High school football

VYPE rankings: Titles at stake this week for top teams

VYPE rankings: Titles at stake this week for top teams
Clear Lake knocked off Friendswood to make things interesting in Class 24-6A. Andy Tolbert

Originally appeared on Vype.com.

The games that made the most waves last week that affected our polls today were Clear Lake knocking of then-No. 9 Friendswood, Lufkin knocking Oak Ridge out of the rankings and Tomball upsetting district-leader Huntsville in Class 5A.

Clear Lake knocked off Friendswood to make things interesting in Class 24-6A. By Andy Tolbert

So what will this weekend bring?

In Class 5A, No. 1 Katy faces steady-climbing Strake Jesuit for the district title. Could be lopsided in the Tigers’ favor, but kudos for the Crusaders being in this position. Up north, No. 2 faces No. 13 Klein for their district title. The Bearkats only stubbed their toe against Oak for their only blemish.

The heavyweight game of the week?

No. 5 Ridge Point vs No. 9 FB Bush for bragging rights in Fort Bend and the championship belt. Stay tuned for our predictions later in the week.

In Class 5A, No. 2 Angleton faces No. 9 Foster. The big question is will star BJ Foster be on the field or on the sideline due to injury. Tomball now faces Magnolia West, who is also undefeated in 20-5A. In Class 21-5A, Porter and New Caney go for the No. 2 spot in district.

CLASS 6A 

Rank

Team (Record) 

Comment
1Katy (6-0)For District Title vs Strake Jesuit?
2Klein Collins (7-0)Big Game vs No. 14 Klein for Crown
3Cy-Fair (7-0)Falls; Then Langham Looming
4Westfield (7-0)Will Take Down Ike
5Ridge Point (6-1)Game of the Week vs No. 9 Bush
6The Woodlands (5-1)Montgomery Up Next
7Lamar (5-1)Rolling Through HISD
8Langham Creek (7-0)Lobos are Legit; Cy-Fair in Crosshairs
9Bush (6-0)Can Broncos Knock Off No. 5 Ridge Point?
10Spring (6-1)No Probs with Big Mac on Deck
11Cinco Ranch (6-1)Morton Ranch Will Hang around for Half
12Atascocita (5-1)Will Dominate CE King
13Klein (6-1)Klein Collins for the Title
14Dawson (6-1)Alief Taylor Up Next
15Strake Jesuit (6-1)Can they Shock World in W Over Katy?
16Clear Lake (6-2)Do Not Led Down Now, Falcons
17Friendswood (6-2)Must Rebound after Lake Loss
18Deer Park (5-3)Off Week
19Summer Creek (5-3)In Playoffs Now; Channelview Next
20Pasadena Memorial (5-1)La Porte will be Tough Game


CLASS 5A

Rank

Team (Record) 

Comment
1Manvel (7-0)Rolling; Santa Fe Up Next
2Angleton (7-0)Faces Foster for Title; BJ Hurt?
3Crosby (8-0)Humble On Deck
4Magnolia West (7-0)Crushed Waller; Tomball a Great Matchup
5FB Marshall (4-2)Texas City Should be a W
6Tomball (6-2)Huge Win Over Huntsville; Now Mag West
7Waltrip (7-0)They are Going Undefeated
8Foster (5-2)Peaking At Right Time w/Angleton Up
9Barbers Hill (6-2)Off Week
10Porter (6-2)New Caney Week

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The Texans will look to get back on track this Sunday against the Colts. Composite Getty Image.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”

The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.

They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.

Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.

Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.

“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.

What's working

The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.

Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.

What needs help

The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.

Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.

Stock up

RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.

Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.

“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”

Stock down

Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.

Injuries

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.

Key number

3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.

Next steps

The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.

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