Making Moves
Pearland QB, JD Head continues making strong 1st impression
Dennis Silva II
Sep 19, 2018, 5:00 am
Poise is what makes Head special Vype
Originally Appeared on Vype
Don Clayton knows a thing or two about quarterbacks.
The only head coach Cinco Ranch has known played quarterback at the University of Wyoming and got his Katy ISD career started by coaching the position at Katy High under Mike Johnston in the mid 1990s.
When Clayton speaks about signal-callers, he knows what he’s talking about. So when the veteran coach spoke effusively Saturday night of Pearland junior JD Head, after Head torched Clayton’s Cougars for 351 yards and six touchdowns on 20-for-32 passing in a win at Legacy Stadium, it meant something.
“I thought he was very smooth,” Clayton said. “I told him after the ballgame, ‘I enjoy watching you from one perspective, as a person who’s coached quarterbacks before, but I didn’t like you on this field tonight.’ He did a good job, even with some wind in his face in the first half. It just seemed nothing fazed him.”
That poise, Clayton said, is what makes Head special.
“He didn’t force the ball, and he looked like he had a plan every time he took the snap,” Clayton said. “That’s what I try to teach our quarterbacks — have a plan every time. Unfortunately tonight, we didn’t have the plan we needed. We forced the ball, and that leads to turnovers.”
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Head is a summer transfer from Jones High in Oklahoma. As a sophomore last season, he completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,085 yards, 44 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in helping lead Jones to the state semifinals.
Head’s family moved to Houston in July when his dad, who had retired, got a job offer that was “too good to pass up.”
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The Houston Astros (37-30) aim to close out their series against the Chicago White Sox (23-45) on a high note Thursday night at Daikin Park. The three-game set is currently tied 1-1, and with a chance to secure their 11th series win at home, the Astros will send left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Valdez (6-4, 3.07 ERA) has quietly been one of the most consistent arms in the American League. Known for his heavy sinker and ground-ball inducing style, he enters the night with a stellar 1.06 WHIP and 84 strikeouts. With the Astros bullpen having absorbed some heavy usage earlier this week, Valdez will be counted on to give Houston quality length.
Opposing him will be right-hander Davis Martin (2-6, 3.62 ERA), who has pitched better than his win-loss record suggests. Martin has maintained a 1.21 WHIP and will try to quiet an Astros lineup that broke out for 10 runs in Wednesday’s win.
Houston’s offense has been led lately by Jeremy Peña, who is batting .439 over his last 10 games with five doubles, two homers, and six RBIs. Isaac Paredes continues to be a steady power threat, leading the team with 14 home runs and a .468 slugging percentage. José Altuve, fresh off his 2,300th career hit, adds veteran stability to the top of the order.
The Astros are 23-13 at home this season and have gone 6-4 over their last 10 games. When they avoid giving up home runs, they win — as shown by their 20-4 record in games where they keep the ball in the yard. That will be a key Thursday against a White Sox team that’s light on power but capable of grinding out runs when they out-hit opponents (16-9 when doing so).
Chicago, meanwhile, has struggled mightily on the road, going just 7-27 away from Guaranteed Rate Field. Still, they’ve had unexpected success against the Astros this season, winning three of the first five matchups. Andrew Benintendi and Mike Tauchman have been among the few bright spots in a lineup that’s hit just .227 over its last 10 games and been outscored by six runs.
With the series on the line and the division-leading Astros looking to stay hot, Thursday night offers a chance to assert their edge with a trusted ace on the hill and momentum building in the lineup.
Here's a preview of the Astros lineup for the finale!
For the series.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#BuiltForThis x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/WsXWQV4ZkI
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 12, 2025
Christian Walker remains in the five spot after his big night in Game 2. Victor Caratini will be the DH hitting seventh behind Jake Meyers. Jose Altuve is shifting back to left field, with Jacob Melton getting the night off. And Brendan Rodgers will hit last and play second base.
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