EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of 12 spring football previews. The Athlete’s Connection will run our “Spring Blitz” series every weekday through May 23.

The general consensus is the Katy football team has less than four weeks left – Tuesday’s spring game and all of August – to shore up for the 2008 season.

Once it starts, the Tigers will have precious little time or cushion to perform any self-examinations.

A murderous schedule including North Shore and Florida power Cypress Bay awaits the defending 5A state champions, who return 19 lettermen and lost boatloads of talent from last year’s 16-0 team that may rank among the best Texas – and for that matter the nation – has ever seen.

“It’s a work in progress,” Katy coach Gary Joseph said ahead of Tuesday evening’s Red and White Game at Rhodes Stadium.

It’s reminiscent in some ways of 2005, when the Tigers lost to Southlake Carroll in the 5A title game and relied mostly on juniors the next season. They, of course, became the seniors that steamrolled virtually every opponent last season.

“My biggest concern is just the kids who are out there getting better,” Joseph said. “They’re getting an opportunity to get a lot of work too. It’s been a work in progress, too. The thing that scares me is with the non-district schedule we have, they’re not going to get a chance to grow up. They’re going to get thrown into the fire right off.

“We’ve been there before. In 2003 we went up to Lufkin and played our first game and got beat pretty good and we came back and were able to win and have a successful season and win a state championship.

“The kids can’t get discouraged. The tradition and expectations we have are still here.”

Three surgeries and the baseball team’s success have taken a few key players out of spring ball. Offensive linemen Cameron Travis and John Roundtree, and safety Andrew Harold – who started every game last year – all were held out of spring practice.

Quarterback Parker Ray was among those who helped the Katy baseball team to a district championship and area-round appearance. In his sted, sophomore Michael Stojkovic has taken most snaps and reminded many of last year’s quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell, an SMU commit.

“He’s stronger than what Bo was as a junior but they make the same mistakes. They look almost identical as juniors,” Joseph said. “Bo wasn’t a polished product when he first started playing quarterback but he kept getting better and better. You complete 60 percent of your passes (your junior year), you’re doing something right. His senior year was more of a confidence thing and understanding leadership. What Michael’s missing right now is just the leadership part.”

Freshman Vernon Jeffries has taken the lion’s share of carries at running back, but the workhorse role likely will go to junior Michael Webber. Already voted a captain for 2008, Webber missed last season with an ACL injury. He ran for about 400 yards in five games as a sophomore.

Many other areas are green, including the secondary, which will be paced by returning safety Kyle Hirschfelder.

The offensive line will be led by 6-foot-6, 280-pound tackle Austin Sumrall, and Micah Marks and Aaron Poteet. Marks also is taking snaps at what should be a deep tight end position.

Katy opens at North Shore Aug. 29 – a game that could be moved ahead or back a day to accommodate a possible FSN Southwest broadcast. Then come games at The Woodlands, in Waco against Lewisville Marcus and at Beaumont West Brook. The Tigers won’t play a home game until Oct. 4 against perennial Florida power Cypress Bay, a game that likely will be shown on an ESPN network.

“The biggest thing is our kids not getting discouraged,” Joseph said. “We’ve lost four games in four years. The chance of losing two or three early, you have to make sure your kids don’t get their heads down. But if we play well through that part of the schedule, starting district (17-5A) I think we’ll be in good shape.”

KATY 2008 SCHEDULE
Aug. 29: at North Shore, 7 p.m.
Sept. 5: at The Woodlands, 7:30 p.m. (at Wood Forest Stadium)
Sept. 20: vs. Lewisville Marcus, 1 p.m. (at Waco ISD Stadium)
Sept. 27: at Beaumont West Brook, 5 p.m. (at Durley Stadium)
Oct. 4: Cypress Bay, Fla., time TBA (at Rhodes Stadium)
+Oct. 10: Morton Ranch, 7 p.m. (at Rhodes Stadium, as home team)
*+Oct. 17: Seven Lakes, 7 p.m. (at Rhodes Stadium, as visiting team)
+Oct. 24: Katy Taylor, 7 p.m. (at Rice Stadium, as home team)
+Nov. 1: Mayde Creek, 5 p.m. (at Rhodes Stadium, as visiting team)
+Nov. 7: Cinco Ranch, noon (at Rhodes Stadium, as home team)

* Homecoming
+ District 17-5A game
Dates and times subject to change.