied after Tomball fell to Cain 27-12 in the Cougars’ worst offensive performance of the season and a game that overall did not showcase the pros of this team but still left the team with some things to build on heading to the playoffs.
To start the game the Cougars got the ball and the offense sputtered early, something hasn’t been common this season as the offense has been very good on the opening drive and in the first quarter. A few plays into the game, the Cougars turned the ball over on a pass that was ruled an interception after initially being ruled a drop, which caused mass frustration on the Cougar sideline as they claimed that the ball had clearly hit the ground.
The Tomball coaches, players and fans alike were upset with multiple calls made by the officials throughout the game, but that isn’t where all the blame of this game should go as the offense struggled throughout the whole game, with four total turnovers – three of them being interceptions, one of which being returned for a touchdown.
However the defense played their best game of the year, allowing no touchdowns through nearly a full three quarters. Defense kept the game close until offense found the endzone for the first time late in the third quarter.
The defensive stalwart after that began to crack as Cain would score in one play then score again on a quick drive to open the floodgates and keep control through the final whistle. Against a high powered offense like Cain this defensive performance was very impressive and if they can put together that with the offensive efficiency that is usually seen this team will be very very dangerous going into the playoffs, which are coming up after this week’s game against Klein Forest.
The game at 7 p.m. tonight will be important as the Cougars can lock down a share of the district title, it’s first in decades. If Cain and Tomball both win, they are co-champs with Cain getting the top seed and Tomball taking the second. Either way, the playoffs open here at Tomball ISD Stadium next weekend.
Forest will be looking to play spoiler.
